UAE banking - Research Portal
Transcription
UAE banking - Research Portal
Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research UAE bank sector update 1 September 2015 Ready to be tested? For important disclosure information please see pages 27-28. research.commerzbank.com / Bloomberg: CBKR / Research APP available Analyst Apostolos Bantis +971 4 428 4972 apostolos.bantis@commerzbank.com Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research This page has been intentionally left blank 1 September 2015 2 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Table of contents UAE banking sector update September 2015 .............................................................................. 4 Is the perceived “safe haven” status coming into question? ......................................................... 5 Liquidity conditions are tightening............................................................................................ 6 Profitability growth is bottoming out ......................................................................................... 8 Asset quality improvement trend to come to a halt .................................................................. 9 Real estate market is cooling off............................................................................................ 10 Entering a slower credit phase .............................................................................................. 10 UAE banks maintain high capitalisation buffers ..................................................................... 12 Dubai should muddle through refinancing risks over near term ............................................. 13 UAE macro update ................................................................................................................ 13 UAE Banks’ Credit Profiles ..................................................................................................... 15 Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) ........................................................................................ 16 Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB).................................................................................................. 17 Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) .............................................................................................. 18 Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) ........................................................................................................... 19 Emirates NBD (ENBD) ............................................................................................................... 20 First Gulf Bank (FGB) ................................................................................................................. 21 Mashreq Bank (Mashreq) ........................................................................................................... 22 National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) .......................................................................................... 23 1 September 2015 3 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research UAE banking sector update September 2015 The future of UAE banks is looking more challenging as the sharp fall in oil prices combined with a softening of Dubai’s real estate market and the expected US rate hike will result in tighter liquidity conditions and weigh on the sector’s profitability and growth prospects. Operating performance remained resilient year-to-date while the sector’s fundamentals appear in a good shape to withstand growing challenges. Ever since the 2008 crisis UAE banks have built up sizeable provisions, improved asset quality issues and strengthened their capital bases while the cost of risk has been declining. Despite the bleaker growth outlook and weaker liquidity a successful completion of Iran’s nuclear deal with the P5+1 combined with increased capex in the run up to Dubai Expo 2020 should continue to boost investments and support the local banking sector. Up until recently credit spreads of UAE financials remained fairly resilient as investors seem to have ignored the sharp fall in oil prices and rising regional geopolitical tensions. However, UAE banks have not managed to escape the latest sell-off that triggered intense volatility and a rapid re-pricing on GCC credit spreads. In addition to the obvious drivers of low oil prices, the devaluation of CNY followed by the sharp devaluation of the Kazakh tenge stirred speculation about the sustainability of the GCC currency peg policies. However, these concerns are premature in our view. While we believe that UAE banks have not lost their “safe heaven” status relative to other EM bank peers current valuations no longer look appealing as the sector was trading at historically low spreads prior to the latest sell-off. Further volatility waves are likely to continue and we expect subordinated bonds, particularly AT1 issues of smaller banks, to underperform. Healthy fundamentals provide a cushion against rising challenges: The UAE banking sector fundamentals remain in a fairly healthy state and the sector looks well placed to withstand systemic risks. As of end-June 2015 the banking system was well capitalised with an average capital adequacy ratio of 18.3% and a T1 ratio of 16.5%. The funding profile of UAE banks remains prudent and well diversified with the loan to deposit ratio at a decent c. 100% and limited reliance on foreign and capital market funding. Sector profitability metrics, such as return on Assets (ROA) and return on Equity (ROE) stood at 1.7% and c. 14% respectively. In addition UAE banks have made notable progress to clean their balance sheets from legacy exposures and sector NPLs have now dropped to c. 7% and are well provisioned. Tighter liquidity conditions and US rate hike increase downside risks: Currently the main source of risk for the UAE banking sector stems from a weakening in liquidity and a rise in funding costs. The much anticipated rate hike in the US combined with reduced government deposits would result in slower growth and halt further progress on asset quality. While UAE banks’ interest margins should benefit from higher US rates, post-provision margins will likely stay under pressure offsetting any benefits. Overall systemic risks appear well contained and our main scenario is that the sector is heading towards a soft landing rather than a sharp deterioration similar to the 2008-09 crunch. Consequently, we have revised our assumptions factoring in slower loan growth and a modest weakening in asset quality for 2016. Resilient operating performance: Despite low interest rates and a slump in oil prices the profitability of UAE banks remained resilient and