Fitch повысило рейтинги Казкоммерцбанка

/REUTERS, Киев, 10.04.02/ - Международное рейтинговое агентство Fitch повысило долгосрочный рейтинг Казкоммерцбанка до "ВВ-" с "В+", прогноз рейтинга стабильный, говорится в сообщении агентства. Индивидуальный рейтинг Казкоммерцбанка повышен до "С/D" c "D", в то время как краткосрочный рейтинг и рейтинг поддержки подтверждены на уровнях "В" и "4Т" соответственно. Повышение долгосрочного рейтинга Казкоммерцбанка отражает улучшившееся финансовое положение банка, и, как следствие, увеличение вероятности получения поддержки со стороны властей. Рейтинг также учитывает возросшие возможности государства по оказанию поддержки банковскому сектору на фоне успехов Казахстана в области экономики. Повышение индивидуального рейтинга Казкоммерцбанка отражает улучшающееся качество активов банка, поддержание адекватного уровня капитала на фоне быстро растущего баланса, хорошую работу банка и растущий объем депозитов частных лиц. Ниже следует текст сообщения Fitch на английском языке: (The following statement was released by the rating agency) LONDON, April 10 - Fitch Ratings, the international rating agency, has upgraded the Long-term rating of Kazkommertsbank (KKB) to 'BB-' (BB minus) from 'B+' and the Individual rating to 'C/D' from 'D'. The Long-term rating Outlook is Stable. The bank's other ratings are affirmed at: Short-term 'B' and Support of 4T'. The upgrade of KKB's Individual rating reflects the bank's improving asset quality, maintenance of an adequate level of capital in the face of a rapidly growing balance sheet, its continuing good performance and rising retail deposit base. Its Long-term rating has been upgraded to reflect the bank's better franchise and financial standing, and, consequently, greater likelihood of support from the authorities. It also takes into account the sovereign's stronger ability to provide assistance than in the prior years, due to the solid performance of the economy. KKB's income streams are diversified and the quality of income improved in 2001, following strong growth in net interest and fee income. Despite the growth in risk-weighted assets, the bank's capital ratios fell only slightly due to good internal capital generation and issue of preference shares. However, the agency warns that KKB operates in a very competitive banking sector that is witnessing margin pressure across the board. Additionally, although it currently focuses on some of the largest, better-performing Kazakh corporates, the bank's loan portfolio has been growing very rapidly. It is imperative, therefore, that underwriting standards do not slip and that an adequate cushion of general reserves be built up, particularly in light of plans to increase lending to higher risk medium-sized companies from this year. While KKB's funding base is still relatively concentrated and short-term, both characteristics have been improving, and the bank may access the international capital markets in spring 2002 for longer-term funding. KKB was established in 1990 and is the largest bank in Kazakhstan. It is primarily focused on the corporate sector, although retail banking has been growing in importance. Sixty-three per cent of KKB's voting shares are controlled by senior management, with 32% held by international institutional investors via a Global Depositary Receipts (GDR) programme. KKB's management also owns stakes in Kazakhtelecom, the Toronto-listed Hurricane Hydrocarbons and other industrial companies.