While S&P appears to have completely forgotten about the country of Belgium, Moody's has realized that should Greece default, which is now inevitable, there may be aftershocks. On June14th 2011, it focused on France, and its three main banks Credit Agricole, SocGen and BNP, all of which it has put on downgrade review with a one notch maximum downgrade potential (except for SocGen which is two). Moody's also refreshed those who care that its downgrade review of Belgium's Dexia is ongoing and could result in a two-notch downgrade.
From Moody's
Moody's Investors Service had placed the standalone financial
strength ratings and long-term debt and deposit ratings of three
French banking groups -- Credit Agricole SA (CASA), BNP Paribas
SA (BNPP), and Societe Generale SA (SocGen) on review for possible
downgrade.
strength ratings and long-term debt and deposit ratings of three
French banking groups -- Credit Agricole SA (CASA), BNP Paribas
SA (BNPP), and Societe Generale SA (SocGen) on review for possible
downgrade.
The primary focus of all three reviews will be the banks' credit
exposures to Greek government debt and the Greek private sector and the
potential for inconsistency between the impact of a possible Greek default
or restructuring and current rating levels. The review of SocGen
will also assess the likelihood of future government support since our
systemic support assumption is currently higher than the average for the
French banking system.
exposures to Greek government debt and the Greek private sector and the
potential for inconsistency between the impact of a possible Greek default
or restructuring and current rating levels. The review of SocGen
will also assess the likelihood of future government support since our
systemic support assumption is currently higher than the average for the
French banking system.
Moody's also noted that exposures to Greece are to be included within
the ongoing review for possible downgrade of Dexia Group's core
operating banks.
the ongoing review for possible downgrade of Dexia Group's core
operating banks.
The specific rating actions taken today are:
- Credit Agricole SA (CASA): standalone credit strength C+
/ mapping to A2 on Moody's long-term scale, with an
adjusted baseline credit assessment (BCA) of Aa3 and a senior long-term
rating Aa1, all on review for downgrade.
/ mapping to A2 on Moody's long-term scale, with an
adjusted baseline credit assessment (BCA) of Aa3 and a senior long-term
rating Aa1, all on review for downgrade.
- BNP Paribas SA (BNPP): B-/A1 and Aa2 ratings on
review for downgrade.
- Societe Generale SA (SocGen): C+/A2 and Aa2 ratings
on review for downgrade.
The short-term Prime-1 ratings of the three French banking
groups have been affirmed.
groups have been affirmed.
Moody's notes that CASA's and BNPP's reviews are unlikely
to lead to downgrades of more than one notch. SocGen's debt
and deposit ratings could be downgraded by as much as two rating notches
because its review will include a reassessment of the uplift it receives
from systemic support, which is currently higher-than-average
for the French banking system.
to lead to downgrades of more than one notch. SocGen's debt
and deposit ratings could be downgraded by as much as two rating notches
because its review will include a reassessment of the uplift it receives
from systemic support, which is currently higher-than-average
for the French banking system.
A full list of affected entities and ratings can be found at the end of
this press release.
this press release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Today's actions reflect Moody's concerns about these banks'
exposures to the Greek economy, either through direct holdings of
government bonds or credit extended to the Greek private sector directly
or through subsidiaries operating in Greece, a key factor for CASA
and SocGen due to their local Greek banks. The magnitude and composition
of these exposures differ substantially across these banking groups.
exposures to the Greek economy, either through direct holdings of
government bonds or credit extended to the Greek private sector directly
or through subsidiaries operating in Greece, a key factor for CASA
and SocGen due to their local Greek banks. The magnitude and composition
of these exposures differ substantially across these banking groups.
Potential mitigants to these concerns are the strong financial profiles,
substantial scale and earnings diversification of the French banking groups
covered by this review. Moody's will focus on the potential
impact of various scenarios for Greek government and private-sector
credit exposures on the profitability, capital and funding positions
of these banks.
substantial scale and earnings diversification of the French banking groups
covered by this review. Moody's will focus on the potential
impact of various scenarios for Greek government and private-sector
credit exposures on the profitability, capital and funding positions
of these banks.
Moody's may take similar actions on other banks with direct exposures
to Greece in the coming weeks, if it considers that their ratings
may be inconsistent with the potential impact of a Greek default or restructuring.
Additionally, we are closely monitoring the risks that would likely
result from a Greek default scenario, e.g. the potential
impact on weaker countries, the capital markets, and funding
conditions, and are taking those risks into consideration in our
ratings of banks across the Eurozone.
to Greece in the coming weeks, if it considers that their ratings
may be inconsistent with the potential impact of a Greek default or restructuring.
