Fitch Ratings has affirmed Ahli United Bank’s (AUB) long-term issuer default rating (IDR) at ‘BBB+’ and viability rating (VR) at ‘bbb+’. The outlook on the long-term IDR is stable.
The long- and short-term IDRs and support rating reflect the high probability of support for AUB from its core shareholders, if needed. The State of Kuwait, through the Public Institution for Social Security, is the largest shareholder with an 18.5% stake and holds a direct stake in the bank’s subsidiary in Kuwait. The Kingdom of Bahrain holds a 10% stake through the Social Insurance Organisation. The IDRs are constrained by Bahrain’s Country Ceiling of ‘BBB+’.
“The bank’s VR reflects its solid operating profit despite the challenging operating environment in some of its markets, sound liquidity and asset quality, and the successful expansion of its franchise. Its sources of funding are diversified. However, customer deposits are concentrated and, to a large extent, short-term, but have proved stable,” Fitch in a statement said.
Impaired lending was little changed at 2.5% of gross loans at end-Q311 (2010: 2.4%), despite socio-political unrest in Bahrain and elsewhere in the region. Loan loss coverage strengthened to 137% (2010: 119%). Funding mainly consists of customer deposits, but the bank also relies on interbank deposits and medium-term debt. Liquidity benefits from substantial interbank placements and a large portfolio of marketable securities. Its Tier 1 capital ratio improved to 11.5% at end-H111, following the issue of $125million of mandatory convertible preference shares. The Tier 1 ratio is below regional norms, but reflects the bank’s aim to maintain a balanced mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. The Fitch core capital ratio, which does not include preference shares, stood at 10.5% at end-H111.
AUB was formed in 2000 and subsequently acquired stakes in banks in Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Egypt, Oman and Libya. It is also present in other Gulf/Middle Eastern countries through its brokerage subsidiary based in Kuwait, and has a wholly-owned subsidiary in the UK. Its long-term strategy is to pursue selective expansion in the Gulf/Middle East, through organic growth and acquisition, to create a leading regional diversified financial services group. However, in the current operating environment, its main focus has been on maintaining strong liquidity, asset quality and cost control.