TRIS Rating affirms the company rating on Kiatnakin Phatra Bank PLC (KKP), the issue ratings on KKP?s senior unsecured debentures at ?A?, and the issue ratings on KKP?s Basel III Tier 2 subordinated debt at ?BBB+?, with a ?stable? outlook. At the same time, TRIS Rating assigns the rating of ?A? to KKP?s proposed issue of up to THB15 billion senior unsecured debentures due within three years. The proceeds will be used for business expansion, working capital needs, and debt refinancing.
The ratings continue to reflect KKP?s strengthening commercial banking franchise and strong competitive position in investment banking and private banking businesses. The ratings also reflect well-diversified sources of revenue, adequate capital position, and solid earnings. However, the ratings are constrained by the potential deterioration of asset quality as well as the company?s market position and funding profile which remain relatively weaker than those of domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) despite improving trends.
We project KKP?s capital to stay at an ?adequate? level over the next three years, with the common equity tier-1 (CET-1) ratio estimated to range between 12%-13%. Our base-case scenario assumes moderate loan growth, sound earnings capacity, and prudent capital management policy. KKP?s CET-1 ratio stood at 13.3% at the end of 2022, slightly lower from 13.6% at the end of 2021. We take a positive view on KKP?s initiatives to maintain capital levels during its expansion phase, including lowering its dividend payment and the issuance of warrants.
In 2022, KKP reported a net profit of THB7.6 billion, a significant increase of 19.8% compared with the previous year. The profit growth was attributed to its high credit growth, well-controlled costs, and lower provisioning expenses that helped offset the weaker capital market activities. Its diversified sources of revenue have supported the bank well during the economic downturn and market volatility.
KKP?s asset quality slightly deteriorated in 2022 but, in our view, remained manageable. The bank?s non-performing loans (NPL) ratio (excluding acquired distressed assets) rose to 3.3% at the end of 2022 from 3.1% at the end of 2021. NPL formation rose to 2% in 2022 from 0.4% in 2021. Stage-2 loans also increased to 6.1% of total loans at the end of 2022 from 5.6% at the end of 2021. The deterioration was mainly driven by auto hire purchase loans which the bank has expanded actively during the past three years. The credit risk is partly mitigated by KKP?s strong NPL coverage ratio, which stood at 154% at the end of 2022. This was a decline from 175% at the end of 2021, but we expect its NPL coverage to hover above 140% over the next few years.
KKP has made good progress in improving its deposit franchise in recent years, and we expect this to continue. Current account and savings account (CASA) deposits to total deposits remained at around 59% at the end of 2022, the highest among small banks. This was due to the synergy between its commercial banking business and its capital market businesses, as well as a significant increase in e-Deposit accounts.
RATING OUTLOOK
The ?stable? outlook reflects our expectation that KKP will maintain its adequate capital, asset quality at acceptable levels, and further cultivate synergies with its capital market and wealth management units to sustain healthy financial performance and revenue structure diversification.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
The ratings and/or outlook could be revised upward if KKP strengthens its capital position significantly, with the CET-1 ratio above 15% for a sustained period, while continuing to improve its asset quality and commercial banking franchise. We could revise the ratings downward if capital, asset quality and/or earnings capacity weakens materially.
RELATED CRITERIA
- Bank Rating Methodology, 20 March 2023
- Bank Hybrid Capital Rating Methodology, 24 December 2021
Kiatnakin Phatra Bank PLC (KKP)
Company Rating: A
Issue Ratings:
KKP30NA: THB2,000 million Basel III Tier 2 capital securities due 2030 BBB+
KKP314A: THB2,852 million Basel III Tier 2 capital securities due 2031 BBB+
KKP23OA: THB5,000 million senior unsecured debentures due 2023 A
KKP24NA: THB5,000 million senior unsecured debentures due 2024 A
Up to THB15,000 million senior unsecured debentures due within 3 years A
Rating Outlook: Stable