Sri Lanka's Commercial Bank Basel III bonds rated a notch below

ECONOMYNEXT - Basel III compliant bond sold by Sri Lanka's Commercial Bank has been rated 'AA-(lka)' a notch below the bank's 'AA(lka/Stable) rating, Fitch, a rating agency said.

Basle III compliant bonds will convert to equity in case of capital erosion.

The final rating is the same as the expected rating assigned on 14 February 2018 and follows the receipt of documents conforming to information already received.

The full statement is reproduced below:

Fitch Rates Commercial Bank of Ceylon's Basel III Sub Debt Final 'AA-(lka)'

Fitch Ratings-Colombo-03 July 2018: Fitch Ratings has assigned Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC's (CB, AA(lka)/Stable) proposed Basel III-compliant subordinated unsecured debentures a final National Long-Term Rating of 'AA-(lka)'.

The final rating is the same as the expected rating assigned on 14 February 2018 and follows the receipt of documents conforming to information already received.

The debentures, totalling LKR10 billion, have maturities of five and 10 years, carry fixed coupons and will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The notes include a non-viability clause and will qualify as regulatory Tier 2 capital for the bank. The bank plans to use the proceeds to strengthen its Tier 2 capital base and support its loan book expansion.

KEY RATING DRIVERS Fitch rates the Basel III Tier 2 notes one notch below the bank's National Long-Term Rating of 'AA(lka)' to reflect the notes' higher loss-severity risks compared with senior unsecured instruments due to their subordinated status and higher loss-severity risks relative to senior unsecured instruments. The notes would convert to equity upon the occurrence of a trigger event, as determined by the Monetary Board of Sri Lanka.

CB's National Long-Term Rating is used as the anchor rating because it reflects the bank's standalone financial strength. Fitch believes the bank's standalone credit profile best indicates the risk of non-viability.

Fitch has not differentiated the notching on the notes from the notching on CB's legacy Tier 2 notes, as it is assumed that the authorities would step in late, moving the point of non-viability close to liquidation.

Fitch has not applied additional notching to the notes for non-performance risk, according to our criteria, as the notes have no going-concern loss-absorption features.

RATING SENSITIVITIES The rating of the notes will move in tandem with CB's National Long-Term Rating.

Fitch Ratings-Colombo-03 July 2018: Fitch Ratings has assigned Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC's (CB, AA(lka)/Stable) proposed Basel III-compliant subordinated unsecured debentures a final National Long-Term Rating of 'AA-(lka)'.

Sri Lankan shares hit 15-month closing low on foreign selling

Reuters: Sri Lankan shares extended falls on Tuesday to a 15-month closing low as continued foreign selling in blue chips, political uncertainty and concerns about lower economic growth dented investor appetite for risky assets.

The Colombo stock index declined for a 16th session in 18 and closed 0.77 percent weaker at 6,081.08, its lowest close since April 3, 2017. On Monday, the index fell the most in intraday trade in nearly 28 months.

Foreign investors sold the island nation’s risky assets for a ninth consecutive session, extending the foreign outflow to 1.02 billion rupees ($6.44 million).

“Foreign selling was the main reason for the fall. Political uncertainty is the main reason that has kept investors on the sidelines,” said Prashan Fernando, CEO, Acuity Stockbrokers.

Foreign investors net sold equities worth 182.8 million rupees, extending the year-to-date foreign outflows to 1.82 billion rupees.

Turnover was 566.5 million rupees, less than this year’s daily average of 932 million rupees.

Top conglomerate John Keells Holdings closed 3.4 percent lower, Lanka Orix Leasing Company fell 4.2 percent, and leading mobile phone services provider Dialog Axiata slipped 1.4 percent.

Investors are waiting for some positive news both on the economic and political fronts, said analysts, adding that the government’s policy implementation had been sluggish since both main parties in the ruling coalition suffered local polls in February.

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera said last month that the economy was likely to grow about 4.5 percent this year, below a central bank estimate of 5 percent.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on June 20 that Sri Lanka’s economy remained vulnerable to adverse shocks because of sizable public debt and large refinancing needs.

Ratings agency Moody’s said on Wednesday a strengthening U.S. dollar since mid-April has increased the credit risk of several emerging markets, including Sri Lanka, due to currency depreciation.

Moody’s said a strong U.S. dollar would also lead to a drop in foreign exchange reserves of countries such as Argentina, Ghana, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Zambia. 

($1 = 158.3000 Sri Lankan rupees)

(Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)