Hong Kong, November 11, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has assigned
an A2 long-term issuer rating and Prime-1 short-term
issuer rating to ABC International Holdings Limited (ABCI).
The outlook is stable.
This is the first time that Moody's has assigned ratings to ABCI.
RATINGS RATIONALE
ABCI's A2 long-term issuer rating reflects its standalone
assessment of Ba2 and a three-notch uplift based on Moody's
assumption of a very high level of affiliate support from its parent,
Agricultural Bank of China Limited (ABC, A1 stable, baa2 baseline
credit assessment), and a three-notch uplift based on Moody's
assumption of a very high level of indirect support from the Government
of China (A1 stable) via the parent bank in times of stress.
The Ba2 standalone assessment reflects: (1) ABCI's low leverage
when compared with other rated securities firms globally; (2) a track
record of good profitability; and (3) various forms of support ABCI
receives from the parent bank including but not limited to client referrals
and funding facilities.
Offsetting these credit strengths are: (1) a sizable investment
portfolio concentrated in illiquid assets which also constrains ABCI's
liquidity level; (2) the risks arising from ABCI's rapid asset
growth; and (3) earnings volatility driven by the company's
revenue reliance on the proprietary investment and loans business.
ABCI has high exposure to illiquid and risky investments and loans.
The related investment and credit risks challenge the company's
liquidity level and also result in elevated pre-tax earnings volatility
driven by movements in market values.
ABCI's assets grew rapidly at 42.1% CAGR between 2014
and 2018 partly due to the company's strategy to develop its proprietary
investment activities. The rapid growth has led to increased balance
sheet leverage, and its risk management has not yet been tested
through a full economic cycle. That said, the leverage ratio
at 6.3x as of year-end 2018 remains low compared to other
rated securities firms on a global scale.
The very high level of affiliate support is based on ABCI's strategic
importance to and linkages with the 100% shareholder, ABC.
ABCI is an offshore investment and financial services platform for the
parent bank ABC. Since establishing ABCI in 2009, ABC has
provided a considerable level of support in various forms, including
business referrals, oversight on risk management, capital
injections and funding support such as short-term loan facilities
to ABCI from various ABC branches and subsidiaries. Through its
Hong Kong branch, ABC has also provided guarantees for ABCI's
debt programs including the USD medium-term notes program.
Moody's believes these support is a key driver of ABCI's business
expansion and development in the investment and financial services market
both in Hong Kong and mainland China.
ABC also directly monitors the liquidity and investment risks of ABCI.
A failure by ABC to support ABCI, in times of need, would
raise significant business, operational and reputational risks for
ABC.
Moody's also assesses a very high level of indirect support from
the Chinese government for ABCI through its parent ABC, if needed,
given the Chinese government's majority ownership in the parent,
the parent's systemic importance, and ABCI's importance
to the parent's business strategy especially given that ABCI is
the only overseas platform for ABC.
What Could Change the Rating -- Up
Because the issuer rating already incorporates six notches of support
and the parent ABC's long-term deposit rating is already
at A1, an upgrade would require more explicit support from the parent
or the Chinese government, while ABCI maintains its standalone credit
profile.
Moody's would consider upgrading ABCI's standalone assessment
if the company: (1) diversifies its income and business mix away
from heavy reliance on investment and loans business and stabilizes profitability;
(2) slows down its asset growth; and (3) reduces its investment and
credit risks and increases liquidity in its investment portfolio.
What Could Change the Rating -- Down
ABCI's ratings could be downgraded if Moody's assesses that
the willingness and ability of the parent ABC and the Chinese government
to support ABCI have weakened.
ABCI's ratings could also be downgraded in case of: (1) a
material deterioration in ABCI's profitability as a result of any
investment loss; (2) any significant risk management failure;
or (3) increased reliance on short-term funding that leads to a
deterioration in the liquidity and funding profile.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Securities Industry
Market Makers published in June 2018. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, ABC International Holdings Limited reported
assets of HKD43.3 billion at year-end 2018.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures
in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the
same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant
to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing
ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings
issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain
regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the
support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action
for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's
credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement
provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional
rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may
be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each
case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior
to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have
affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings
tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action,
the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating
when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. Unless
noted in the Regulatory Disclosures as a Non-Participating Entity,
the rated entity is participating and the rated entity or its agent(s)
generally provides Moody's with information for the purposes of
its ratings process. Please refer to www.moodys.com
for the Regulatory Disclosures for each credit rating action under the
ratings tab on the issuer/entity page and for details of Moody's
Policy for Designating Non-Participating Rated Entities.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
The first name below is the lead rating analyst for this Credit Rating
and the last name below is the person primarily responsible for approving
this Credit Rating.
Lan Wang, CFA
Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd.
24/F One Pacific Place
88 Queensway
Hong Kong
China (Hong Kong S.A.R.)
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Yat Man Sally Yim, CFA
Associate Managing Director
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd.
24/F One Pacific Place
88 Queensway
Hong Kong
China (Hong Kong S.A.R.)
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077