Hong Kong, July 03, 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Baa1 long-term issuer
rating and a Prime-2 short-term issuer rating to CMB International
Capital Corporation Limited (CMB International).
The outlook is stable.
Moody's has also assigned a Baa1 senior unsecured rating to the
proposed bond to be issued by Legend Fortune Limited and guaranteed by
CMB International.
This is the first time that Moody's has assigned ratings to CMB International.
RATINGS RATIONALE
CMB International's Baa1 long-term issuer rating reflects
its standalone assessment of Ba1 and a three-notch uplift based
on Moody's assumption of a very high level of support from its parent,
China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. (CMB, A3 stable,
baa3 baseline credit assessment), and a high level of indirect support
from the Chinese government (A1 stable) via its parent in times of stress.
The Ba1 standalone assessment reflects CMB International's:
(1) niche franchise in providing offshore financial services to Chinese
corporates and individuals, many of which are also clients of its
parent bank; (2) strong profitability and high proportion of revenue
generated from fee income that is less volatile than other sources of
income; and (3) low leverage when compared with other rated securities
firms.
Offsetting these credit strengths are the risks arising from its rapid
asset growth, short operating track record, and expansion
in the structured finance business.
Leveraging on CMB's strong client base and network, CMB International
has established its foothold in the offshore capital market. In
2017, the firm took a leading position in terms of total underwriting
amount in the Hong Kong's IPO market. Its asset management
business and wealth management business have also been growing rapidly.
CMB International generates large amounts of fee incomes from corporate
finance, asset management and wealth management services.
Consequently, its return on average assets is materially higher
than that of other rated Chinese and Hong Kong securities firms which
rely more on lending or investment income.
Meanwhile, the firm has a relatively short track record operating
as a full service securities firm since its restructuring in 2015,
with rapid asset growth. Its total assets grew 96% in 2016
and 42% in 2017. In addition, the firm's expansion
in the structured finance business challenges its risk control capabilities,
and has weakened its liquidity and funding profiles.
The very high level of affiliate support is based on CMB International's
strategic alliance and close integration with its parent bank.
As a fully owned subsidiary of CMB, CMB International serves as
CMB's sole offshore integrated financial services platform.
It collaborates with CMB's commercial banking business and offers
diversified offshore services to CMB's clients.
In the past few years, CMB has provided strong support to CMB International,
such as through capital injections, funding facilities and client
referrals. It also closely monitors the strategy, operation
and risk control of CMB International. A failure by CMB to support
CMB International, in times of need, would raise significant
business, operational and reputational risks for CMB.
Moody's also assesses a high likelihood of indirect support from the Chinese
government for CMB International through its parent bank, if needed,
given CMB's systemic importance and CMB International's importance
to its parent bank.
What Could Change the Rating -- Up
CMB International's ratings could be upgraded if CMB's rating
is upgraded, or if there is more explicit support commitment from
CMB or the Chinese government.
CMB International's standalone assessment could be upgraded if the
firm (1) improves its funding and liquidity profile; (2) ensures
smooth operations and effective risk control; and (3) maintains good
profitability despite intensifying competition and market fluctuations.
What Could Change the Rating - Down
CMB International's ratings could be downgraded if Moody's
assesses that the willingness and ability of CMB and the Chinese government
to support the firm have weakened.
CMB International's ratings could also be downgraded if (1) its
liquidity and funding profile weaken materially, which could be
a result of engaging in riskier and more volatile businesses; (2)
it encounters significant risk management failures; (3) its profitability
deteriorates significantly; or (4) it becomes subject to regulatory
sanctions that impair its franchise and management stability.
Proposed bond issuance -- Legend Fortune Limited
The Baa1 long-term senior unsecured rating for the proposed bond
to be issued by Legend Fortune Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary
of CMB International, is in line with the latter's Baa1 issuer
rating and reflect the unconditional and irrevocable guarantee provided
by CMB International.
The obligations under the guarantee constitute direct, general,
unconditional, unsubordinated and unsecured obligations of CMB International
and will at all times rank pari passu with all other present and future
unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of CMB International.
What Could Change the Rating -- Up/Down
The proposed bond issuance will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed
by CMB International. Consequently, the factors that can
cause CMB International's ratings to be upgraded or downgraded will also
drive the bond rating.
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.
CMB International Capital Corporation Limited is headquartered in Hong
Kong. It reported total assets of HKD14.7 billion as of
the end of 2017.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt 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.
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.
David Yin
Vice President - Senior 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
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