Standalone BFSR downgraded to E/caa3 from D/ba2
Milan, January 25, 2013 -- Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded Banca delle Marche S.p.A.'s
(Bd Marche) Ba1 long-term senior debt and deposit ratings to B3
and the standalone bank financial strength rating (BFSR) to E, equivalent
to a caa3 standalone credit assessment, from D/ba2. The outlook
on the long-term debt and deposit ratings is negative and the outlook
on the BFSR is stable.
The downgrade of Bd Marche's standalone BFSR reflects Moody's view that
the bank's asset-quality and internal capital generation capacity
are weak and under significant pressure, thus resulting in weak
capitalisation. In addition, the rating action reflects the
high reliance on European Central Bank (ECB) funding. In these
circumstances, the rating agency believes that there is a high likelihood
that the bank might need external support. The downgrade of the
long-term deposit and senior debt ratings was prompted by the downgrade
of the BFSR; the long-term ratings incorporate Moody's assessment
of a high probability of systemic support. The rating agency however
noted that given Bd Marche's low standalone rating, this results
in three notches of uplift for the long-term senior debt and deposit
ratings.
These rating actions conclude Moody's review of Bd Marche's
ratings, initiated on 16 November 2012.
RATINGS RATIONALE
--- STANDALONE CREDIT PROFILE
The downgrade of the bank's standalone BFSR to E/caa3 reflects Moody's
view of a high likelihood that the bank may need external support in order
to curb deterioration in the bank's credit profile. Given
the current challenging operating environment, asset quality metrics
have weakened significantly and are well below the Italian average.
In particular, the bank's coverage of single problem-loan
categories has been decreasing in the past years. Problem loans
as a percentage of equity, plus loan-loss provisions stood
at 141% in June 2012, against a stronger 52% for the
system (at year-end 2011). Coverage of sofferenze --
non-performing loans -- stood at 28% at June
2012, down from 39% in 2007, and the bank retains high
loan concentrations and exposure to the real-estate sector.
Following a management change in Q3 2012, the bank publically announced
an operating loss for 2012. We expect the bank to increase coverage
of problem loans and apply stricter problem loan-classification
than in previous years. Consequently, Moody's expects
that the bank's Tier 1 capital ratio will decrease from the current
modest level of 8.36% at June 2012. This is insufficient
to cushion against further asset-quality deterioration under the
rating agency's adverse scenario. Furthermore, the
bank raised capital less than 12 months ago, mainly from its main
shareholders and retail clients; in Moody's view, it
could be difficult for Bd Marche to again request significant amounts
of capital from these same sources.
In addition, Bd Marche's internal core capital generation
capacity is very weak, and expected to deteriorate further.
For H1 2012, Bd Marche reported a consolidated profit of EUR43 million
and for year-end 2012 a loss is expected, as loan-loss
provisions are expected to exceed significantly pre-provision income.
The bank is mainly retail funded at about 60%; most of its
other funds currently come from the ECB. Moody's believes that
there is a risk that market access will continue to be restricted and
costly for an extended period. As a result, an additional
negative rating driver is the uncertainty regarding when the bank will
again be able to fund itself regularly, and on an economic basis,
in the markets.
The assessment of these pressure points has led Moody's to downgrade
of the bank's standalone BFSR to E/caa3 reflecting Moody's view of an
increased likelihood that the bank may need outside support.
--- LONG-TERM DEPOSIT AND SENIOR DEBT RATINGS
The downgrade of Bd Marche's senior debt and deposit ratings to B3 follows
the downgrade of the standalone credit assessment and incorporates Moody's
expectation of a high likelihood of systemic support.
At the revised standalone credit assessment level of caa3, high
likelihood of systemic support results in three notches of uplift for
the bank's long-term senior debt and deposit ratings.
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATINGS UP/DOWN
Upward pressure could be exerted on the bank's standalone rating as a
result of a significant strengthening of capital adequacy, profitability
and asset quality, which Moody's however considers unlikely
without external support. An upgrade of the standalone credit assessment
could put upward pressure on the deposit and debt ratings.
Downward rating pressure on the bank's standalone credit assessment would
primarily stem from a significant further asset-quality deterioration,
which according to Moody's would make external support all but inevitable.
LIST OF AFFECTED CREDIT RATINGS
Long-Term Bank Deposits to B3 from Ba1
Bank Financial Strength to E from D
Baseline Credit Assessment to caa3 from ba2
Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment to caa3 from ba2
Senior Unsecured -Dom Curr to B3 from Ba1
Senior Unsecured MTN --Dom Curr to (P)B3 from (P)Ba1
Subordinate -Dom Curr to Ca from Ba3
Subordinate MTN -Dom Curr to P(Ca) from (P)Ba3
Jr Subordinate MTN -Dom Curr to P(C) from (P)B1
Tier III MTN - Dom Curr to (P)Ca from (P)Ba3
METHODOLOGY USED
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Moody's Consolidated
Global Bank Rating Methodology published in June 2012. Please see
the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this
methodology.
Bd Marche is headquartered in Jesi, Italy. At June 2012 it
had total assets of EUR24 billion.
1) Unless noted otherwise, data in this report is sourced from company
reports and Moody's Financial Metrics.
2) Problem loans include: non-performing loans (sofferenze),
watchlist (incagli - including only an estimated portion of those
over 90 days overdue), restructured (ristrutturati) and past due
loans (scaduti).
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.
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.
Simone Zampa
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Italia S.r.l
Corso di Porta Romana 68
Milan 20122
Italy
Telephone:+39-02-9148-1100
Johannes Wassenberg
MD - Banking
Financial Institutions Group
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Moody's downgrades Banca delle Marche to B3 from Ba1; outlook negative