Fitch повысило прогноз рейтинга КАЗКОММЕРЦБАНКА до стабильного с негативного

/REUTERS, Лондон, 24.09.01/ - Международное рейтинговое агентство Fitch повысило прогноз рейтинга Казкоммерцбанка B+ до стабильного с негативного, оставило существующие рейтинги - краткосрочный "B", индивидуальный "D", рейтинг поддержки "4T" - без изменений. Изменения отражают улучшение качества доходов, активов и пассивов банка. Рейтинги отражают достаточную капитализацию банка, хороший менеджмент, ведущий банк в сложной и конкурентной среде, а так же роль Казкоммерцбанка в банковской системе Казахстана. Это крупнейший банк страны по размеру активов - на его долю приходилось 23 процента активов банковской системы Казахстана в конце июня 2001 года. Агентство отмечает, что предстоящее слияние со Сберегательным Халык банком будет иметь позитивный эффект для долгосрочного рейтинга и рейтинга поддержки объединенного банка. Правительство Казахстана намерено провести аукцион по продаже 33,3 процентов в Халык-банке 17 октября 2001 года. Ниже следует оригинальный текст сообщения на английском языке (The following statement was released by the ratings agency). LONDON, Sept 24 - Fitch, the international rating agency, has today changed the Outlook for Kazkommertsbank's ('KKB') 'B+' Long-term rating from Negative to Stable. KKB's other ratings are unchanged as follows: Short-term 'B', Individual 'D' and Support '4T'. The rating action reflects improvements in the quality of KKB's earnings, its asset quality and funding base. Despite an ongoing large exposure to the bank's management, which equates to a sizeable 30% of end-June 2001 equity and whose full repayment continues to be delayed, KKB has grown successfully and performed adequately in 2000/2001. The ratings continue to take into account the bank's reasonable capitalisation and a solid management track record in a difficult and competitive operating environment, as well as KKB's important position in the Kazakh banking sector. It is the country's largest bank in terms of assets (c.23% of total banking sector assets as at end-June 2001). Fitch also comments that a merger with Halyk Savings Bank ('Halyk') would be likely to have further positive implications for the Long-term and Support ratings of the combined bank. The Kazakh government is due to auction its remaining 33.3% stake in Halyk on 17 October, 2001. The significance of the merged bank to the Kazakh banking sector would increase - particularly given that the combined entity would have a market share of between 35% and 40% of banking assets. A merger would give KKB access to new customers, a large branch network and a sizeable retail funding base, with the combined banks having a retail deposit market share of c.50%. However, rationalising the branch network, reducing costs, changing working practices and integrating IT systems are likely to be a test to management and may reduce profitability ratios, at least initially. Additionally, the impact of Halyk's loan portfolio on KKB's asset quality is currently difficult to assess. Consequently, and notwithstanding a substantial new share issue planned in the near term, positive developments in KKB's Individual rating would likely depend on the success of management in overcoming what would be a difficult, and potentially lengthy, period of integration. ((London Capital Markets +44 20 7542 7970, fax +44 20 7542 5285, jon.laycock@reuters.com)) Contacts: James Longsdon, Natasha Page; London Tel:+44 (0)20 7417 4222 Note to Editors: Fitch's Support and Individual Ratings for Banks Fitch's Individual ratings assess how a bank would be viewed if it were entirely independent and could not rely on external support. Its Support ratings deal with the question of whether a bank would receive support from its owners or from the state if it were to get into difficulty. These ratings are not debt ratings but rather, respectively, an assessment of the intrinsic strength of a bank and of any level of outside support that may, or may not, be available to it. The use of the suffix "T" with the Support rating indicates significant existing or potential transfer risk of economic and/or political origin that might prevent support for foreign currency creditors.