Singapore, September 05, 2013 -- Moody's Investors Service announced today that it has downgraded the subordinated
debt (subdebt) and junior subordinated debt ratings of 11 Indian banks.
The banks' senior obligation ratings and their stand-alone
baseline credit assessments were not affected.
Moody's removed one to two notches of the two to three notches systemic
support uplift previously incorporated in the public sector banks'
subdebt and junior subdebt ratings, concluding a review started
on 3 June 2013. Moody's also removed the one notch support
uplift incorporated in the private sector banks' subdebt and junior
subdebt ratings.
The 11 banks affected are 8 public sector banks (with a minimum 51%
government shareholding) and three private sector banks:
Public Sector Banks
- Bank of Baroda (deposits Baa3 stable, BFSR D/BCA ba2 negative)
- Bank of India (deposits Baa3 stable, BFSR D/BCA ba2 negative)
- Canara Bank (deposits Baa3 stable, BFSR D/BCA ba2 negative)
- IDBI Bank Ltd (deposits Baa3 stable, BFSR D-/BCA
ba3 stable)
- Indian Overseas Bank (deposits Baa3 negative, BFSR D-/BCA
ba3 negative)
- State Bank of India (deposits Baa2 stable, BFSR D+/BCA
ba1 stable)
- Syndicate Bank (deposits Baa3 stable, BFSR D/BCA ba2 negative)
- Union Bank of India (deposits Baa3 stable, BFSR D/BCA ba2
negative)
Private Sector Banks
- Axis Bank Limited (deposits Baa2 stable, BFSR D+/BCA
baa3 stable)
- HDFC Bank Limited (deposits Baa2 stable, BFSR D+/BCA
baa3 stable)
- ICICI Bank Limited (deposits Baa2 stable, BFSR D+/BCA
baa3 stable)
A list of affected securities can be found at the end of this press release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Moody's downgrade reflects the increasing international trend of
imposing losses on holders of subdebt securities (creditor "bail-in")
as a pre-condition for distressed banks to receive government support.
As a consequence, Moody's assumes that Indian government support
is less likely to be forthcoming for the holders of such securities.
"The global financial crisis has demonstrated that support can be
provided selectively, with the costs being shared with subordinated
creditors of a bank, without triggering any contagion, as
it was previously feared", says Gene Fang, a Vice President
at Moody's.
Moody's analysis observes that India has a modern and progressive
approach to bank regulation. There is no explicit legal power allowing
Indian regulators to selectively impose losses on subdebt holders outside
of a liquidation process. However, as a member of the G20
and Financial Stability Board (FSB), India could move towards adopting
a bank resolution framework which imposes losses on subordinated debt
holders.
On balance, Moody's assumes that Indian government support
will be less likely in the future. Nevertheless, we believe
for public sector banks a high probability of support is still justified,
resulting in a one notch subdebt rating uplift. This is an exception
to the general assumption in our methodology that support should be removed
from subordinated debt ratings. In contrast, we assume that
the probability of support for private sector banks is now low-to-moderate
from high before, which is no longer sufficient to result in a rating
uplift at their current baseline credit assessments.
This rating action relates only to Moody's view on the potential
for systemic support for the banks' junior securities. It
does not reflect any change in the banks' intrinsic credit quality
or in the support assumptions for issuer or senior debt ratings.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, losses have been imposed on the holders of junior
securities during the resolution of troubled banks in crisis-hit
countries. In the majority of cases, investors have suffered
losses as a result of distressed exchanges, which do not necessarily
require a developed resolution framework to be in place. Furthermore,
experience has shown that such a framework can be developed quickly at
times of stress.
As a consequence, Moody's approach globally is now to assume,
as a starting point, that no government support would be extended
to the subordinated debt holders of a distressed bank, except where
particular circumstances justify.
In the case of Indian banks, Moody's concluded that the unique
role of public sector banks in implementing Indian government policy,
as well as recent government capital provided to the banks, merited
a continued level of support, though at a lower level than previously
assumed. In parallel, we also lowered the support assumption
for private sector banks to moderate. At the lower level of support
and current baseline credit assessments (BCA) of Indian private sector
banks, the subordinated and junior subordinated debt ratings would
not receive additional government support. Therefore, the
subordinated and junior subordinated debt ratings are lowered to reflect
the new methodology.
A detailed rationale explaining our decision can be found in our upcoming
special comment entitled "The World Has Changed: the Support
Probability for Bank Subordinated Debt in Asia-Pacific Has Significantly
Diminished".
RATINGS AFFECTED
Axis Bank Limited, DIFC Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
Axis Bank Limited, Hong Kong Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
Axis Bank Limited, Singapore Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt rating downgraded to Ba2 (hyb) from Ba1 (hyb). The outlook
on the new rating is stable.
Bank of Baroda, London Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt rating
downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1. The outlook on the new rating is negative.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba2.
Bank of India:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
Bank of India, London Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt rating
downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1. The outlook on the new rating is negative.
Bank of India, Jersey Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba2.
Canara Bank, London Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba2.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt rating downgraded to Ba3 (hyb) from Ba2 (hyb). The outlook
on the new rating is negative.
HDFC Bank Limited:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
HDFC Bank Limited, Bahrain Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
HDFC Bank Limited, Hong Kong Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
ICICI Bank Limited:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
ICICI Bank Limited, New York Branch:
-- Long-term local currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term local currency junior subordinated debt
program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
ICICI Bank Limited, Bahrain Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt rating downgraded to Ba2 (hyb) from Ba1 (hyb). The outlook
on the new rating is stable.
ICICI Bank Limited, Dubai Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
ICICI Bank Limited, Hong Kong Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
ICICI Bank Limited, Singapore Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
IDBI Bank Ltd:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)B1 from (P)Ba2.
IDBI Bank Ltd, DIFC Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)B1 from (P)Ba2.
Indian Overseas Bank:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)B1 from (P)Ba2.
Indian Overseas Bank, Hong Kong Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)B1 from (P)Ba2.
State Bank of India:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
State Bank of India, Hong Kong Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
State Bank of India, London Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
State Bank of India, Nassau Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba1 from (P)Baa3.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
Syndicate Bank:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba2.
Syndicate Bank, London Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba2.
Union Bank of India:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba2.
Union Bank of India, Hong Kong Branch:
-- Long-term foreign currency subordinated debt program
rating downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1.
-- Long-term foreign currency junior subordinated
debt program rating downgraded to (P)Ba3 from (P)Ba2.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Banks published
in May 2013. Please see the Credit Policy 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 rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
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 rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this 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.
Gene Fang
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (65) 6398-8308
Stephen Long
MD - Financial Institutions
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (65) 6398-8308
Moody's downgrades 11 banks' subdebt ratings in India on increased bail-in risk