Moody's reviews Huntington for downgrade on Franklin announcement
Toronto, November 16, 2007 -- Moody's Investors Service placed the ratings of Huntington Bancshares
Incorporated (Huntington) and subsidiaries on review for downgrade following
the announcement that it would take a $300 million charge for its
exposure to Franklin Credit Management Corporation (Franklin).
Huntington is rated A3 for long-term debt and P-2 for short-term
obligations. Huntington's lead bank, Huntington National
Bank, is rated C+ for financial strength, A2 for long-term
deposits, and P-1 for short-term deposits.
Moody's placed Huntington's ratings on review for several
reasons. First, the size of the remaining net exposure to
Franklin -- in excess of $1 billion -- is substantial
and additional write-downs are a possibility, in Moody's
view. Second, the write-down will result in a sizable
net loss in 4Q07 and, combined with a large quarterly dividend,
will result in a material deterioration in Huntington's capital
ratios. Finally, Huntington is also at risk of a further
deterioration in the credit quality of its loan portfolio, particularly
in its Commercial Real Estate (CRE) exposures. A substantial portion
of Huntington's CRE footprint is in Eastern Michigan and Northern
Ohio -- a region of the United States where this asset class has
come under significant strain.
Franklin is a national consumer finance company that specializes in the
acquisition of scratch and dent loans -- that is, residential
mortgages that are currently delinquent or have had a history of delinquency
-- and in the origination of sub-prime residential mortgages.
Its balance sheet assets were approximately $2 billion at June
30, 2007. With $1.5 billion in gross loans
outstanding, Huntington provides the vast majority of Franklin's
funding.
On November 15, 2007, Franklin announced that it expected
a substantial increase in provisions for loan losses in the third quarter
of 2007 resulting in substantial negative shareholders' equity.
Consequently, the company will delay the filing of its quarterly
results. Huntington has suspended its funding for Franklin's
loan acquisition and origination activities.
The review will focus on the potential for further write-downs
on the Franklin exposure, Huntington's plan for strengthening
its capital base, and the near- and medium-term outlook
of its CRE portfolio.
Below are the rating actions taken on Huntington by Moody's:
Issuer: Huntington Bancshares Capital Trust I
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Preferred Stock,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Multiple Seniority Medium-Term
Note Program, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently
Baa1
....Multiple Seniority Shelf, Placed
on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently (P)Baa2
....Subordinate Regular Bond/Debenture,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently Baa1
....Subordinate Shelf, Placed on Review
for Possible Downgrade, currently (P)Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note
Program, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently
A3
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington Capital II
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Preferred Stock,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington Capital III
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Preferred Stock,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently Baa1
....Preferred Stock Shelf, Placed on
Review for Possible Downgrade, currently (P)Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington Capital IV
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Shelf, Placed on
Review for Possible Downgrade, currently (P)Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington Capital V
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Shelf, Placed on
Review for Possible Downgrade, currently (P)Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington Capital VI
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Shelf, Placed on
Review for Possible Downgrade, currently (P)Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington National Bank
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
.... Bank Financial Strength Rating,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently C+
.... Issuer Rating, Placed on Review
for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
.... OSO Rating, Placed on Review for
Possible Downgrade, currently P-1
.... Deposit Rating, Placed on Review
for Possible Downgrade, currently P-1
....OSO Senior Unsecured OSO Rating,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
....Multiple Seniority Bank Note Program,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A3
....Subordinate Regular Bond/Debenture,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A3
....Senior Unsecured Bank Note Program,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
....Senior Unsecured Deposit Note/Takedown,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
....Senior Unsecured Deposit Rating,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Huntington Preferred Capital, Inc.
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Preferred Stock,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Sky Bank
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
.... Bank Financial Strength Rating,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently C+
.... Issuer Rating, Placed on Review
for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
.... OSO Rating, Placed on Review for
Possible Downgrade, currently P-1
.... Deposit Rating, Placed on Review
for Possible Downgrade, currently P-1
....OSO Senior Unsecured OSO Rating,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
....Subordinate Regular Bond/Debenture,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A3
....Senior Unsecured Deposit Rating,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently A2
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Sky Financial Capital Trust I
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Preferred Stock Preferred Stock,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Issuer: Sky Financial Group, Inc.
..On Review for Possible Downgrade:
....Subordinate Regular Bond/Debenture,
Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade, currently Baa1
..Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
Headquartered in Columbus, OH, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
had reported assets of $55.3 billion as of September 30,2007.
New York
Gregory W. Bauer
Managing Director
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Toronto
Peter Routledge
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Canada Inc.
(416) 214-1635