the sector continued to generate sufficient internal capital to support provisioning costs so far in 2015. Sector earnings increased by more than 20% in 2014 and the strong momentum continued this year. At the same time loan growth dynamics have outpaced original expectations as total system credit advanced by more than 8% year on year in July 2015. Credit growth is unlikely to lose steam any time soon, as the UAE authorities have not announced major cuts in infrastructure spending, however lending conditions look set to normalise in H2 2015 and drop modestly in 2016 as liquidity begins to tighten. Slowing real estate not a major concern for UAE banks: The real estate market has shown signs of a slowdown particularly in Dubai, where residential property prices have dropped consistently since May 2014. In addition, rental increases have come to a halt and housing yields fallen below their historical averages. The acceleration in the residential supply and retail mall space in 2015 would exert some more downward pressure. Despite this, UAE banks are not very much exposed to the real estate sector as they were at the time of the 2008 crisis. Regulations pertaining to residential mortgages including increasing loan-to-value ratios and introduction of transaction fees have reduced speculative activity and widened buffers around banks’ real estate exposures. 1 September 2015 4 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Is the perceived “safe haven” status coming into question? Current valuations of UAE bank credit are not particularly appealing: Credit spreads of UAE banks remained fairly resilient during the first half of 2015 as investors seem to have ignored the sharp fall in oil prices and growing regional geopolitical risks. Nevertheless UAE credit did not manage to escape the recent global sell-off and witnessed intense volatility over the past few weeks. Aside from the obvious concerns on low oil prices, the devaluation of China’s CNY followed by the sharp devaluation of the Kazakh tenge stirred speculation about the sustainability of the GCC currency peg policies, challenging the perceived “safe heaven” status of local credits. While there is some merit on possible currency devaluation scenarios, especially if the low oil price environment persists for too long, we believe such concerns are premature. We continue to perceive UAE bank credit risk as a “safe heaven” asset class relative to the broader GEM banking universe. However, considering that up until very recently the asset class was trading at historically low spreads valuations no longer look appealing. While we expect UAE bank spreads to remain more resilient relative to some of their GCC peers, especially Saudi and Bahraini corporate credit, volatility risks are likely to persist until there is better clarity on the medium-term direction of the oil markets. We expect subordinated debt and especially some of the AT1 issues of smaller banks to widen further and underperform the senior curve. Long positions on large state-controlled banks: Following the latest sell-off we are now taking a more careful view on UAE banking credits as we find that the sector no longer offers deep value across the curve. Prior to the latest sell-off the majority of UAE bank senior spreads were trading not that far from historical troughs which we feel completely eliminates any further tightening potential over the near term. Our general view is that the senior curve within the larger government-controlled banks including NBAD, FGB, ENBD, ADCB and DIB will continue to be supported from high local investor participation rates and therefore prove more resilient to further volatility swings. Looking at the fundamental drivers, despite the sector’s weakening liquidity conditions and an expected slowdown of the local economy all of the top-tier UAE bank profiles are defensive enough and should remain profitable in 2016. We believe international investors will continue to feel more comfortable with the larger players given their systemic importance and higher probability of state support. Stay on the side-lines when it comes smaller institutions and keep a very selective approach on subordinated debt: At the same time we would stay more on the side-lines when it comes to the second-tier banks particularly some of the recent newcomers due to the weaker trading liquidity characteristics of these securities which makes them more vulnerable to volatility risks. UAE bank subordinated bonds and all outstanding AT1 issues have experienced higher volatility than the senior curves. While valuations of AT1 issues look more compelling than a few weeks ago and we are not concerned about the risks of a principal write-down we prefer to stay very selective and focus on a few higher quality names. We believe NBAD’s AT1 will prove the most defensive issue in this area given its strong credit profile. We also favour the new Basel III compliant DIBUH 6.75% perpetual that offers a c. 60bp spread pick up to the DIBUH 6.25 perpetual as the risks of a loss absorption trigger are remote while DIB remains one of the best growth stories in the region. However, there is a chance of supply risk as DIB is reportedly contemplating a new AT1 issue over the near term that is likely to be priced with a more attractive premium given the more challenging market conditions. At the same time we expect more volatility on ENBD’s perpetuals that have underperformed lately. Primary market remained vibrant: UAE banks have been quite active in the international debt capital market raising an aggregate of $7.7bn year-to-date, more than half of the entire $13.5bn of new issues out of the GCC region so far this year. Among the key issuers were four of the country’s largest banks, NBAD, ENBD, FGB and DIB along with three newcomers, Noor Bank, Bank of Sharjah and Sharjah Islamic Bank. Aside from the senior unsecured bonds both DIB and NBAD printed two perpetual AT1 issues. We expect primary market activity to continue as UAE banks will try to lock into cheaper funding before the US interest rate hike and have a need for longer-term funding. In addition UAE banks will likely be looking to print more AT1 perpetual instruments to shore up their capital bases prior to the implementation of Basel III standards. While primary market conditions are becoming more challenging and the persistently low oil prices increase the risk sentiment for GCC credits we believe that UAE banks will continue to enjoy easy access to the eurobond markets albeit at a moderately higher premium. 