Rating Action
Nairobi, 12 October 2021 – GCR Ratings (“GCR”) has affirmed the Kenyan long and short-term issuer ratings on Diamond Trust Bank Limited of A+(KE) and A1(KE), respectively, with negative outlook maintained.
Rated Entity / Issue | Rating class | Rating scale | Rating | Outlook / Watch |
Diamond Trust Bank Limited | Long Term Issuer | National | A+(KE) | Negative Outlook |
Short Term Issuer | National | A1(KE) |
Rating Rationale
The ratings on Diamond Trust Bank Limited (‘DTB’, ‘the bank’) reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the DTB Group (‘the group’). The group has a solid market position, strong capitalisation, average risk position, and good funding and liquidity profile. The negative outlook reflects i) our expectation of sustained high levels credit losses in the next 12-18 months given the rise in non-performing loans (“NPLs”), ii) the low levels of loan loss reserving, and iii) the low growth in earnings.
DTB is positioned among the top tier banks in Kenya’s fragmented banking sector, largely serving corporates and small medium enterprises (‘SMEs’). The bank has a fairly strong domestic franchise, reflected by its share of industry deposits and assets of 5.3% and 5.5%, respectively, at 1H21. On the regional diversification, the franchise benefits from banking subsidiaries in Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi, which hold competitive market positions to compete with subsidiaries of domestic peers. The regional subsidiaries have continued to grow over the years contributing 30% and 18% of the group’s assets and profit before tax (‘PBT’) as at 1H21. The franchise strength is relatively weakened by the cost of funding the balance sheet (4.0% at 1H21), which compares less favourably to some of the top tier banks that raise funds at a cost of around 2.5%-3.0%. Our business profile assessment also factors in a good track record of revenue stability, favourable levels of product diversification, coupled with decent governance structures.
Capitalisation is positive to the ratings. The group’s GCR total capital ratio is moderate at c.20.1% as at 1H21, balancing the highly capitalised Kenyan entity and the relatively lower capitalised subsidiaries. We expect capitalization to remain stable over the next 18-24 months although the impact of elevated credit losses could weaken the capital position. Our capital and earnings assessment balances the anticipated risk assets growth and a healthy internal capital generation. Internal capital generation is good at levels of 10% over the last 3 years on average and we project stability on internal capital generation in the next 12-18 months despite a low interest rates environment. However, we note that the total loan loss reserve coverage of NPLs declined to c.54% at 1H21 down from c.60% in 1H20, which is below the sector average. We have moderated the capitalisation score to reflect the impact of an increased in loan loss reserves is probable to have on earnings and consequently the capital position. Assets are expected to return a lower 1.5%-1.8% over the next 2 years, down from the 2.0%-2.5% range reported over the last 4 years.
Risk position is a neutral ratings factor. Credit losses improved to 2.2% in 1H21, down from 3.4% FY20, following recovery in the loan book performance as severe credit risk conditions linked to COVID-19 alleviated. The restructured portion of the loan book improved from 37% in FY20 to 33% in 1H21. However, management noted that the hospitality and tourism business segments which accounted for 29% of the total restructured loans as of 1H21, required further moratorium with maximum tenor set at 12 months. NPLs have gradually edged higher (10.0% at 1H21) but we expect the ratio to remain stable in the next 12-18 months while sticking below the sector average. The group’s loan book is fairly diversified by sector, but with notable concentrations to manufacturing (16%), real estate (19%), and trade (23%). We view some of these sectors (real estate in particular) as vulnerable and may potentially weigh on the bank’s NPLs over the medium term. We expect credit losses to remain relatively high at levels of 2.0%-2.2% to improve the coverage position moving forward while impact earnings negatively. However, we believe the 1.5x collateralisation on the loan book provides sufficient credit enhancement to mitigate the downside risk.
The bank’s FX lending (c.50% of loan book is USD) is very high vs sector averages and we view this negatively given risks from a potential USD liquidity crunch. This risk is moderated by the fact that the borrowers generate FX earnings, and the bank holds right to convert FX loans to local currency.
Funding and liquidity is a positive ratings factor, supported by a stable funding structure and robust levels of liquidity. The funding structure is considered stable given the stickiness of term deposits and a diversified depositor base. However, we view the funding costs of the group to be relatively higher comparative to peers due to high reliance on term deposits. The group is predominantly funded by customer deposits accounting for 90% of the funding as at 1H21 while the long-term stable funding ratio is at levels >100%. The liquidity ratio was 62% at 1H21, well above the regulatory minimum of 20%. Concentration is also very low, with top 20 depositors accounting for c.13% of total deposits at 1H21.
