London, 21 July 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service has today concluded its rating review of Banco
Angolano de Investimentos, S.A. (BAI) by confirming
the baseline credit assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA of b3 as well as
the long-term local currency deposit rating of B1, long-term
foreign currency deposit rating of B2 and long-term Counterparty
Risk (CR) Assessment of B1(cr). The bank's short-term local-
and foreign-currency Not Prime deposit ratings and Not Prime(cr)
CR Assessment were not under review. Moody's maintains a
negative outlook on BAI's ratings in line with the negative outlook
on the government of Angola's issuer rating.
Today's rating action concludes the review for downgrade on BAI's ratings,
which was initiated on 1 March 2017 (see press release https://www.moodys.com/research/--PR_362674).
The confirmation of BAI's BCA reflects Moody's assessment that,
despite ongoing system-wide challenges in clearing dollar transactions
(on account of a tightening in the availability of services provided by
international correspondent banks), BAI has demonstrated having
the flexibility to meet its dollar obligations (primarily corporate deposit
obligations).
The confirmation of BAI's long-term ratings reflects our
view that the Angolan government's capacity to provide support to the
banks in times of stress remains unchanged as reflected by the affirmation
of the Angolan government's issuer rating of B1, negative on 7 April
2017 (see press release https://www.moodys.com/research/--PR_364560).
The maintenance of our negative outlook on BAI's rating reflects
the negative outlook on the government of Angola and the continued vulnerability
of BAI's credit profile to the challenging operating environment.
A list of affected ratings is provided at the end of this press release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
CONFIRMATION OF BAI'S STANDALONE CREDIT PROFILE
The primary driver for confirming BAI's BCA, despite the ongoing
system-wide challenges in clearing dollar transactions, is
the bank's demonstrated capacity to meet its dollar obligations
through a mix of solutions. Unlike other banks in the system,
BAI has been able to preserve some dollar correspondent bank relationships,
while also using other foreign currencies as an alternative route to complete
dollar transactions. In addition, the bank's large
foreign currency liquidity buffers act as a cushion in case of unexpected
deterioration in foreign currency access.
CONFIRMATION OF LONG-TERM RATINGS
The other driver of today's rating action is our view that the Angolan
government's capacity to provide support to Angolan banks in times of
stress remains unchanged, as reflected by the affirmation of the
Angolan government's issuer rating of B1, negative on 7 April 2017.
Additionally, we do not expect the willingness of the Angolan government
to provide support for BAI in times of stress to change given the bank's
systemic importance - holding approximately 16% market share
in terms of deposits (the largest in the banking system).
OUTLOOK
The maintenance of our negative outlook on BAI's ratings reflects
the negative outlook on the support provider, the government of
Angola, as well as the continued vulnerability of BAI's financial
performance to the challenging operating environment. Although
the bank has found ways to navigate Angola's challenging foreign
currency environment, as reflected by today's confirmation
of BAI's ratings, it is not immune to the broader economic
impact of these challenges on the bank's borrowers given its high
level of foreign currency lending (45% of total loans), which
could adversely affect the bank's asset quality, profitability and
capital metrics going forward.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATINGS UP OR DOWN
There is limited upside pressure on the bank's ratings given the negative
outlook on the government's issuer rating (the government is the support
provider).
BAI's ratings could be downgraded if (1) risks related to BAI's funding
and liquidity intensify, including the imposition of tighter transfer
or convertibility restrictions on foreign currencies, (2) there
is a deterioration in the bank's financial metrics beyond what is already
assumed in the ratings, and/or (3) there is a deterioration in the
capacity of the government to provide support to BAI, in case of
need.
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS
Issuer: Banco Angolano de Investimentos, S.A.
Confirmations:
....LT Bank Deposits (Local Currency),
Confirmed at B1, Outlook Changed To Negative From Rating Under Review
....LT Bank Deposits (Foreign Currency),
Confirmed at B2, Outlook Changed To Negative From Rating Under Review
....Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment,
Confirmed at b3
....Baseline Credit Assessment, Confirmed
at b3
....LT Counterparty Risk Assessment,
Confirmed at B1(cr)
Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Rating Under Review
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Banks published in
January 2016. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
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.
Items color coded in purple in this Press Release relate to unsolicited
ratings for a rated entity which is non-participating.
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.
Akin Majekodunmi
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Sean Marion
MD - Financial Institutions
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454