1 September 2015 5 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research TABLE 1: List of UAE bank credit securities ISIN Maturity Currency Outstanding Amt. (mn) Ticker Coupon Ranking Ask price YTM XS0556042405 ADCBUH 3.745 04/11/2015 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 100.624 0.06% XS0708308845 ADCBUH 4.071 22/11/2016 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 103.465 1.37% XS0711035286 ADCBUH 3.78 30/11/2016 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 103.041 1.30% XS0995097671 ADCBUH FRN 09/01/2017 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 100.839 1.02% XS0897453907 ADCBUH 2.500 06/03/2018 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 97.600 1.99% XS1040257062 ADCBUH 3.00 04/03/2019 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 102.171 2.35% XS1110651012 ADCBUH 2.750 16/09/2019 USD 600 Sr. Unsecured 100.876 2.52% XS1199968998 ADCBUH 2.625 10/03/2020 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 100.313 2.55% XS0897453493 ADCBUH 4.500 06/03/2023 USD 750 Subordinated 102.000 4.19% XS0937539921 ADCBUH 3.125 28/05/2023 USD 300 Subordinated 100.010 3.12% XS0851081660 ADCBUH 6.375 Perpetual USD 1000 Subordinated 104.535 4.79% XS0977488294 ALHILA 3.267 08/10/2018 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 103.614 2.06% XS1073217561 ALHILA 5.500 Perpetual USD 500 Subordinated 101.006 5.20% XS1117297272 BOSUH 3.374 08/06/2020 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 98.220 3.78% XS0933999863 CBDUH 3.375 21/05/2018 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 102.388 2.46% XS0787130540 DIBUH 4.752 30/05/2017 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 105.068 1.78% XS1241110300 DIBUH 2.921 03/06/2020 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 100.109 2.90% XS0902330769 DIBUH 6.250 Perpetual USD 1000 Subordinated 104.244 4.93% XS1167284436 DIBUH 6.750 Perpetual USD 1000 Subordinated 105.610 5.53% XS0765257141 EBIUH 4.625 28/03/2017 USD 1000 Sr. Unsecured 103.280 2.48% XS0632908314 EBIUH FRN 31/05/2018 USD 333 Sr. Unsecured 100.454 1.66% XS1138457590 EBIUH 3.250 19/11/2019 USD 1000 Sr. Unsecured 101.207 2.94% XS1227814883 EBIUH 3.000 06/05/2020 USD 350 Sr. Unsecured 99.838 3.04% XS1207079499 EBIUH 1.750 23/03/2022 EUR 550 Sr. Unsecured 94.636 2.65% XS0910935021 EBIUH 4.875 28/03/2023 USD 650 Subordinated 103.250 3.54% XS0935833292 EBIUH 5.750 Perpetual USD 500 Subordinated 99.250 5.97% XS1111114135 EBIUH 6.375 Perpetual USD 650 Subordinated 102.850 5.72% XS0654587996 FGBUH 3.797 02/08/2016 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 102.496 1.03% XS0731930797 FGBUH 4.046 18/01/2017 USD 650 Sr. Unsecured 103.698 1.32% XS0840538994 FGBUH 2.862 09/10/2017 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 102.237 1.99% XS0992167865 FGBUH 3.250 14/01/2019 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 103.144 2.27% XS1193304596 FGBUH 2.625 24/02/2020 USD 350 Sr. Unsecured 99.656 2.71% XS0283928264 MASQUH FRN 24/01/2017 USD 750 Subordinated 98.347 2.65% XS0763531406 NBADUH 3.250 27/03/2017 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 103.166 1.20% XS0815939656 NBADUH 3.000 13/08/2019 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 102.843 2.24% XS1186986904 NBADUH 2.250 11/02/2020 USD 750 Sr. Unsecured 99.689 2.32% XS1243334668 NBADUH 5.250 Perpetual USD 750 Subordinated 101.927 4.79% XS1224417847 NOORBK 2.788 28/04/2020 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 98.993 3.02% XS1078355986 RAKBNK 3.250 24/06/2019 USD 800 Sr. Unsecured 100.540 3.09% XS1202089428 SIB 2.843 17/03/2020 USD 500 Sr. Unsecured 100.339 2.76% XS0734046815 TAMWEE 5.154 18/01/2017 USD 300 Sr. Unsecured 104.416 1.88% XS0703254978 UNBUH 3.875 10/11/2016 USD 650 Sr. Unsecured 103.108 1.22% Source: Bloomberg, as of September 1, 2015. 6 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Liquidity conditions are tightening Liquidity within the UAE banking system has improved notably since 2008. Currently the ratio of liquid assets to total assets stands at 14.3% while the system’s loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) sits close to 101%, which is decent in the context of other GEM banking systems. UAE Islamic banks demonstrate healthier LDRs benefiting from their strong deposit franchises. Wholesale funding costs remained at historical lows year-to-date despite stronger credit growth. The three-month Emirates Interbank Offered Rate (EIBOR) averaged c. 74 basis points over the past 18 months but started to widen recently following the sharp market volatility and some concerns on the currency peg. With underlying macro trends (low oil prices, slower GDP growth) expected to weaken over the next 18 months and sluggish deposit growth the UAE banking system liquidity picture is deteriorating. Should the low oil prices environment persist it will eventually translate to lower government deposits inflows adding some pressure on funding costs. On the other hand rising inter-bank rates could also help to attract more deposits from individuals and corporates. CHART 1: UAE banks wholesale funding costs remained relatively low mirroring US rates Source: Bloomberg Over the past few years UAE banks have managed to improve their deposit structure which led to lower funding costs. More specifically, most UAE banks increased reliance on the cheaper demand type (CASA) deposits shying away from expensive time deposits. The increase in US rates is likely to have an impact on the deposit structure given that term deposits are priced in line with US rates therefore making them more appealing during times of rising interest rates. Some banks could fare better than others especially banks with a higher share of low-cost deposits and a greater reliance on corporate loans will be better placed under a rising interest rates environment benefiting from an earlier re-pricing of corporate loans. CHART 2: UAE deposits structure Retail deposits, 25% Other, 2% Non-Resident deposits, 11% Government deposits, 11% Public sector deposits, 13% CHART 3: The % of cheaper CASA deposits grew notably currently comprising 54% of total system deposits Corporate deposits, 38% Source: UAE Central Bank, Commerzbank Research, as of end July 2015 1 September 2015 Source: UAE Central Bank statistics, Commerzbank Research 7 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research On the deposit front, governments and government-related entities comprise the largest depositor class, averaging around one-quarter and one-third of deposits of most UAE banks. Overall the pace of deposit inflows has slowed down recently primarily due to weaker government deposits that fell by almost 15% so far this year, which is an indication that the government is currently tapping into deposits to bridge the gap in the fiscal budget from lower oil prices. Both NBAD along with FGB which hold some of the largest share of government deposits posted declining deposits in Q2 2015 from Q1, reflecting a drop of government and GREs deposits. While we expect to see some further deterioration in government-related deposits