Additionally, we are closely monitoring the risks that would likely
result from a Greek default scenario, e.g. the potential
impact on weaker countries, the capital markets, and funding
conditions, and are taking those risks into consideration in our
ratings of banks across the Eurozone.
DETAILED RATIONALE AND REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS FOR CASA, SOCGEN AND
BNPP
BNPP
CREDIT AGRICOLE SA (CASA)
For CASA, the principal direct risk in Moody's view arises
from the group's local subsidiary, Emporiki, and from
its private sector credit exposures in Greece. Indeed on 3 June
2011, Moody's downgraded the standalone credit assessment
and the senior long-term deposit ratings of Emporiki to Caa1 and
B1 respectively, in response to the downgrade of the Greek government.
Emporiki reported a net customer loan book of EUR21.1 billion at
31 March 2011 compared to Groupe Credit Agricole's consolidated
Core Tier 1 capital of EUR50.8 billion. Moody's therefore
considers that the secondary effects of a Greek default scenario could
have a significant impact on the bank, owing to these direct exposures
to the local economy, and the ratings agency's belief that
CASA will continue to provide funding and capital support to Emporiki.
Moody's review will therefore focus on the potential impact of the
various scenarios on the group's profitability, capital and
funding.
from the group's local subsidiary, Emporiki, and from
its private sector credit exposures in Greece. Indeed on 3 June
2011, Moody's downgraded the standalone credit assessment
and the senior long-term deposit ratings of Emporiki to Caa1 and
B1 respectively, in response to the downgrade of the Greek government.
Emporiki reported a net customer loan book of EUR21.1 billion at
31 March 2011 compared to Groupe Credit Agricole's consolidated
Core Tier 1 capital of EUR50.8 billion. Moody's therefore
considers that the secondary effects of a Greek default scenario could
have a significant impact on the bank, owing to these direct exposures
to the local economy, and the ratings agency's belief that
CASA will continue to provide funding and capital support to Emporiki.
Moody's review will therefore focus on the potential impact of the
various scenarios on the group's profitability, capital and
funding.
Moody's expected the direct impact of a default or restructuring
of Greek government bonds to be limited in the case of CASA, given
the rating agency's view that it has a relatively modest exposure
to such debt (EUR0.6 billion net at 31 March 2011).
of Greek government bonds to be limited in the case of CASA, given
the rating agency's view that it has a relatively modest exposure
to such debt (EUR0.6 billion net at 31 March 2011).
SOCIETE GENERALE
Similarly to Credit Agricole SA, SocGen has a majority stake in
a local bank, General Bank of Greece (Geniki), and thus faces
risks from its private sector credit exposures in the country (Geniki
reported a net customer loan book of EUR3.4 billion at 31 March
2011, of which we understand a material proportion relates to multi-national
companies, compared to SocGen's consolidated Core Tier 1 capital
of EUR29.4 billion). Moody's also downgraded on 3
June 2011 the standalone credit assessment and senior ratings of Geniki
to Caa1 and B1 respectively, and the ratings agency believes that
SocGen will continue to provide funding and capital support to its subsidiary.
a local bank, General Bank of Greece (Geniki), and thus faces
risks from its private sector credit exposures in the country (Geniki
reported a net customer loan book of EUR3.4 billion at 31 March
2011, of which we understand a material proportion relates to multi-national
companies, compared to SocGen's consolidated Core Tier 1 capital
of EUR29.4 billion). Moody's also downgraded on 3
June 2011 the standalone credit assessment and senior ratings of Geniki
to Caa1 and B1 respectively, and the ratings agency believes that
SocGen will continue to provide funding and capital support to its subsidiary.
However a default or restructuring of Greek government bonds would be
more material for SocGen than it would be for CASA, given SocGen's
exposure to Greek government debt, reported to be EUR2.5
billion net as at 31 March 2011, although we understand that this
exposure has since been reduced. Moody's review will therefore
focus on the potential impact of the various scenarios on the bank's
profitability, capital and funding.
more material for SocGen than it would be for CASA, given SocGen's
exposure to Greek government debt, reported to be EUR2.5
billion net as at 31 March 2011, although we understand that this
exposure has since been reduced. Moody's review will therefore
focus on the potential impact of the various scenarios on the bank's
profitability, capital and funding.
Furthermore, in its review, Moody's will also re-assess
the systemic support assumptions currently factored into the long-term
ratings to reflect the post-crisis support environment.
The group currently benefits from a three-notch uplift from its
intrinsic financial strength equivalent on the long-term rating
scale (above average for France), compared to the two-notch
uplift assigned prior to Moody's downgrade of the financial strength
rating on 14 April 2009.
the systemic support assumptions currently factored into the long-term
ratings to reflect the post-crisis support environment.
