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Fitch Affirms Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena at 'A'; Outlook Stable
17 Aug 2009 9:29 AM (EDT)
Fitch Ratings-Milan/London-17 August 2009: Fitch Ratings has today affirmed Italy-based Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena's (MPS) ratings at Long-term Issuer Default (IDR) 'A' with a Stable Outlook, Short-term IDR 'F1', Individual 'B/C', Support '2' and Support Rating Floor 'BBB+'.
MPS's ratings are based on its strong domestic franchise, adequate performance with potential for further improvements, and good risk management.
They also reflect its relatively weak asset quality and capitalisation following the acquisition of Banca Antonveneta (ANTV).
As a result of its acquisition of ANTV, completed in 2008, MPS has increased its presence in the wealthy north of Italy and strengthened its domestic market share to about 7%.
The bank has a particularly strong franchise in the region of Tuscany, which gives it access to a broad and stable customer funding base and a client base predominantly composed of SMEs, small businesses and retail customers.
The group's structure has been rationalised, with the previously relatively large subsidiary bank structures now centralised at the parent bank. This should allow significant cost savings, as should the swift integration of ANTV, which was merged into MPS at end-2008, following which the group's distribution network in north-eastern Italy was spun-off into a new legal entity, also called Banca Antonveneta.
At end-March 2009, MPS's gross impaired loans were equal to a high 8.25% of gross loans.
The bank's asset quality deteriorated as a result of the acquisition of ANTV, but also reflects deterioration in the domestic economy, and Fitch expects impaired loans to increase further for the rest of 2009.
Although MPS's impairment allowance coverage of impaired loans is below that of other domestic and international banks at about 47%, Fitch considers this coverage adequate given the bank's holding of collateral on impaired loans.
However, the ratings would come under pressure if underlying pre-impairment operating profit declines, asset quality deteriorates materially or if impairment allowances of impaired loans fall.
MPS's capitalisation suffered from the acquisition of ANTV, which created goodwill of about EUR6bn, resulting in a stretched Fitch-eligible capital ratio of 6.75% at end-2008.
MPS has taken measures, including the issue of planned hybrid instruments to the Italian government and the sale of non-core assets, which should improve its tier 1 ratio to just above 7% at end-2009.
Given rising impaired loans and pressure on profitability, Fitch considers this ratio only just adequate, and failure to reach its target capitalisation would likely result in a downgrade of the bank.
Founded in 1472, MPS is the world's oldest bank and the third-largest banking group in Italy. At end-March 2009, it had 3,107 branches spread throughout Italy. The group primarily serves domestic retail and SME clients and offers a full range of commercial banking products and services.
In Fitch's rating criteria, a bank's standalone risk is reflected in Fitch's Individual ratings and the prospect of external support is reflected in Fitch's Support ratings. Collectively these ratings drive Fitch's Long- and Short-term IDRs