FW: MARC AFFIRMS FI RATING OF AAA ON BANK PEMBANGUNAN

 

 

 

P R E S S   A N N O U N C E M E N T

                       

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

MARC AFFIRMS FI RATING OF AAA ON BANK PEMBANGUNAN

 

MARC has affirmed its AAA financial institution (FI) rating on Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (Bank Pembangunan). The rating carries a stable outlook.

 

The FI rating is solely premised on Bank Pembangunan’s status as a wholly government-owned development financial institution (DFI) which was incorporated to extend loans and financial support to specific industries promoted by the government. Government support to the DFI has been evident through government guarantees extended on borrowings as well as compensation provided for loss of interest income and credit loss.

 

Gross impaired loans (GIL) ratio stood at 12.1% as at end-2017 (2016: 15.0%). The lower GIL ratio was attributable to higher write-offs which lowered gross impairments in the technology, oil and gas, and maritime sectors. These three sectors had faced the brunt of the bank’s problematic loans, with about 64% or RM1.6 billion of their total exposure of RM2.6 billion having been classified as impaired in 2017. The bank recorded slightly higher impairments in the infrastructure loan portfolio, which had a GIL ratio of 5.2% as at end-2017 (2016: 4.8%).

 

Infrastructure loans have remained key to Bank Pembangunan’s growth, accounting for 74% of total loans approved of RM3.3 billion during 2017. Concentration risk is mitigated as the majority of existing infrastructure loans are related to government-initiated projects which benefit from direct or indirect government support. MARC notes that the group’s gross loans have continued contracting in recent years as loan growth has been offset by large repayments. Given the challenging economic conditions, MARC expects loan growth over the near term to remain muted.

 

Bank Pembangunan’s capital position as reflected by its Basel I core and risk-weighted capital ratios of 29.1% and 33.4% remained strong. The strong capital position offers a buffer against asset quality weakness. In 2017, the DFI’s profit before tax rose 56.7% y-o-y to RM325.3 million, mainly attributable to lower impairments in the year.

 

Bank Pembangunan’s funding profile remained largely supported by the government as reflected by government-guaranteed borrowings and deposits from the government and its related entities accounting for 34.4% and 39.9% of total funding.

 

Contacts: Douglas De Alwis, +603-2717 2965/ douglas@marc.com.my; Sharidan Salleh, +603-2717 2954/ sharidan@marc.com.my. 

 

November 28, 2018

 

 

[This announcement is available in MARC’s corporate website at http://www.marc.com.my]

----   DISCLAIMER    ----

This communication is provided by Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad (MARC) on the basis of information believed by MARC to be accurate and reliable as derived from publicly available sources or provided by the rated entity or its agents. MARC, however, has not independently verified such information and makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of such information. Any assignment of a credit rating by MARC is solely to be construed as a statement of its opinion and not a statement of fact. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security.

 

© 2018 Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad

 

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