Singapore, June 14, 2013 -- Moody's Investors Service has today placed Bahrain's Baa1 government issuer
rating on review for possible downgrade.
Today's rating action was prompted by:
1) the fiscal implications of Bahrain's high and rising break-even
oil price;
2) the outlook for lower trend economic growth in the country over the
medium term; and
3) the impact of a low-growth, high government expenditure
and weaker oil price scenario on Bahrain's long-term debt
sustainability.
The review will focus on the degree to which Bahrain's economic
model has structurally weakened and the resilience of Bahrain's
credit fundamentals to an outlook of subdued global growth.
Moody's will conclude the rating review within three months and expects
Bahrain's ratings to remain within investment grade.
RATINGS RATIONALE
RATIONALE FOR THE REVIEW FOR POSSIBLE DOWNGRADE
The first driver underlying Moody's decision to place Bahrain's
Baa1 sovereign rating on review for possible downgrade is the country's
rising government debt burden, which introduces uncertainty into
the country's longer-term debt sustainability. Although
Bahrain's fiscal deficit for 2012 was a moderate 2.6%
of GDP and smaller than the deficits recorded in 2009 and 2010,
the IMF estimates Bahrain's high and rising fiscal break even oil
price to be at $118.70/barrel, which is above our
forecast of $106/barrel for the average oil price in 2013.
This reflects expenditure pressures that will likely widen the deficit
considerably into the 4.0%-5.0% range
in 2013 and 2014, according to the IMF. Given the budget's
significant dependence on oil revenues, Bahrain's government
finances are less flexible and its shock-absorption capacity is
lower than that of its regional and global rating peers.
The second driver informing the rating review is the growing uncertainty,
in Moody's view, surrounding the dynamism of Bahrain's
longer-term growth prospects. Although the country has a
more diversified economy than its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) peers,
Bahrain's economy remains dependent on the oil and financial sectors,
both of which have uncertain growth prospects. In addition,
Moody's believes that continued political and social tensions may
dampen confidence and investment in the economy, and ultimately
weaken long-term growth prospects. Moreover, Moody's
expects that Bahrain's real GDP trend growth rate will remain below
its pre-crisis performance.
The third driver behind Moody's rating decision is that the two
factors above are likely to lead to a considerable medium-term
rise in government debt as a share of GDP, which the IMF predicts
will exceed 60% of GDP by 2018.
Although not a prime ratings driver, Moody's also notes that
the banking sector remains large. Assets of onshore retail banks
are almost three times Bahrain's GDP. Moody's recognizes,
however, that high levels of capitalization should help to absorb
losses and limit the sovereign's potential contingent liabilities
in a severe downside scenario. Nevertheless, the large size
of the banking sector poses a degree of systemic risk.
At the same time, Moody's notes a number of factors that support
Bahrain's rating. These include a strong positive net international
investment position and continued current account surpluses. In
addition, Bahrain has a record of receiving sizable amounts of external
financial assistance from fellow GCC governments.
GDP per capita (PPP basis, US$): 27,735 (2011
Actual) (also known as Per Capita Income)
Real GDP growth (% change): 3.9% (2012 Actual)
(also known as GDP Growth)
Inflation Rate (CPI, % change Dec/Dec): 1.2%
(2012 Actual)
Gen. Gov. Financial Balance/GDP: -2.6%
(2012 Actual) (also known as Fiscal Balance)
Current Account Balance/GDP: 8% (2012 Actual) (also known
as External Balance)
External debt/GDP: [not available]
Level of economic development: High level of economic resilience
Default history: No default events (on bonds or loans) have been
recorded since 1983.
On 13 June 2013, a rating committee was called to discuss the rating
of the Bahrain, Government of. The main points raised during
the discussion were: The issuer's economic fundamentals, including
its economic strength, have materially decreased. The issuer's
institutional strength/ framework, have not materially changed.
The issuer's governance and/or management, have not materially changed.
The issuer's fiscal or financial strength, including its debt profile,
may be weakening. The systemic risk in which the issuer operates
has not materially changed. The issuer's susceptibility to event
risks has not materially changed. Other views raised included:
An analysis of this issuer, relative to its peers, indicates
that a repositioning of its rating could be appropriate.
METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in this rating was Sovereign Bond Ratings
published in September 2008. Please see the Credit Policy page
on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
The weighting of all rating factors is described in the methodology used
in this rating action, if applicable.
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.
This rating was initiated by Moody's and was not requested by the rated
entity
This rated entity or its agent(s) did not participate in the rating process.
Moody's was not provided, for purposes of the rating,
access to books, records and other relevant internal documents of
the rated entity
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.
Steffen Dyck
Asst Vice President - Analyst
Sovereign Risk 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
Bart Jan Sebastian Oosterveld
MD - Sovereign Risk
Sovereign Risk Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
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 places Bahrain's government issuer rating on review for possible downgrade