ABB-nin reytinqləri yüksəldi

Moodys Beynəlxalq Reytinq Agentliyi ABB-nin reytinqlərinə yenidən baxıb.
Agentlik Bankın yerli və xarici valyutada Uzunmüddətli depozit reytinqini Ba3 səviyyəsindən Ba2 səviyyəsinə qədər artırıb. Eyni zamanda, Bankın Kredit ödəmə (BCA) və Tənzimlənmiş kredit ödəmə (Adjusted BCA) qabiliyyəti reytinqlərini 1 pillə artıraraq b1 səviyyəsindən ba3 səviyyəsinə yüksəldib. ABB-nin reytinq proqnozu "Pozitiv" səviyyədə təsdiqlənib. 
Reytinqlərinin yüksəlişi Bankın aktivlərinin artan keyfiyyəti, mənfəətliliyi, güclü kapital mövqeyi, həmçinin aktivlərinin yüksək likvidliyi, məhdud risklərə malik olması, problemli kreditlərinin azalması ilə əsaslandırılır. ABB-nin dövlət bankı olması da Agentlik ekspertlərinin Bankın gələcəyi barədə pozitiv rəyində mühüm rol oynayır.
Moody"s-in mövqeyinə görə, ABB ölkədə yaranan yeni iqtisadi imkanlardan, biznes üçün əlverişli şəraitdən, mövcud fürsətlərdən faydalanmaqda davam edəcək. Bu da Bankın güclü gəlirlilik mövqeyinə, aktivlərinin keyfiyyətinə müsbət təsir göstərəcək.
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Moodys Ratings takes positive rating actions on five banks in Azerbaijan
London, July 09, 2024 -- Moodys Ratings (Moodys) has today taken rating actions on five Azerbaijani banks, namely, International Bank of Azerbaijan, Kapital Bank OJSC (Kapital Bank), OJSC XALQ BANK (Xalq Bank), Joint Stock Commercial Bank Respublika (Bank Respublika), and OJSC Bank of Baku (Bank of Baku).
These rating actions follow the change of outlook on the Government of Azerbaijans Ba1 long-term issuer rating to positive from stable on 5 July 2024 and upward revision of the countrys Macro Profile to Weak" from Weak- driven by strengthened operating environment for the Azerbaijani banks, on the back of improvements in the countrys economic strength and the banks consistently sound solvency and liquidity metrics.
Specifically, we have:
(1) upgraded to ba3 from b1 the Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA of International Bank of Azerbaijan, upgraded to b1 from b2 the BCA and Adjusted BCA of Xalq Bank and Bank of Baku, affirmed the ba3 BCA and Adjusted BCA of Kapital Bank and affirmed the b2 BCA and Adjusted BCA of Bank Respublika.
(2) upgraded to Ba2 from Ba3 the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of International Bank of Azerbaijan, upgraded to Ba3 from B1 the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Xalq Bank, upgraded to B1 from B2 the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Bank Respublika and Bank of Baku and affirmed the Ba2 long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Kapital Bank.
(3) changed to positive from stable the outlooks on the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Kapital Bank and Bank Respublika; changed to stable from positive the outlooks on the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Xalq Bank and Bank of Baku and maintained the positive outlook on the long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings of International Bank of Azerbaijan.
RATINGS RATIONALE
IMPROVING OPERATING ENVIRONMENT IN AZERBAIJAN DRIVES CHANGE IN THE MACRO PROFILE TO WEAK FROM WEAK-
We have changed the Macro Profile we assign to Azerbaijan to "Weak" from "Weak-" to reflect the improvements in the countrys economic strength. Consequently, our assessment of more favorable credit conditions for banks in Azerbaijan has resulted in upward pressure on these banks intrinsic financial strength (or BCAs).
The rating actions reflect our view that the countrys non-oil economy, where banks do most of their business, will continue to expand, driven by the government ongoing efforts to diversify the economy. Azerbaijan has seen a strong economic diversification momentum compared to other oil producers, recording higher cumulative non-oil real GDP growth since 2017 which accelerated in recent years. Azeri banks will benefit from an improving economic conditions and favorable operating environment which will translate into stronger business opportunities, supporting the banks robust profitability and good asset quality, strengthening their standalone credit profiles. Furthermore, the improving quality of financial sector regulation in the country will foster greater resilience in the banking sector.