The group currently benefits from a three-notch uplift from its
intrinsic financial strength equivalent on the long-term rating
scale (above average for France), compared to the two-notch
uplift assigned prior to Moody's downgrade of the financial strength
rating on 14 April 2009.
BNP PARIBAS
Unlike CASA and SocGen, BNPP does not have a local subsidiary bank
in Greece and, as such, its relative exposure to the local
economy is more modest. Instead, BNPP's main risk arises
from its substantial direct holdings in Greek government debt: EUR5.0
billion of net exposure as at 31 December 2010, compared to Common
Equity Tier 1 capital of EUR56.6 billion at end-March 2011,
in addition to exposures to other weaker Eurozone countries, e.g.
Portugal (EUR1.9 billion of net government debt exposure as at
31 December 2010).
in Greece and, as such, its relative exposure to the local
economy is more modest. Instead, BNPP's main risk arises
from its substantial direct holdings in Greek government debt: EUR5.0
billion of net exposure as at 31 December 2010, compared to Common
Equity Tier 1 capital of EUR56.6 billion at end-March 2011,
in addition to exposures to other weaker Eurozone countries, e.g.
Portugal (EUR1.9 billion of net government debt exposure as at
31 December 2010).
Moody's therefore expects the review of BNPP's ratings to
focus on the direct and indirect impact of a Greek government debt default/restructuring
on the bank's profitability, capital and funding.
focus on the direct and indirect impact of a Greek government debt default/restructuring
on the bank's profitability, capital and funding.
DEXIA
Dexia reported EUR3.5 billion of gross banking book exposure to
the Greek government as at 31 March 2011, compared to Core Tier
1 capital of EUR17.0 billion, and which is part of the group's
total maximum reported credit risk exposure to Greece of EUR5.4
billion at the same date.
the Greek government as at 31 March 2011, compared to Core Tier
1 capital of EUR17.0 billion, and which is part of the group's
total maximum reported credit risk exposure to Greece of EUR5.4
billion at the same date.
In our existing review for possible downgrade of Dexia's three main
operating banks, (Dexia Credit Local, Dexia Bank Belgium and
Dexia Banque Internationale à Luxembourg), opened on 28 March,
2011, we identified three main factors we would consider.
operating banks, (Dexia Credit Local, Dexia Bank Belgium and
Dexia Banque Internationale à Luxembourg), opened on 28 March,
2011, we identified three main factors we would consider.
- Dexia's ability to raise long-term funding at a cost that
preserves the economics and the viability of its public finance core business;
preserves the economics and the viability of its public finance core business;
- Its ability to continue deleveraging its legacy assets without
adversely affecting the average quality and duration of the bond portfolio
in run-off; and
- The potential impact of Basel III regulations on Dexia's liquidity
management and the group's capitalisation.
We will also consider the potential impact of a Greek government default/restructuring
on Dexia within our review, which we expect to conclude in the coming
weeks. As previously stated at the opening of our review,
we see the potential downside to the A1 long-term senior debt and
deposit ratings to be limited to one or possibly two notches. Our
decision to affirm the Prime-1 short-term ratings was driven
by our expectation that systemic support would be forthcoming for Dexia's
financing needs, as it was in the past.
on Dexia within our review, which we expect to conclude in the coming
weeks. As previously stated at the opening of our review,
we see the potential downside to the A1 long-term senior debt and
deposit ratings to be limited to one or possibly two notches. Our
decision to affirm the Prime-1 short-term ratings was driven
by our expectation that systemic support would be forthcoming for Dexia's
financing needs, as it was in the past.
OTHER BANKS' EXPOSURES TO GREECE AND POTENTIAL SIMILAR ACTIONS
With regard to the other large French banks rated by Moody's --
namely, Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel, Credit Industriel
et Commercial, Credit Mutuel Arkea and BPCE -- the rating agency
perceives their exposures to be lower compared to those of CASA,
SocGen, BNPP and Dexia.
namely, Banque Federative du Credit Mutuel, Credit Industriel
et Commercial, Credit Mutuel Arkea and BPCE -- the rating agency
perceives their exposures to be lower compared to those of CASA,
SocGen, BNPP and Dexia.
As stated, Moody's will consider similar actions for other
banks, should the rating agency believe that their ratings would
be potentially inconsistent with the direct or indirect impact of a Greek
default or restructuring.
banks, should the rating agency believe that their ratings would
be potentially inconsistent with the direct or indirect impact of a Greek
default or restructuring.
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