Fitch повысило долгосрочный рейтинг Казкоммерцбанка до "ВВ" с "ВВ-"

/Московское бюро REUTERS, 07.04.03/ - Международное рейтинговое агентство Fitch Ratings повысило долгосрочный рейтинг Казкоммерцбанка до "ВВ" с "ВВ-", говорится в сообщении Fitch. Fitch также подтвердило рейтинги крупнейшего частного банка Казахстана: индивидуальный на уровне "C/D", краткосрочный - "В" и рейтинг поддержки - "4Т". "Действия в отношении рейтингов отражают превращение Казкоммерцбанка в универсальную банковскую франшизу... Рейтинги также отражают хорошие прибыльность банка, управление рисками и поддержание адекватного уровня капитала", - говорится в сообщении. Полный текст сообщения приведен ниже. Fitch Ratings, the international rating agency, has today upgraded Kazkommertsbank's (KKB) Long-term rating to 'BB' from 'BB-' ('BB minus'). The Individual rating of 'C/D', the Short-term rating of 'B' and the Support rating of '4T' have all been affirmed. The rating action reflects KKB's continued development of a universal banking franchise as reflected in its increased activity in the retail and SME markets. The ratings also reflect the bank's track record of good profitability and risk management and maintenance of an adequate level of capital. But they also take into account the exposure the bank necessarily has to a volatile operating environment and the level of concentration in customer lending and funding. The operating environment is, however, gradually improving and concentration is falling. Expansion into SME and retail markets exposes the bank to new potential risks, but also brings a welcome diversification to its earnings base. Importantly, the expansion of the bank into a more universal franchise, in Fitch's view, increases the likelihood that support from the Kazakhstani authorities will be forthcoming in case of need. KKB's profitability has remained robust as the bank has balanced falling margins from lending to large corporates and wholesale funding with wider margins on retail and SME lending. While this expansion, as well as that into Russia and Kyrgyzstan, is not without risk, KKB's risk management system has been improving and management's ability has been successfully tested in volatile conditions. Fitch considers it important that the bank continues to build up a cushion of general loan loss reserves in view of greater lending to SMEs and the operating environment. Although KKB remains partly dependent on capital market funding, retail funds have been growing strongly in recent years. This funding diversification as well as the lengthening maturity of some of the wholesale finance should mitigate potential liquidity and market risk the bank faces in light of its longer-term lending. KKB is the largest Kazakhstani bank by assets and equity. It has historically focused on large corporates, but SME and retail banking now accounts for a significant part of its balance sheet. KKB recently acquired banks in Kyrgyzstan and Russia. The principal shareholders of KKB, who together hold more than 40%, also have substantial industrial interests, including stakes in Kazakh Telecom and Hurricane Hydrocarbons. A share issue, expected to be completed in April 2003, will give the EBRD a 15% stake in KKB. [2003-04-07]