BANK-SPECIFIC FACTORS
-- International Bank of Azerbaijan
We upgraded the banks BCA to ba3 from b1 and its long-term deposit ratings to Ba2 from Ba3. The outlook on the Ba2 long-term deposit ratings remains positive.
The upgrade of the banks BCA to ba3 from b1 is driven by a combination of improved operating conditions in Azerbaijan, reflected in our raising the countrys banking system Macro Profile to "Weak" from "Weak-" and the banks strengthened solvency profile and in particular 1) gradually improving asset quality indicators in recent years with the problem loan ratio decreasing to 3.3% in 2023 from 4.6% in 2022, (2) a strong capital position with Tangible Common Equity (TCE)/Risk-Weighted Assets (RWA) ratio of 26.5% in 2023, (3) robust profitability metrics (the net profit over tangible assets increased to 2.7% in 2023 from 2.1% in 2022 and (4) ample liquidity and decreasing reliance on market funding.
The upgrade of International Bank of Azerbaijans local and foreign currency long-term bank deposit ratings to Ba2 from Ba3 follows its BCA upgrade.
International Bank of Azerbaijan s long-term deposit ratings of Ba2 are based on the banks BCA of ba3 and our assessment of a high probability of government support from the Government of Azerbaijan in case of need, based on the banks government ownership and its status as the largest bank in the country with large market shares in both loans and customer deposits. This support translates into one-notch rating uplift to the banks long-term deposit ratings from its ba3 BCA.
The positive outlook on International Bank of Azerbaijan s long-term deposit ratings reflects our expectations that the banks credit profile will continue to benefit from improving economic conditions and a favorable operating environment which will translate into stronger business opportunities, supporting its robust profitability and good asset quality.
-- Kapital Bank
We affirmed the banks ba3 BCA and Ba2 long-term bank deposit ratings. We also changed to positive from stable the outlook on the Ba2 long-term deposit ratings.
The affirmation of Kapital Banks ba3 BCA and its Ba2 long-term bank deposit ratings follows the sovereign rating action on Azerbaijan and the improvement in Azerbaijans banking systems Macro Profile to "Weak" from "Weak-".
Kapital Banks BCA is underpinned by (1) good asset quality with problem loan ratio of 2% in 2023; (2) its solid capital position with a TCE ratio of 13-14% in 2023 supported by the banks good internal capital generation capacity which will be supported by moderated asset growth; (3) strong profitability (the net profit over tangible assets was high at around 3% in 2023) that is supported by high net interest margins and strong efficiency and (4) limited reliance on market funding and good buffers of liquid assets with the proportion of liquid banking assets to tangible banking assets at around 30%.
Kapital Banks long-term deposit ratings of Ba2 are based on the banks BCA of ba3 and our assessment of a high probability of government support from the Government of Azerbaijan in case of need, based on the banks status as the third-largest bank in the country with large market shares in both loans and customer deposits. This support translates into one-notch rating uplift to the banks long-term deposit ratings from its ba3 BCA.
The positive outlook on Kapital Banks long-term deposit ratings reflects our expectations that the banks credit profile will further benefit from improving economic conditions and a favorable operating environment which will translate into stronger business opportunities, supporting its robust profitability and good asset quality.
-- Xalq Bank
We upgraded the banks BCA to b1 from b2 and upgraded to Ba3 from B1 the banks long-term bank deposit ratings. We also changed to stable from positive the outlook on the Ba3 long-term deposit ratings.
The upgrade of the banks BCA to b1 from b2 was driven by a combination of the improvement in Azerbaijans banking system Macro Profile to "Weak" from "Weak-", lower downside risks in the current operating environment as well as the banks strengthened funding profile. The upgrade of the local and foreign currency long-term bank deposit ratings to Ba3 from B1 follows its BCA upgrade.
