Fitch rates Sampath Bank’s basel III subordinated debt ‘BBB+(EXP)(lka)’

Fitch Ratings has assigned Sampath Bank PLC’s (A(lka)/Stable) proposed Sri Lankan rupee-denominated Basel III-compliant subordinated debentures of up to Rs. 10 billion an expected National Long-Term Rating of ‘BBB+(EXP)(lka)’.

The proposed debentures, which will mature in five years, will be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The bank plans to use the proceeds to strengthen its Tier 2 capital base.

The bank expects the proposed debentures to qualify as Basel III-compliant regulatory Tier 2 capital. The debentures include a non-viability clause whereby they will convert to ordinary voting shares subject to the occurrence of a trigger event, as determined by the regulator.

Fitch rates the proposed Basel III Tier 2 notes two notches below the bank’s National Long-Term Rating of ‘A(lka)’. 
This reflects Fitch’s baseline notching for loss severity for this type of debt and our expectations of poor recoveries. There is no additional notching for non-performance risks, as the proposed notes do not incorporate going-concern loss-absorption features.

Sampath’s National Long-Term Rating is used as the anchor rating for this instrument because the rating reflects the bank’s standalone financial strength and best indicates the risk of the bank becoming non-viable.