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RAM Ratings affirms AAA ratings of HSBC Malaysia and HSBC Amanah
Published on 07 Sep 2023.
RAM Ratings has affirmed the AAA/Stable/P1 financial institution ratings of HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad (HSBC Malaysia or the Bank) and HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad (HSBC Amanah).
The affirmation of HSBC Malaysia’s ratings is premised on its solid domestic franchise, robust capital buffers and superior funding capabilities. Potential downside risk from fresh headwinds in the macroeconomic environment is expected to be manageable. The ratings also consider our expectation of ready financial support from the Bank’s ultimate parent, HSBC Holdings plc. Operating in one of the key markets in Asia, the Bank plays an integral role in supporting HSBC Holdings’ strategy and channelling cross-border businesses within the Group.
HSBC Malaysia’s impaired loan classification is more stringent than industry norms. Excluding these differences, the Bank’s adjusted gross impaired loan (GIL) ratio stood at an estimated 2.8% as at end-March 2023 (end-December 2021: 2.7%). The above-industry GIL ratio is primarily influenced by loan base contraction over the past five years and large impairments related to a corporate borrower group. Following the net reversal of impairment charges last year, the Bank’s credit cost ratio came in at an annualised 62 bps in 1Q FY Dec 2023 owing to harsher macroeconomic indicators assumed in its provisioning model. The ratio is envisaged to improve to pre-pandemic levels in the coming quarters.
Overall, HSBC Malaysia’s earnings profile is satisfactory, with its strength in non-interest income (representing 40% of gross income in FY Dec 2022) partly tempered by its historically high cost-to-income ratio of above 50%. HSBC Malaysia’s net interest margin (NIM) has somewhat bucked the industry trend, growing further to 2.6% in 1Q FY Dec 2023 (FY Dec 2021: 1.9%; FY Dec 2022: 2.2%). Besides a large share of current and savings account deposits (61% of customer deposits as at end-March 2023), stronger tailwinds from asset repricing given the Bank’s short-dated securities portfolio also bolstered NIM. We expect margins to moderate in the next few quarters but the impact on profitability will be partly balanced by reduced impairment charges.
HSBC Amanah’s ratings are equated to those of HSBC Malaysia, considering its strategic importance to the latter. The issue rating of HSBC Amanah has also been affirmed (Table 1).
Table 1: Ratings of HSBC Malaysia and HSBC Amanah
Note: The AA1 rating of HSBC Malaysia’s RM500 million Tier-2 Subordinated Bonds (2007/2027) has been withdrawn following the full redemption of
the debt issuance upon maturity.
Analytical contacts
Amy Lo
(603) 3385 2509
amy@ram.com.my
Sophia Lee
(603) 3385 2619
sophia@ram.com.my
The credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment on the security’s market price or its suitability for a particular investor, nor does it involve any audit by RAM Ratings. The credit rating also does not reflect the legality and enforceability of financial obligations.
RAM Ratings receives compensation for its rating services, normally paid by the issuers of such securities or the rated entity, and sometimes third parties participating in marketing the securities, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, underwriters, etc. The receipt of this compensation has no influence on RAM Ratings’ credit opinions or other analytical processes. In all instances, RAM Ratings is committed to preserving the objectivity, integrity and independence of its ratings. Rating fees are communicated to clients prior to the issuance of rating opinions. While RAM Ratings reserves the right to disseminate the ratings, it receives no payment for doing so, except for subscriptions to its publications.
Similarly, the disclaimers above also apply to RAM Ratings’ credit-related analyses and commentaries, where relevant.
Published by RAM Rating Services Berhad
© Copyright 2023 by RAM Rating Services Berhad
Rating Rationale: HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad
