Interessante... buono a sapersi
Intanto, la situazione di Abu Dhabi nella valutazione di S&P, con luci ed ombre... fra le luci, l'accumulazione patrimoniale fatta negli anni passati, un net surplus del 15% sul PIL prevedibile per gli anni a venire. Le ombre sono nella volatilità dei corsi petroliferi, nei fattori di rischio geopolitico, nella impossibilità di valutare estensivamente la qualità degli asset posseduti, in conseguenza di una disclosure limitata, nella esposizione indiretta al debito bancario e del settore pubblico dell'UAE intesa come entità federale.
Emirate of Abu Dhabi 'AA/A-1+' Sovereign Ratings Affirmed; Outlook Stable
-- We are affirming our 'AA/A-1+' sovereign credit ratings on the Emirate
of Abu Dhabi.
-- The stable outlook balances the Emirate's strong financial position
and prudent policies against geopolitical risks, contingent liabilities, and
potential impediments to growth stemming from undeveloped institutions.
DUBAI (Standard & Poor's) Nov. 25, 2009--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services
today said it had affirmed its 'AA' long-term and 'A-1+' short-term sovereign
credit ratings on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, a member of the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). The outlook is stable. The 'AA+' Transfer & Convertibility
assessment is unchanged.
"The ratings on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are supported by the
government's very strong asset position, which provides significant financial
flexibility, and which has allowed Abu Dhabi to face the global economic
downturn with a high degree of resilience," Standard & Poor's credit analyst
Farouk Soussa said.
The ratings are also supported by the country's high level of political
stability and wealth, underpinned by its rich resource endowment, and by
policies that reinforce Abu Dhabi's integration with the global economy. The
ratings are constrained by the geopolitical risks that face all sovereigns in
the region, the limited disclosure on the government's assets, and the
contingent liabilities arising from the banking system and the public sector
of the UAE as a whole.
The government of Abu Dhabi has accumulated substantial foreign and
domestic assets, which are the product of a high resource endowment and
prudent fiscal policies over past decades. We estimate the government's net
asset position to be more than 300% of GDP in 2009 and 320% in 2010--one of
the highest among rated sovereigns. While volatility in global oil prices
reduces the predictability of government revenues, we expect that the
Emirate's budget will continue to show substantial surpluses of around 15% of
GDP in the medium term. We anticipate that these surpluses will be used
largely for further asset accumulation, with financing for the government's
proactive diversification policies being partially sourced in international
capital markets. In 2009, the government and its affiliated companies have
issued around $7 billion, or around 10% of GDP, for this purpose.
Per capita GDP, which we expect will average around $75,000 over the next
three years, is higher than that of most 'AA' rated peers. Growth is supported
by a track record of prudent macroeconomic policies, careful management of oil
and gas resources, and proactive diversification policies.
Structural weaknesses and challenges remain, however. First, the
independent institutions, accountability, and transparency needed for the
functioning of an efficient market economy are, by and large, still in the
early stages of development. Second, high levels of debt in the public sector
in the UAE as a whole, along with its complicated and close linkages with the
private sector, create a dependence that suggests a contingent liability for
Abu Dhabi, as the wealthiest Emirate in the UAE. Third, like other sovereigns
in the region, Abu Dhabi is exposed to event risks such as a sharp escalation
in hostilities between Iran and the West, or terrorist attacks. Such
developments might raise risks in the UAE's banking and property sectors.
Event risk and contingent liabilities are not expected to threaten political
or social stability, and Abu Dhabi is capable of absorbing potential costs
through existing government assets.
The stable outlook on Abu Dhabi balances the Emirate's strong financial
position and prudent policies against geopolitical risks, rising contingent
liabilities, and potential impediments to growth stemming from undeveloped
institutions. Significantly reduced geopolitical risk would be important in
raising the rating in the future. Conversely, a sustained worsening of
political and event risks, or a significant and sustained erosion of the
government's asset position, would put the government's creditworthiness under
pressure.