Outlook Statement
The negative outlook reflects i) our expectation of sustained high levels credit losses in the next 12-18 months given the rise in non-performing loans (“NPLs”), ii) the low levels of loan loss reserving, and iii) dismal growth in earnings. As a result, we expect credit losses to remain high at levels of 2.0%-2.2%, NPL ratio to stabilize at levels of 10.0%-10.5%, while the GCR capital ratio stabilizes at around 18%-20% over the rating horizon. The competitive position, funding, and liquidity are expected to remain stable.
Rating Triggers
A downgrade could be caused by sustained higher NPLs and credit losses beyond 12.0% and 3.0%, respectively, and a GCR capital ratio below 18%. The ratings may benefit from a strengthened market position, stronger capitalisation, sustained lower NPLs and credit losses, and reduction in foreign currency lending.
Analytical Contacts
Primary analyst | Dennis Kariuki | Senior Analyst |
Nairobi, KE | DennisK@GCRratings.com | +254 70 304 1618 |
Committee chair | Matthew Pirnie | Group Head of Ratings |
Johannesburg, ZA | MatthewP@GCRratings.com | +27 11 784 1771 |
Related Criteria and Research
Criteria for the GCR Ratings Framework, May 2019 |
Criteria for Rating Financial Institutions, May 2019 |
GCR Ratings Scale, Symbols & Definitions, May 2019 |
GCR Country Risk Scores, October 2021 |
GCR Financial Institutions Sector Risk Score, September 2021 |
Ratings History
Diamond Trust Bank Limited
Rating class | Review | Rating scale | Rating class | Outlook | Date |
Long Term issuer | Initial | National | A+(KE) | Stable | September 2011 |
Last | National | A+(KE) | Negative | October 2020 | |
Short Term issuer | Initial | National | A1(KE) | — | September 2011 |
Last | National | A1(KE) | — | October 2020 |
Risk score summary
Rating Components & Factors | Risk scores |
Operating environment | 7.25 |
Country risk score | 3.75 |
Sector risk score | 3.50 |
Business profile | 1.00 |
Competitive position | 1.00 |
Management and governance | 0.00 |
Financial profile | 1.25 |
Capital and Leverage | 0.25 |
Risk | 0.00 |
Funding and Liquidity | 1.00 |
Comparative profile | 0.00 |
Group support | 0.00 |
Government support | 0.00 |
Peer analysis | 0.00 |
Total Score | 9.50 |
Glossary
Capital | The sum of money that is invested to generate proceeds. |
Cash | Funds that can be readily spent or used to meet current obligations. |
Debt | An obligation to repay a sum of money. More specifically, it is funds passed from a creditor to a debtor in exchange for interest and a commitment to repay the principal in full on a specified date or over a specified period. |
Diversification | Spreading risk by constructing a portfolio that contains different exposures whose returns are relatively uncorrelated. The term also refers to companies which move into markets or products that bear little relation to ones they already operate in. |
Exposure | Exposure is the amount of risk the holder of an asset or security is faced with as a consequence of holding the security or asset. For a company, its exposure may relate to a particular product class or customer grouping. Exposure may also arise from an overreliance on one source of funding. In insurance, it refers to an individual or company’s vulnerability to various risks |
Income | Money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments. |
Liquidity | The speed at which assets can be converted to cash. It can also refer to the ability of a company to service its debt obligations due to the presence of liquid assets such as cash and its equivalents. Market liquidity refers to the ease with which a security can be bought or sold quickly and in large volumes without substantially affecting the market price. |
Long Term Rating | See GCR Rating Scales, Symbols and Definitions. |
Margin | A term whose meaning depends on the context. In the widest sense, it means the difference between two values. |
Market | An assessment of the property value, with the value being compared to similar properties in the area. |
Maturity | The length of time between the issue of a bond or other security and the date on which it becomes payable in full. |
SALIENT POINTS OF ACCORDED RATINGS
GCR affirms that a.) no part of the ratings were influenced by any other business activities of the credit rating agency; b.) the ratings were based solely on the merits of the rated entity, security or financial instrument being rated; and c.) such ratings were an independent evaluation of the risks and merits of the rated entity, security or financial instrument.
The credit ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity. The ratings were solicited by, or on behalf of, the rated entity, and therefore, GCR has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.
Diamond Trust Bank Limited participated in the rating process via teleconference management meetings, and other written correspondence. Furthermore, the quality of information received was considered adequate and has been independently verified where possible. The information received from the entities and other reliable third parties to accord the credit ratings included:
- Audited financial results as at 31 December 2020;
- Unaudited half year results for 2021;
- Latest internal and/or external audit report to management;
- A breakdown of facilities available and related counterparties; and
- Industry comparative data.