over the next year we believe that the Abu Dhabi government maintains much greater resources of foreign assets abroad to tap into and the share of government deposits will continue to remain in line with the historical average. On the other hand corporate-linked, retail and GRE deposits reported modest mid-single digit growth rates since the beginning of 2015 but the trend is expected to slow down. When it comes to wholesale debt maturities the banks remain very comfortable with the aggregate 12-month debt rollover easily manageable. In addition UAE banks have been active in the eurobond markets so far this year issuing a total of $7.6bn including two new AT1 bonds. Capital market funding as a percentage of total liabilities has remained stable at c. 7% over the past few years. UAE banks currently have no major dependency on offshore funding given their fairly healthy liquidity on their balance sheets. Based on the UAE Central Bank statistics the sector has been a net lender in the foreign interbank markets since June 2010, which offsets the risks of a liquidity crunch experienced from external shocks similar to the 2008 crisis. Profitability growth is bottoming out Despite low interest rates and the sharp drop in oil prices UAE banks continued to report healthy profitability metrics and generate decent internal capital to support growth and provisioning costs. Looking at margins, UAE banks’ net interest spread has remained relatively resilient. The sector’s average NIM currently stands at c. 2.7% and has dropped by an average of 25bp over the past five years. Most of UAE banks’ management guided that NIMs have now bottomed out and should remain flat for the remainder of 2015. Almost all of the UAE banks in our coverage reported increasing fees & commission income during H1 2015. Any expansion in top-line growth would prove a lot more challenging going forward given the weaker economic environment and more cautious risk appetite. The provisioning trend continued to be encouraging, as the sector’s cost of risk dropped to c. 80bp at the end of Q2 2015, with ADCB and FGB reporting the most notable improvements. Given the sector’s sufficient NPL coverage and stabilisation of new NPLs provisioning pressure should remain low over the near term but we expect that the cost of funding may start to rise soon which will limit any further upside. CHART 4: UAE banking sector key profitability indicators have been on a steadily improving trend CHART 5: Key profitability indicators of major UAE banks Source: UAE Central Bank, Commerzbank Research, as of end Q2 2015 Source: Banks data, Commerzbank Research, as of end Q2 2015 The sector’s return on average assets stood close to 1.7% at end-December 2014 with the sector’s ROE at 13.6%, which compares well with most other GEM bank peers, although the trend is declining. One of the sector’s positive characteristics is its fairly efficient cost structure, with the average cost to income ratio below 40% benefiting from low labour costs, limited distribution networks, and the absence of income taxes. 2014 was a strong year for UAE bank 8 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research profitability as sector earnings increased by more than 20% supported by strong economic growth, declining provisioning charges and improving collateral values. The positive earnings growth momentum continued in 1H 2015 albeit at a slower pace. UAE bank aggregate sector earnings slowed to a 13.9% growth rate in Q2 2015 from c. 20.6% in Q1 2015, as interest margins tightened and fee income growth decelerated. We expect a drop in operating income for the rest of 2015 and in 2016 due to slower growth momentum, weakening liquidity and reduced capital markets activity. This means that growth in net profits should be slower over the next 18 months than it has been lately but despite these challenges, we expect UAE banks to continue generating positive earnings. Mixed impact from Fed rate hike: After six years of near-zero rates the Fed is widely expected to start raising US rates before the end of this year. On balance higher US rates should have a positive impact on UAE bank interest margins as the asset base tends to re-price faster than liabilities; however, post provision margins may remain under pressure offsetting most of the benefits. UAE banks have more flexibility to transfer the costs of higher funding to their borrowers especially when it comes to corporate loans. Initially banks that have a higher portion of CASA deposits are likely to benefit the most under a rising interest rates environment; however, if US rates continue to grow the positive impact on margins might be constrained as depositors are likely to switch out of CASA into more attractively priced term deposits. All in all, the effects of the Fed’s tightening would not be felt in the UAE until early 2016. Asset quality improvement trend to come to a halt Asset quality trends of UAE banks continued to improve in 2014 and during the first half of 2015. Most banks cleaned up their balance sheets from legacy GRE and real estate exposures as reflected in declining NPLs, falling cost of risk and recovering collateral values. A large part of this improvement was attributed to the reclassification of Dubai World’s exposure following completion of the latest restructuring. Consequently, the banking sector ratio of NPLs to gross loans dropped to 7% by year-end 2014, from 8.6% in 2013. We see some scope for further improvement in asset quality in the second half of 2015 and expect a slower pace of new NPLs; however, any further improvements would likely be limited. As the economy is about to slow down asset quality pressures may reappear given expected higher rates and tighter funding conditions but the deterioration should be measured and nothing similar to that of the 2009 crisis as the sector is well sealed from the cyclical real estate with little exposure to the oil & gas sector. Prudent provisioning policies led to an improving NPL coverage ratio that stood at 102% as at the end of December 2014 compared to 92% a year earlier. It is also encouraging that many UAE corporates and the GREs and public sector entities have managed to deleverage and improve leverage metrics through asset sales and stricter regulations that limit lending concentrations. CHART 6: UAE banks made good progress on their asset quality issues Source: UAE Central Bank, IMF, Commerzbank Research, ratios based on national banks only Collateral values have recovered notably over the past three years as real estate prices and the equity markets have been moving up but the latest sharp volatility in equity markets, combined with falling oil prices and softening in real estate markets will reverse this trend. The share of 1 September 2015 9 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research