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Moody’s changes to positive from stable the outlook on IBA’s foreign currency deposit rating

30 March 2011 11:35 (UTC +04:00)

Moody’s notes that IBA’s long-term foreign currency deposit rating remains constrained by the country ceiling. The bank’s other ratings -- short-term foreign currency deposit rating of Not Prime, long-term global local currency (GLC) deposit ratings of Baa3/Prime-3, long-term foreign currency senior unsecured and subordinated debt ratings of Baa3/Ba1, and bank financial strength rating (BFSR) of E+ -- are not affected by this action and are therefore affirmed.

On 8 March 2011, Moody’s changed to positive from stable the outlook on the Republic of Azerbaijan’s sovereign ratings including Ba2 country ceiling for foreign currency bank deposits. International Bank of Azerbaijan is the only bank in Azerbaijan affected by this change as it is the only bank in which the foreign currency deposit rating is constrained by the relevant country ceiling.

IBA’s local and foreign currency deposit ratings of Baa3/Ba2 incorporate Moody’s assessment of a very high probability of systemic support in case of need, which is based on the bank’s dominant market share in Azerbaijan and its vital importance to the country’s payments system.

Moody’s noted that IBA is 50.2% owned by the government, and is the largest and the only state-controlled bank in the country; the bank holds a dominant position in the banking sector, as evidenced by its large market shares in total assets, loans and deposits (42%, 43% and 36%, respectively, as at YE 2010). Moody’s observes that IBA enjoys a strategic role, as it has historically been instrumental in implementing state investment and economic policies, acting as an agent of the
government in financing large-scale projects of national importance to Azerbaijan.

According to IBA, the bank’s level of non-performing loans (loans 90+ days overdue) peaked at around 14.4% of gross loans in 2010 (according to its local unaudited GAAP ), and is expected to decline during 2011. Moody’s observes that IBA’s capitalisation remained low, with a total capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 10.7% at 31 December 2010; however, the as per Moody’s scenario analysis, the bank’s capital buffer appears to be sufficient to absorb expected credit losses.

Moody’s explained that IBA’s Baa3/Prime-3 GLC deposit ratings have limited upward potential considering that they already incorporate the rating agency’s assessment of a very high probability of systemic support.

Downward pressure could be exerted on IBA’s deposit ratings in the event of any reduction in the government’s ownership stake; this would result in Moody’s assessment of the probability of support being significantly lowered and could even lead to a multi-notch downgrade.

Moody’s last rating action on IBA was on 10 August 2010 when the rating agency changed to stable from negative the outlook on the bank’s Baa3 long-term local currency deposit ratings, and Ba1 long-term foreign currency subordinated debt rating. At that time, the rating agency also affirmed all of the bank’s ratings.