Moody's Cuts 26 Italian Banks; Outlooks Remain Negative
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Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded by one to four notches the long-term debt and deposit ratings for 26 Italian banks, including five banks that are part of larger groups. In almost all cases, the rating actions reflect concurrent downgrades of these banks' standalone credit assessments, rather than changes in Moody's assumptions about levels of third party support, including Government
support.
The debt and deposit ratings declined by one notch for 10 banks, two notches for eight banks, three notches for six banks, and four notches for two banks. The short-term ratings for 21 banks have also been downgraded by one to two notches, triggered by the long-term rating downgrades. The rating outlooks for all affected entities are negative; a Moody's rating outlook is an opinion regarding the likely direction of an issuer's rating over the medium term.
Furthermore, Moody's changed the rating outlooks for the standalone BFSR of five Italian banks to negative from stable. The debt and deposit ratings for nine more Italian banks remain on review for further downgrade, for reasons specific to each bank.
The ratings for Italian banks are now amongst the lowest within advanced
European countries, reflecting these banks' susceptibility to the adverse operating environments in Italy and Europe. Today's rating actions reflect, to differing degrees for each affected bank, the following key drivers:
Moody's notes that several mitigating issues have limited the magnitude of the downgrades. Specifically, Moody's cites the substantial liquidity support that the European Central Bank (ECB) has made available, significantly reducing near-term default risk. Furthermore, many banks have strengthened their capital levels and continue to generate sizeable pre-provision earnings under difficult conditions.
Nevertheless, given already elevated problem loan levels and weakened profitability, Italian banks are particularly vulnerable to adverse operating conditions, which are likely to cause further asset quality deterioration, earnings pressure, and restricted market funding access. These risks are exacerbated by investor concerns over the sustainability of the Italian government's debt burden, which has contributed to the difficult wholesale funding conditions faced by Italian banks.
The rating outlooks for all banks affected by today's actions are negative. The revised rating levels reflect currently foreseen risks and the ratings are expected to be resilient to a degree of further stress. However, Moody's considers that there are several factors that could cause further downward adjustments, such as (i) increasing funding stress; (ii) a prolonged recession; (iii) crystallisation of corporate governance, control and risk management weaknesses; or (iv) further
weakening of the Italian government's creditworthiness. Moody's noted that the potential for further rating transition is heightened by the possibility of rapid increases in problem loans, as has been evident following supervisory inspections of certain Italian banks.
As stated, today's rating actions primarily reflect Moody's view that the standalone credit strength of the affected banks has weakened. Based on
their standalone creditworthiness, the banks downgraded today now fall
into the following four broad groups:
support.
The debt and deposit ratings declined by one notch for 10 banks, two notches for eight banks, three notches for six banks, and four notches for two banks. The short-term ratings for 21 banks have also been downgraded by one to two notches, triggered by the long-term rating downgrades. The rating outlooks for all affected entities are negative; a Moody's rating outlook is an opinion regarding the likely direction of an issuer's rating over the medium term.
Furthermore, Moody's changed the rating outlooks for the standalone BFSR of five Italian banks to negative from stable. The debt and deposit ratings for nine more Italian banks remain on review for further downgrade, for reasons specific to each bank.
The ratings for Italian banks are now amongst the lowest within advanced
European countries, reflecting these banks' susceptibility to the adverse operating environments in Italy and Europe. Today's rating actions reflect, to differing degrees for each affected bank, the following key drivers:
- Increasingly adverse operating conditions, with Italy's economy back in recession and government austerity reducing near-term economic demand;
- Mounting asset-quality challenges and weakened net profits, as problem loans and loan-loss provisions are rising; and
- Restricted access to market funding which, if persistent, will exert added pressure on banks to reduce assets, posing risks to their franchises and earnings.
Moody's notes that several mitigating issues have limited the magnitude of the downgrades. Specifically, Moody's cites the substantial liquidity support that the European Central Bank (ECB) has made available, significantly reducing near-term default risk. Furthermore, many banks have strengthened their capital levels and continue to generate sizeable pre-provision earnings under difficult conditions.
Nevertheless, given already elevated problem loan levels and weakened profitability, Italian banks are particularly vulnerable to adverse operating conditions, which are likely to cause further asset quality deterioration, earnings pressure, and restricted market funding access. These risks are exacerbated by investor concerns over the sustainability of the Italian government's debt burden, which has contributed to the difficult wholesale funding conditions faced by Italian banks.
The rating outlooks for all banks affected by today's actions are negative. The revised rating levels reflect currently foreseen risks and the ratings are expected to be resilient to a degree of further stress. However, Moody's considers that there are several factors that could cause further downward adjustments, such as (i) increasing funding stress; (ii) a prolonged recession; (iii) crystallisation of corporate governance, control and risk management weaknesses; or (iv) further
weakening of the Italian government's creditworthiness. Moody's noted that the potential for further rating transition is heightened by the possibility of rapid increases in problem loans, as has been evident following supervisory inspections of certain Italian banks.
As stated, today's rating actions primarily reflect Moody's view that the standalone credit strength of the affected banks has weakened. Based on
their standalone creditworthiness, the banks downgraded today now fall
into the following four broad groups:
- The first group comprises UniCredit (deposit rating A3; bank standalone
bank financial strength rating (BFSR) C- / baseline credit assessment (BCA) baa2) and Intesa Sanpaolo (deposits A3; BFSR C- / BCA baa1), which together account for almost one third of the Italian market by assets. Their standalone credit assessments reflect solid, diversified franchises that generate sizeable pre-provision earnings.
- The second group (six banks) comprises other Italian banks with standalone profiles of baa3 or higher -- including the fifth-largest bank, Unione di Banche Italiane (deposits Baa2; BFSR D+ / BCA baa3). Banks in this group are better positioned than most domestic peers to cope with the current recession, helped by overall solid franchises and above-average earnings capacity.
- The third group (seven banks) consists of banks with ba1 standalone
credit assessments. These institutions -- including the fourth-largest Banco Popolare (deposits Baa3; BFSR D+ / BCA ba1) -- face more significant challenges, often including a combination of weak capital levels under Moody's adverse scenarios, insufficient internal capital generation and funding constraints.
- The fourth group (11 banks) comprises banks with standalone credit
assessments below ba1, including the third-largest Banca Monte Dei Paschi (deposits Baa3; BFSR D / BCA ba2). This bank faces more substantial challenges, often due to asset quality, capital and/or funding issues.
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