restructured corporate loans peaked at c. 15%-20% as of end 2012 but dropped notably since then. Part of those loans were restructured on a distressed basis and ultimately turned into problem exposures. The first set of distressed loan restructurings in 2009-10 were mostly speculative real-estate ventures or offshore financial investments made before the 2008 crisis which ultimately defaulted. However, the second and third round of restructurings concluded in 2012 are expected to perform better and generate higher recoveries supported by the improvement in Dubai’s real estate markets since 2013. It is also important to remember that the UAE government has in the past stepped in and remains committed to maintain stability and support the banking system as and when needed. The risks from UAE banks’ international operations appear well contained. In aggregate the foreign exposures of local banks outside the UAE stood at c. AED 568bn (c. $160bn) or 27% of the total assets of UAE-based banks at the end of 2014. However, most of these foreign exposures are concentrated in the GCC countries (Qatar and Saudi) as well as in the UK, US and DIFC with a smaller presence in India and Turkey. Overall the foreign exposure of UAE banks represents limited risks to the financial stability of the sector as they are well diversified and primarily to GCC, major financial hubs and core trading partners. Real estate market is cooling off UAE’s real estate market is beginning to cool off, with retail, hotel and residential segments showing signs of a slowdown. The number and value of transactions in the residential segment dropped by 30% and 14%, respectively in 2014, according to data from the Land Department and the downtrend continued in H1 2015. Real estate broker Jones Lang Lasalle expects prices in Dubai to drop by up to 10% in 2015 but the outlook for Abu Dhabi looks more resilient. We believe that a potential price correction on the UAE's real estate markets will have a much lower impact on local banks than it did back in 2009. Price declines are unlikely to be that sharp while the major UAE property developers operate with healthier balance sheets relative to 2009. Regulation also requires developers to secure equity funding before they launch any project while a large portion of recent projects have been funded through advanced sales to customers rather than short-term bank funding. Finally, the UAE regulator has introduced stricter loan-tovalue ratios to prevent overleveraging that should protect mortgages risks along with higher real estate transaction fees and restrictions on total mortgages discouraging speculators. CHART 7: Historical Dubai and Abu Dhabi residential property sales price indices 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Dubai high-end villa Dubai mid-range villa Dubai mid-range apartments Abu Dhabi high-mid end villa 2014 2015 Dubai high-end apartments Source: Cluttons LLC Real Estate Indices, Bloomberg, as of end June 2015 Entering a slower credit phase Loan growth dynamics outperformed expectations during H1 2015 with the aggregate sector credit expanding by 8.2% during the first seven months of 2015. DIB, NBAD and CBD reported some of the stronger growth trajectories outstripping the sector average. The stronger momentum in H1 2015 was driven by some one-off large corporate loans and short-term trade finance deals. While credit growth is unlikely to lose steam in 2015, as the UAE government authorities have not yet announced any major cutbacks in infrastructure spending, we expect 10 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research overall lending trends to normalise in the second half and drop modestly in 2016 but the reduction in credit growth should be less pronounced than the overall economic slowdown. The UAE government is likely to sustain public spending but the low oil price environment and falling real estate markets will affect sentiment for both consumers and corporates. Our growth assumptions are more tempered for 2016 with a c. 6.5% average system credit growth rate as the slowdown fully filters through and the higher US rates could reduce the appetite to borrow. However, sustained spending by the government and especially capex and other private investments linked to Dubai’s Expo 2020 should drive some recovery in credit from 2016 onwards. CHART 8: Major UAE banks LTM credit & deposit growth dynamics Source: Bank reports, Commerzbank Research, as of end June 2015. Based on the UAE Central Bank’s latest credit sentiment survey most of the local banks reported tighter credit criteria especially in corporate loans with rising premiums on riskier loans. With oil prices lower, Abu Dhabi’s public sector is likely to draw down its deposits and rely more on working capital financing. We also expect banks to be generally more selective on loans with longer maturities such as infrastructure projects and are likely to tighten their lending policies within the higher risk consumer finance and retail segments. This tightening combined with gradually deteriorating liquidity conditions and less appetite from international banks will eventually reduce price competition and offer UAE banks more opportunities to lend to the higher quality GCC corporates at more attractive pricing. At the same time, we believe Islamic banks will continue to expand their balance sheets at a higher rate than their conventional peers. Personal lending policies to tighten: Despite stricter retail lending regulations introduced in 2013 retail loan growth remained upbeat in the first seven months of 2015 (up 8.7%) supported by improved consumer confidence. Retail growth was even stronger within the Islamic banks (up 20%), driven by the increasing number of expats. However, we expect banks to tighten their lending policies within the higher risk consumer finance and retail segments to prevent asset quality risks. We note that the UAE retail banking market is vulnerable as it has one of the highest credit card and personal loan utilisation rates among other EM peers. In addition the introduction of the Al Etihad credit bureau, that is to be officially launched in Q4 2015, should result in slower retail lending as banks get a better sense of their client’s exposures to screen potential problem loans. Despite the negative near-term impact the new credit bureau should help banks over time to implement risk based pricing and reduce loan losses. 