press release
RAM Ratings downgrades AMMB Group’s ratings following 1MDB settlement
5 Mar 2021 | Friday source: RAM Rating Services
RAM Ratings has downgraded the ratings of AMMB Holdings Berhad (the Group) and those of its banking subsidiaries – AmBank (M) Berhad, AmBank Islamic Berhad and AmInvestment Bank Berhad – to AA3 from AA2. The outlook on the ratings is stable. All the entities’ short-term ratings have been reaffirmed at P1. The rating action is premised on the financial impact of the RM2.83 bil global settlement made by AMMB to the Government of Malaysia in relation to its historical dealings with 1Malaysia Development Berhad. Equivalent to roughly two years’ net earnings, the substantial cost will reduce the Group’s loss absorption capacity to withstand credit headwinds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
To be incurred in 4Q FY Mar 2021, the provision for the settlement is estimated to erase 2.5 percentage points from AMMB’s common equity tier-1 capital ratio. This brings it to a pro forma 11.3% (adjusted to include 3Q FY Mar 2021 profits) – lower than peers, although still comfortably above the regulatory minimum of 7%. Based on our prudent assumptions, we envisage that it will take about two years for the Group to restore its capital to a level supportive of an AA2 rating. The high degree of uncertainty over the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on banks’ loan portfolios – particularly when all relief measures end – may derail the expected timeframe to replenish the Group’s capital.
The planned divestments of AMMB’s stakes in its insurance units are credit positive as these may provide cumulative capital uplifts of 0.7 to 0.9 percentage points. These exercises have nonetheless not been taken into account, given the uncertainty over their timing and eventual materialisation. The decision not to propose any final dividends for FY Mar 2021 further reinforces the management’s strong commitment to capital restoration.
The stable outlook on the ratings reflects our view that the AA3 rating has sufficient headroom to withstand potential challenges to the Group’s credit metrics amid the ongoing pandemic. AMMB’s asset quality has been healthy pre-pandemic. As at end-December 2020, its gross impaired loan ratio stood at a low 1.73% while the Group’s provision coverage ratio was a strong 100% (with regulatory reserves). That said – as with other banks – loan defaults are likely to rise when forbearance measures are lifted, although the severity will depend on the strength and speed of the country’s economic recovery. Even so, the Group has judiciously built up its provisioning buffer on a pre-emptive basis over the past year and is anticipated to continue doing so in the coming quarters, albeit at lower levels.
Notwithstanding the large settlement amount, the Group has sufficient liquidity to meet the sum without impairing its funding and liquidity position. Its liquidity coverage ratio is at 156% and the net stable funding ratio of all its operating entities are above 100%. While the one-off payment will put AMMB’s full-year FY Mar 2021 in the red, its pre-provision earnings growth demonstrated good momentum, underpinned by loan expansion of 7% y-o-y and tight cost discipline in its recent nine months’ results. We believe the Group’s continuous enhancements to corporate governance by strengthening controls and processes over the last few years will sustain its franchise in the banking space.
The ratings of various debt securities issued by AmBank (M) Berhad and AmBank Islamic Berhad have also been downgraded by one notch (Table 1).
Table 1: Issuer and issue ratings of AMMB and its banking entities Ratings
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
AMMB Holdings Berhad
|
AA3/Stable/P1 |
| AmBank (M) Berhad
|
AA3/Stable/P1 AA3/Stable A1/Stable |
| AmBank Islamic Berhad
|
AA3/Stable/P1 AA3/Stable A1/Stable |
| AmInvestment Bank Berhad
|
AA3/Stable/P1 |
Analytical contact
Wong Yin Ching, CFA
(603) 3385 2555
yinching@ram.com.my
Media contact
Padthma Subbiah
(603) 3385 2577
padthma@ram.com.my
Date of release: 5 March 2021
The credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment on the security’s market price or its suitability for a particular investor, nor does it involve any audit by RAM Ratings. The credit rating also does not reflect the legality and enforceability of financial obligations.
RAM Ratings receives compensation for its rating services, normally paid by the issuers of such securities or the rated entity, and sometimes third parties participating in marketing the securities, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, underwriters, etc. The receipt of this compensation has no influence on RAM Ratings’ credit opinions or other analytical processes. In all instances, RAM Ratings is committed to preserving the objectivity, integrity and independence of its ratings. Rating fees are communicated to clients prior to the issuance of rating opinions. While RAM Ratings reserves the right to disseminate the ratings, it receives no payment for doing so, except for subscriptions to its publications.
Similarly, the disclaimers above also apply to RAM Ratings’ credit-related analyses and commentaries, where relevant.
Published by RAM Rating Services Berhad
Copyright 2021 by RAM Rating Services Berhad