Xalq Banks b1 BCA reflects solid pre-provision revenue generation, a strong capital position with TCE/RWA ratio of 16.1% and a strengthened funding profile with a stable deposit base, decreased reliance on market funds, to 9% of total assets and a sound liquidity buffer of 24% of total assets at the end of 2023. These strengths are moderated by vulnerable asset quality because of a large proportion of foreign-currency-denominated loans (43% of gross loans) and substantial single-name credit concentration with the 17 largest borrowers accounting for 46% of gross loans or 178% of the banks tangible common equity (TCE) at the end of 2023.
Xalq Banks long-term deposit ratings of Ba3 are based on the banks BCA of b1 and our assessment of a moderate probability of support from the Government of Azerbaijan in case of need, based on the banks status as the fourth-largest bank in the country with large market shares in both loans and customer deposits. This support translates into one-notch rating uplift to the banks long-term deposit ratings from its b1 BCA.
The outlook on Xalq Banks long-term deposit ratings is stable, reflecting our view that the bank will maintain its sound fundamentals over the next 12-18 months.
-- Bank of Baku
We upgraded the banks BCA to b1 from b2 and upgraded to B1 from B2 the banks long-term bank deposit ratings. We also changed to stable from positive the outlook on the B1 long-term deposit ratings.
The upgrade of the banks BCA to b1 from b2 was driven by a combination of Azerbaijans higher banking system Macro Profile at "Weak" from "Weak-" previously, the lower downside risks in the current operating environment as well as the banks improved liquidity profile.
Bank of Bakus b1 BCA reflects improved asset quality and profitability in recent years with problem loan ratio of 2.8% of gross loans at the end of 2023 and return on tangible assets at 3.5% in 2023. At the same time, the BCA is constrained by the banks business model focused on the unsecured consumer lending segment, which is sensitive to economic cycles, as well as its modest liquidity cushion at 18% of total assets at the end of 2023.
Bank of Bakus long-term deposit ratings of B1 are based on the banks BCA of b1 and do not benefit from any uplift from our assumption of a low probability of support from the Government of Azerbaijan given the banks relatively small size and lack of systemic importance.
The outlook on Bank of Bakus long-term deposit ratings is stable, reflecting our view that the bank will maintain its robust credit metrics over the next 12-18 months.
-- Bank Respublika
We affirmed the banks BCA at b2 and upgraded to B1 from B2 the banks long-term bank deposit ratings. We also changed to positive from stable the outlook on the B1 long-term deposit ratings.
The upgrade of the banks long-term deposit ratings to B1 from B2 reflects our reassessment of the probability of government support to "moderate" from "low". Bank Respublika is the fifth-largest bank in the country by assets, with a market share of 4.4% as at the end of May 2024. The proven sustainability of the banks sizable market shares and importance of this bank to the banking system as well as countrys legal advancements in default resolution practices lead us to believe that there is a higher likelihood of support from the Government of Azerbaijan to the depositors of Bank Respublika in case of stress. This support translates into one-notch rating uplift to the banks long-term deposit ratings from its b2 BCA.
Bank Respublikas b2 BCA is underpinned by its solid asset quality with problem loans accounting for only 1.4% as of the end of 2023, ample liquidity and stable profitability demonstrated in recent years, supported by wide, higher than 7%, interest margin. These strengths are balanced against a weak capital position on the back of high business growth (TCE/RWA stood at 8.3% at the end of 2023), and high dependence on key large depositors.
The positive outlook on Bank Respublikas long-term deposit ratings reflects both (1) our expectation of growth moderation, that will benefit the banks financial profile, in particular reducing pressure on capital, and (2) our view that improvements in the operating environment will positively affect the banks solvency profile and will support its business lending model in the next 12-18 months.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
Sustained improvement trend in the banks creditworthiness, further improvement of the operating environment as well as upgrade of Azerbaijans sovereign issuer rating may lead to an upgrade of the banks BCA, deposit ratings or outlook change to positive.
A downgrade of Azerbaijans issuer rating could exert downward pressure on the deposit ratings of International Bank of Azerbaijan, Kapital Bank, Xalq Bank, and Bank Respublika. The ratings of these banks could be downgraded if the likelihood of government support declines, which is not currently expected.
BCAs and deposit ratings of all five banks could be downgraded or the outlook on the long-term deposit ratings could be changed to negative if their solvency or liquidity were to deteriorate materially or in case of remarkable deterioration of operating environment. / marja.az