1 September 2015 11 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research CHART 9: UAE banks loan structure breakdown CHART 10: UAE banks system loan industry breakdown Source: UAE Central Bank, Commerzbank Research, as of end July 2015 Source: UAE Central Bank, Commerzbank Research, as of end July 2015 UAE banks maintain high capitalisation buffers Post the Dubai World credit event in 2009, UAE banks and the regulator have focused on building up capital buffers to contain future systemic risks. As a result UAE banks have built up their capital ratios over the past couple of years supported by a combination of government capital injections (through T1 and T2 loans), strong earnings retention and moderate loan growth rates. The sector’s capital ratios reached a peak in 2012 (Tier 1 at 17% and total CAR at 21%) at which point the banks were incentivised to release some of their capital. This has been achieved through: 1) repayment of government notes over 2012-14 which supported lower funding costs and 2) increasing dividends as well as selective share buybacks. While these actions trimmed some of the capital buffers the UAE banking system continues to enjoy one of the strongest capital metrics worldwide with the system Tier 1 ratio at 16.5% and the total CAR adequacy ratio north of 18% as of end June 2015. The ratios are calculated under Basel II standards and the full implementation into Basel III is expected to erode the system’s capital adequacy buffers by an average of c. 200bp. Based on a recent severe economic stress test conducted by the UAE Central Bank the majority of UAE banks have sufficient buffers and will remain well capitalised with only four out of the 22 local banks’ capital ratios falling below the minimum regulatory requirements. Going forward we expect banks to take a more cautious approach on releasing capital to their shareholders and preserve their buffers in anticipation of any future need for more provisions and lower government deposit inflows. In addition slower credit growth will also act as a hedge offsetting capital pressures. Another positive characteristic is that shadow banking in the UAE represents less than 3% of total financial system assets and is subject to Central Bank regulations similar to that applied to UAE banks therefore reducing financial stability concerns. CHART 11: UAE banks’ capitalisation levels rank among the highest in the GCC space Source: UAE Central banks data, Commerzbank Research 12 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research The UAE regulator continues to lag behind Saudi and Qatar on the implementation of Basel III standards which is a bit of a drawback and raises some questions among investors. This delay creates uncertainty on the treatment of some of the outstanding UAE bank hybrid bonds that do not contain Basel III features. We do expect that the UAE Central Bank will provide formal guidance on the timeline of its Basel III implementation plans during the course of 2016. In addition, we believe that the UAE regulator will grandfather all existing AT1 issues that do not include loss absorption language setting a gradual amortisation schedule which could essentially prevent capital disqualification given that these bonds are permitted to amend the structure terms to comply with new regulatory requirements. Despite this uncertainty UAE banks have been the most active issuers of hybrid additional Tier 1 bonds within the GCC (with seven outstanding bonds) aiming to support their capital bases in anticipation of the transition to Basel III. We expect issuance of AT1 bonds to continue although the latest re-pricing of GCC risk will make it a bit more challenging and result in higher premiums. Dubai should muddle through refinancing risks over the near term The Dubai World agreement with its creditors and prepayment of the 2015 maturities together with the $2.2bn of proceeds from Borse Dubai’s LSE stake sale have essentially satisfied the emirate’s debt maturities for this year. The latest Limitless and Drydocks restructurings although clouding the overall progress are relatively small and not systemic. Heading into 2016 Dubai is facing c. $6bn of restructured debt maturities, which involves debt at the Dubai Holding level. We expect that Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund DIC would sell some more assets that should help to service the 2016 maturities; however, if market conditions deteriorate notably and access to capital markets remains constrained for a prolonged period we see some risk that Dubai’s refinancing challenges will re-emerge considering the relatively high portion of Dubai’s total external debt which currently amounts to c. $140bn. CHART 12: Dubai and Abu Dhabi debt maturity schedule Source: IMF, Commerzbank Research UAE macro update The economic outlook is expected to moderate amid lower oil prices: While low hydrocarbon prices pose a risk to the macro picture, the UAE has sizeable sovereign wealth fund buffers and a relatively low oil break-even budget level compared to other GCC countries, which should prevent a sharp drop in economic activity. In addition the UAE has the most diversified economy relative to its Gulf neighbours. We expect non-oil economic growth to slow down to 3.4% in 2015 and gradually rebound modestly by 2020, supported by rising capex from large government projects and private investment linked to Dubai’s Expo 2020. Growth in oilrelated GDP will remain under pressure over the next two years given the global supply glut. UAE’s latest Purchasing Managers’ Index survey for the month of July rose to 55.8 from 54.7 in June) which is encouraging as it highlights the resilience of the UAE economy. We expect the overall fiscal balance to turn negative in 2015 for the first time since 2009 reporting a small deficit, but the UAE economy should manage to return to fiscal surpluses following 1 September 2015 13 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research implementation of major structural reforms. The current account surplus is also likely to drop in the single digits but should start recovering once oil prices pick up. Inflationary pressures persisted throughout the past 18 months with the CPI reaching 4.1% in July. Much of the acceleration in inflation was driven by increasing rentals although inflationary pressures should normalise given the softening of the real estate market and lower oil prices. Tourism and hospitality continue to contribute positively to the UAE’s economy as was reflected by rising passenger flows in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports and relatively high hotel occupancy rates (Dubai c. 80% and Abu Dhabi c. 77.5%) during the course of 2014. Gradual removal of subsidies and structural reforms coming at a good time: The latest reduction in fuel subsidies in the UAE is an important development but is unlikely to have any major fiscal and inflation impact alone. However, it sends a strong signal that the UAE government will move forward with other major structural adjustments to offset the impact of lower oil prices on the fiscal budget. We expect the gasoline and diesel price deregulation reform that was officially