London, 10 April 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service has today upgraded the long-term
local and foreign-currency bank deposit ratings of Skipton Building
Society (Skipton) to Baa1 from Baa2. The outlook on these ratings
has been changed to stable from positive. Skipton's standalone
Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA also were upgraded to
baa1 from baa2.
At the same time Moody's has affirmed Skipton's Prime-2 short-term
local and foreign-currency deposit ratings and the A2(cr)/Prime-1(cr)
Counterparty Risk Assessment (CRA).
A full list of affected ratings can be found at the end of this press
release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The upgrade of Skipton's BCA to baa1 from baa2 was driven by:
(1) improvements in the asset quality of the mortgage and savings division
and reducing downside risk from legacy portfolios; (2) strong capitalisation
and conservative funding position; and (3) maintaining adequate profitability
despite pressure on the net interest margin. Moody's also
takes into account material progress in reduction of the group's
organisational complexity for the past three years, which has led
to the disposal of a number of subsidiaries.
Skipton's problem loan ratio decreased to 0.85% as of end-2016
from 1.1% as of end-2015. Moody's expects
further improvements over the outlook period as the risks coming from
Skipton's legacy books are now less material and represent a lower
proportion of the total loan book. Skipton's capital position
remains strong and compares favourably with peers with Tangible Common
Equity as percentage of Risk Weighted Assets at 22.6% as
at end-2016, taking into consideration the benefit of the
first-time application of the internal ratings-based approach.
Skipton's pre-tax profitability has declined marginally compared
with the previous year but remains adequate and continues to benefit from
the diversification from its ownership of one of the largest real estate
agencies in the UK, Connells.
Moody's upgraded Skipton's long-term local and foreign-currency
deposit ratings to Baa1 from Baa2. The changes are driven by:
(1) the upgrade of Skipton's adjusted BCA to baa1 from baa2; (2)
the agency's assessment of a moderate level of loss-given-failure
(LGF) for the bank's deposits given its limited amount of senior
and subordinated debt; and (3) a low probability of government support
uplift, leading to no uplift from the BCA for the long-term
ratings.
Rationale for the Outlook
Moody's assigned a stable outlook to Skipton's long-term
deposit ratings. The outlook is based on the agency's view
that Skipton's financial fundamentals are sufficiently strong to
absorb an expected deterioration in the operating environment and slow-down
in lending over the outlook period. Moody's expects that
the operating environment for the UK mortgage lenders continues to be
challenging and profitability and interest margins will remain under pressure
due to the prolonged very low interest rate environment and economic uncertainty
relating to the UK's exit from the European Union as well as the
high level of competition in the mortgage market.
Counterparty Risk Assessment
The long and short-term CRAs were affirmed at A2(cr)/Prime-1(cr).
The reduced protection for Skipton's operating obligations resulting
from the expected reduction in outstanding Permanent Interest-Bearing
Shares led Moody's to position the long-term CRA two notches
above the adjusted BCA, from three notches previously, resulting
in their affirmation.
What Could Change the Rating Up/Down
The BCA could be upgraded if Skipton is able to (1) demonstrate sustainable
improvement in asset quality; (2) improve profitability metrics from
its core business despite competitive pressures; (3) reduce risk
to capital from its subsidiaries due to volatility in performance,
operating losses or misconduct-related expenses while maintaining
solid capital levels. An upgrade in the bank's BCA would likely
lead to an upgrade of all ratings. Skipton's senior unsecured MTN
and deposits ratings could also be upgraded if the company were to issue
significant amounts of long-term senior or subordinated debt.
Skipton's BCA could be downgraded following (1) any material deterioration
in asset quality and profitability; or (2) difficulties at one of
Skipton's major subsidiaries, notably Connells, leading to
a drain on resources away from the core lending franchise. A downward
movement in Skipton's BCA would likely result in downgrades to all ratings.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Banks published in
January 2016. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS
Upgrades:
Issuer: Skipton Building Society
....LT Bank Deposits (Local & Foreign
Currency), Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2, Outlook Changed To
Stable From Positive
....Subordinate, Upgraded to Baa2 from
Baa3
....Senior Unsecured MTN Program, Upgraded
to (P)Baa1 from (P)Baa2
....Subordinate MTN Program, Upgraded
to (P)Baa2 from (P)Baa3
....Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment,
Upgraded to baa1 from baa2
....Baseline Credit Assessment, Upgraded
to baa1 from baa2
Issuer: Scarborough Building Society
....Pref. Stock Non-cumulative,
Upgraded to Ba1(hyb) from Ba2(hyb)
Affirmations:
Issuer: Skipton Building Society
....ST Bank Deposits (Local & Foreign
Currency), Affirmed P-2
....LT Counterparty Risk Assessment,
Affirmed A2(cr)
....ST Counterparty Risk Assessment,
Affirmed P-1(cr)
Outlook Actions:
Issuer: Skipton Building Society
....Outlook, Changed To Stable From
Positive
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 credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to
each particular credit 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 credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit 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.
Irakli Pipia
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
Nicholas Hill
MD - Banking
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
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United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454