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I AGREE
20 Feb 2013
Standalone credit assessment lowered to caa1 from b2
London, 20 February 2013 -- -- Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded to Ba1
stable from Baa3 negative the senior unsecured debt and issuer ratings
of Iceland-based Housing Financing Fund (HFF). Moody's
rating action was triggered by the lowering of HFF's baseline credit
assessment (BCA) to caa1 from b2, and follows the change in outlook
for the government of Iceland (Baa3 senior) to stable from negative on
7 February.
The change in HFF's BCA concludes Moody's review that was
initiated on 5 October 2012, reflecting (1) the weakening of HFF's
asset quality; (2) Moody's expectation of continued weak profitability;
and (3) HFF's poor and further deteriorated capital ratio, which
fell to 1.4% from 2.3% during H1 2012.
The downgrade of HFF's senior debt to Ba1, stable, from
Baa3 negative reflects these stand-alone pressures offset by the
continued high level of support from the Icelandic government.
The stable outlook on the senior unsecured debt and issuer ratings reflects
the strength of and links to HFF's owner, the Icelandic government,
notably the guarantee following from the fund's legal status,
as well as the actions and intentions of the government.
RATINGS RATIONALE
RATIONALE FOR THE BCA
The lowering of HFF's BCA reflects the strong likelihood of further
systemic support being required to maintain HFF as a going concern given
Moody's expectation that (1) HFF's deteriorated asset quality
will continue to weigh on its credit strength; (2) both pre-provision
and net profitability will remain weak; and (3) notwithstanding the
ISK 13 billion government capital injection announced late 2012,
HFF's capitalisation remains low at approximately 3% at year-end
2012, and will likely deteriorate again in 2013, due to operating
losses and additional need for write downs. HFF's full reliance
on market funding makes the fund sensitive to deterioration of investor
confidence, which may be influenced by the fund's low capitalisation
or, over time, the removal of the government-implemented
capital controls, which have been in place since December 2008.
HFF's weakened asset quality is demonstrated by loans in payment
suspension or in default increasing to 14.7% of gross loans
at end-December 2012, from 14.6% at year-end
2011, albeit that the rate of deterioration has slowed down.
The stock of repossessed properties on HFF's balance sheet increased by
46% at year-end 2012 relative to year-end 2011,
and is expected to increase further in 2013. Of the entire stock
of properties 41% were rented out at end-December 2012,
and the remainder are at different stages of the sales process.
However, Moody's believes there is a low probability that properties
can be sold in the near future, especially outside the greater Reykjavik
region in which commercial bank lending is concentrated. HFF's
establishment of a rental company in January 2013, which will specialise
in renting out part of the repossessed properties, is only a minor
mitigation to the risk that HFF is increasingly exposed to non-performing
real estate on its balance sheet.
Moody's says that HFF's recent net losses reflect the increased
costs related to the management of problem loans and repossessed real
estate, the low operating profitability of the loan book taking
into account funding costs, and large loan loss provisions.
In H1 2012, general operating expenses increased by 52% year-on-year
to ISK939.4 million, reflecting increased costs of properties
available for sale and counselling for households. The low operating
profitability of the fund further reflects low historical loan margins,
and is deteriorating due to the fund's inability to prepay funding
when borrowers prepay their loans, creating a negative spread.
We recognise that HFF is working to mitigate the effect of some of these
underlying causes, but do not deem a sustainable reversal of the
negative trend in profitability likely in the short to medium term.
The fund reported an ISK3.1 billion loss in H1 2012, including
ISK3 billion in loan-loss impairments.
Following the H1 2012 loss, HFF's capital ratio fell to 1.4%.
The Icelandic government announced late 2012 its intention to recapitalise
the fund with ISK13 billion, to report an approximately 3%
capital adequacy ratio at year-end 2012. We expect this
recapitalisation to be implemented and reflected in HFF's annual
statements, which are generally published by the end of March.
In view of (1) HFF's deteriorated asset quality, which will
likely lead to substantial additional loan loss provisions, and
(2) poor profitability, and hence limited ability to quickly replenish
capital through internal means, Moody's deems the 3%
capital adequacy ratio as very poor, and subject to likely renewed
deterioration in 2013 and beyond. We expect, however,
that the fund will continue to receive additional capital support in future,
in line with the fund's long-term objective of a 5%
minimum total capital ratio.
RATIONALE FOR THE ISSUER RATING
The downgrade of HFF's senior unsecured and issuer ratings mainly
reflects HFF's weakened standalone creditworthiness, as highlighted
above. Following the downgrade, HFF's ratings benefit
from six notches of uplift, taking into account the existence of
a form of guarantee of HFF's liabilities and the credit strength
of its owner/guarantor, the government of Iceland. However,
HFF's rating now deviates from that on the Icelandic government.
HFF's legal status -- as a Treasury C-type institution
fully owned by the Icelandic government -- ensures that
the government is responsible for full payment of its liabilities.
The guarantee does not satisfy all of Moody's requirements to permit
full credit substitution, in particular because there is no explicit
guarantee on timely payment, giving rise to a potential risk of
non-timely payment if HFF were to fail to meet its obligations,
which, combined with the weakening in HFF's stand-alone
credit quality, supports the rating differential to the Icelandic
government.
Nevertheless, HFF's Ba1 rating -- one notch below the
Icelandic government -- reflects the very high likelihood that the
Icelandic government would honour HFF's liabilities in full and
on time, given (1) the government's interest and continued involvement
in HFF's operations, as demonstrated by the government's repeated
recapitalisations of the institution; and (2) the substantial role
HFF's bonds play in Iceland's mortgage market, where the fund reported
an approximately 50% share of new lending at end-June 2012,
an increase from its pre-crisis level, and bond market (40%,
according to the Central Bank).
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATINGS UP/DOWN
An upgrade of HFF's ratings in the short term is unlikely, given
the stable outlook. Longer term, upwards pressure could develop
if there is (1) a material improvement in the fund's asset quality;
(2) the fund's ability to generate operating profits is restored;
and (3) the fund's capitalisation improves to better match its risk
profile. A positive change in the sovereign rating would place
upwards pressure on HFF's rating, though a change in line with the
government's rating would not be a foregone conclusion.
The fund's ratings could come under further downwards pressure if (1)
the credit strength of its owner were to deteriorate; (2) worse-than-expected
loan performance exerts greater pressure on the bank's financial fundamentals;
(3) capitalisation, including capital injections, deteriorates
further; and (4) the likelihood of the fund to fulfil upcoming bond
maturities is impaired.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in this rating was Government-Related
Issuers: Methodology Update published in July 2010. Please
see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy
of this methodology.
Headquartered in Reykjavik , Iceland, Housing Financing Fund
reported total assets of ISK876.6 billion (EUR5.5 billion)
at 30 June 2012.
Unless otherwise stated, all figures shown are from HFF's annual
and interim reports, as well as monthly overviews.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
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in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
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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.
Oscar Heemskerk
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Simon Harris
MD - Financial Institutions
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 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
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Moody's downgrades Iceland's Housing Financing Fund to Ba1; outlook stable
No Related Data.
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