introduced in August 2015 to have a positive, but modest indirect impact on UAE’s consolidated fiscal accounts. The timing of the fuel reform is favourable as the current low oil price environment reduces the differential between market and subsidised prices but most importantly it will set the ground for other reforms. Recent news flow suggests that the authorities are now seriously considering the introduction of VAT and small corporate taxes as well as reducing some non-essential government infrastructure projects. Speculation about the sustainability of the GCC currency peg policies is premature in our view as while such risks have increased we expect GCC governments to continue defending their currency pegs and take major structural reforms prior to any consideration of a currency devaluation scenario. Iran Sanctions – a positive for UAE and particularly for Dubai’s economy: Assuming a successful completion of Iran’s nuclear agreement with P5+1 the economy in the UAE and particularly in Dubai, stands to benefit from an easing of sanctions in Iran through increased trade and financial flows. While the additional oil supplies from Iran pose a modest downside risk for global oil prices, a removal of the sanctions is also likely to lead to an expansion of demand from Iran for goods and services from the UAE, which serves as the largest trade hub in the region. Iran is currently the largest export market for the UAE non-oil economy and accounts for c. 12% of UAE’s total non-oil exports, although a large part of that includes re-exported goods that recycle through Dubai’s port. After growing steadily for several years exports to Iran levelled off and declined with the intensification of sanctions and enforcement efforts since 2010-11. Nevertheless the UAE is well positioned to benefit from an opening of the Iranian market by serving as a trans-shipment point considering its close geographic proximity and strong trade links. An IMF study estimates that a reversal of sanctions could add up to 1 percentage point to UAE’s real GDP growth over 2016-18 through higher non-hydrocarbon exports alone. TABLE 2: UAE – Key macro indicators Russia: Macro Forecasts 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014P 2015F 2016F Real GDP (%y-o-y) -4.8% 1.7% 1.6% 4.9% 7.2% 4.3% 4.6% 3.0% 3.2% Oil & Gas GDP (% y-o-y) -8.9% 3.8% 6.6% 5.2% 7.6% 2.9% 4.0% 2.0% 2.1% Non-oil GDP (% y-o-y) -2.9% 0.7% 2.6% 3.8% 7.1% 5.0% 4.8% 3.4% 3.6% CPI (%) 1.6% 0.9% 0.9% 0.7% 0.7% 1.1% 2.3% 3.8% 3.0% Current Account (% GDP) 0.7% 1.7% 13.8% 16.1% 21.3% 18.4% 13.7% 5.0% 5.9% -13.1% -1.8% 4.1% 8.8% 10.9% 10.4% 5.0% -2.9% 0.3% 51.3% 48.2% 39.6% 37.7% 38.7% 44.4% 49.1% 58.7% 56.0% Fiscal Budget (% GDP) External Debt (% GDP) Source: UAE Central Bank, IMF, Commerzbank Research 14 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research UAE Bank Credit Profiles 1 September 2015 15 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) Investment overview S&P A Stable Moody’s A1 Stable Fitch A+ Stable ADCB is the fourth-largest bank in the UAE and the second-largest in Abu Dhabi with total assets of $57bn. Given its large scale and government ownership it is considered a systemically important institution. ADCB has made notable progress to restore its profitability following a challenging period in the aftermath of the Dubai real estate crisis; however, credit growth has remained below the sector average as the bank was in deleveraging mode. On the other hand, ADCB’s asset quality trends have improved notably and its strong capitalisation and good relationships with the government support its credit quality. Shareholder structure ADCB is 58.1% owned by the Abu Dhabi Government through the Abu Dhabi Investment Council. Its shares are traded on the ADSE and has a market capitalisation of c. $11.7bn. Business model and strategy Originally established in 1985 through the merger of three local banks, ADCB provides conventional and Islamic banking services and has an asset management arm. ADCB was hit hard during the financial crisis mainly due to large participations in some of Dubai’s troubled real estate projects but, with a largely reformed management, it has been able to refocus on the domestic market and substantially deleverage its balance sheet. Following the divestment of its stake in Malaysian RHB Capital, ADCB focuses its strategy on the regional markets. Financial analysis ADCB reported improving profitability with double-digit growth in operating income (up 12%) and net profit (up 26%) during H1 2015. The bank’s focus on higher yielding assets and strong growth in consumer banking have supported its NIM while it managed to generate strong fee income revenues. ADCB’s profitability KPIs rank among the highest in the UAE banking universe with the ROAE rising by 330bp to 22% and its ROAA up by 39bp to 2.39% during H1 2015. ADCB’s net loan portfolio was up by 4% year-to-date in H1 2015 and by 9% year on year. Deposit growth followed similar growth trends and increased by 4% year-to-date and by 11% over the same period of last year. More than 80% of the loan growth came from consumer banking and SME sectors. The bank has managed to improve its funding cost structure and increased notably the share of low cost current account deposits which now constitute 49% of its total deposit base. ADCB’s balance sheet, despite its deleveraging efforts, continues to remain exposed to the more cyclical real-estate and hospitality sectors (33%). Following a challenging period in the aftermath of the Dubai crisis ADCB managed to strengthen its balance sheet. The NPL ratio has now improved to 3.1% down from 5.4% at end-2012, and provisioning coverage stood at a comfortable 139% level as of end June 2015. The conversion of state deposits into equity along with the sale of the 25% stake in the Malaysian Bank in 2011 have restored ADCB’s capitalisation ratios following the challenges of the Dubai real-estate crisis. ADCB’s Total CAR and Tier I ratios stood at a strong 19.8% and 16.1% respectively and rank at the top range in the overall UAE banking industry. In addition, ADCB’s strong shareholder structure and majority control by the Abu Dhabi government is a supporting factor and provides comfort over potential state support. TABLE 3: ADCB – Key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H 2015 YTD % Total Assets 178,271 183,726 180,796 183,142 204,019 212,181 4.0% Total Loans 122,772 124,754 123,195 138,538 140,562 145,782 4.0% Total Deposits 106,134 109,171 109,217 115,427 126,011 131,643 4.0% 16.7% 22.5% 23.1% 21.1% 21.0% 19.8% Total CAR NIM 2.4% 2.7% 3.1% 3.4% 3.2% 3.5% ROAE 2.0% 13.8% 11.6% 15.7% 16.1% 22.0% 115.7% 114.3% 112.8% 107.3% 111.6% 110.7% 11.1% 4.6% 5.4% 4.6% 3.1% 3.0% LTD ratio NPLs Source: ADCB, Commerzbank Research 16 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) Investment overview S&P N/R Moody’s A2 Stable Fitch A+ Stable ADIB is one of the leading Islamic Banks in the UAE with an aggregate market share of c. 5%. The bank has demonstrated a dynamic growth trajectory driven by the development of its Islamic-based retail operations. ADIB’s credit profile benefits from its strong shareholding base and a leading retail franchise concentrated on the wealthy Abu Dhabi nationals’ clientele. The bank maintains comfortable liquidity and capitalisation buffers; however, its asset quality remains challenged and is subject to high related-party concentrations. Shareholder structure The bank is controlled (49.6%) by members of the Abu Dhabi Royal Family through EIIC, a private holding company, while sovereign fund ADIC and UAE General Pension Authority each hold a 7.6% and 1.2% stake respectively, while the remaining shares are floated. Business model and strategy Originally established in 1997 by the Abu Dhabi government, ADIB follows a universal banking model providing retail, consumer finance and corporate and wholesale banking services in accordance with Sharia principles. The bank operates through six business units, although the retail segment remains its largest contributor. ADIB has the strongest retail franchise in Abu Dhabi and operates a network of 88 branches in the UAE and has international operations in Egypt, KSA, Qatar, Iraq, Sudan and the UK. ADIB’s strategic priority is to evolve as a top-tier player in the wider MENA Islamic finance industry. While retail will remain the key driver ADIB is gradually shifting its focus to corporate banking. Financial analysis ADIB’s large retail business provides a relatively resilient revenue base and higher margins than the sector. The bank’s core operations continued to grow at a healthy pace with operating revenues and net income rising by 15% and 10% during H1 2015, supported by higher fees & commissions income and lower provisions. ADIB benefits from one of the lowest costs of funding among its peers that is attributed to its large deposit base. Deposits continue to dominate the funding structure, accounting for 89% of total liabilities. The liquidity position is quite healthy with aggregate liquid assets comprising 21% of the balance sheet and the loan-to-deposit ratio remains at a comfortable 84%, which provides sufficient buffer for further growth. ADIB reported one of the strongest growth rates among UAE banks as both its loan book (up 15%) and deposits (up 13%) expanded above the sector average over the past 12 months. ADIB’s asset quality remains relatively weaker than other Abu Dhabi banks due to its legacy real estate and construction loans but it has made good progress and worked out some of these loans. NPLs improved to 3.5% from its peak of c. 12% in the aftermath of the crisis. At the same time total provisioning coverage has increased to c. 102%. Management maintains a cautious guidance on provisioning which implies that it will maintain a conservative policy. ADIB’s capital adequacy ratio under Basel II dropped by 180bp down to 14% as of end June 2015 and is weaker than the sector average. The decline was due to its relatively strong credit growth along with the acquisition of Barclay’s UAE retail operations and the introduction of stricter regulations on the treatment of risk-weighted assets. The anticipated AED 504mn rights issue should boost capital while we remain confident that the likelihood of government support remains high. TABLE 4: ADIB – key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H 2015 YTD % Total Assets 75,257 74,335 85,664 103,161 111,904 115,100 2.8% Total Loans 47,953 48,831 51,197 61,700 73,006 74,537 2.1% Total Deposits 56,517 55,172 61,326 75,524 84,776 89,084 5.1% Total CAR 16.0% 17.4% 21.4% 16.9% 14.4% 14.0% Net Financing Margin 5.4% 5.1% 4.8% 4.1% 4.1% 4.2% ROAE 20.3% 20.0% 19.0% 15.5% 18.4% 20.8% LTD ratio 84.9% 88.5% 83.5% 81.8% 86.5% 83.7% 7.1% 11.5% 10.4% 8.3% 4.8% 3.5% NPLs Source: ADIB, Commerzbank Research 1 September 2015 17 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) Investment overview S&P N/R Moody’s Baa1 Stable Fitch A- Stable CBD is one of Dubai’s medium-sized second-tier banks with assets of $14bn and a country market share of 2.5%. Despite its smaller size, the bank has established a good corporate franchise and has a strong position in trade finance and SMEs. CBD is mainly focused in the UAE, particularly the Dubai market, while its international presence is undeveloped. CBD’s focus on the mid-tier corporates results in higher profitability metrics compared to the large corporate banks, although its asset quality is weaker than its peers. Nevertheless, the partial government ownership supports its credit profile and the probability of state support. Shareholder structure Originally established in 1969 as a joint venture of Commerzbank, Chase Manhattan and Commercial Bank of Kuwait, CBD’s shareholding structure has changed over the years. CBD is currently 20% controlled by the Dubai government and the remaining shares are broadly spread across a group of prominent UAE businessmen, including the Al Futtaim Family (17.5%). Business model and strategy CBD has a good corporate franchise and is strongly positioned in the trade finance sector. The bank offers both conventional and Sharia-compliant products with a focus on the UAE market. The business is structured around four segments (corporate, commercial, consumer banks and Treasury) although the core focus is on SMEs. CBD’s strategic priorities are to improve its asset quality and loan portfolio and expand its balance sheet by diversifying its product offerings. Financial analysis CBD has historically demonstrated better profitability metrics, relative to the large UAE banks, which is mainly a function of its focus on the higher-yielding SME loans. Corporate & commercial banking will continue to be the largest contributor (55% of operating income). CBD’s NIM has hovered in the 3.5% range over the past few years, and above the sector average, however, intense competition in retail and SMEs may add some pressure on margins. The bank’s KPIs remain satisfactory with an ROAE of 16.2% and ROAA of 2.5%. CBD's balance sheet reached AED 52bn (c. $14bn) as of end-June 2015, a 10% increase over year-end 2014 and a solid 21.5% growth rate over the same period in 2014. Most of this growth was driven by the loan book that expanded by a solid 18% rate during the same period, and above the sector average, boosted by higher retail volumes but also reflecting the acquisition of loans from Royal Bank of Scotland’s UAE branch. The bank has historically been funded by deposits (81% of total liabilities) which advanced by a healthy 11% rate so far in 2015. As a result of a slower deposit growth relative to the loan book CBD’s loan-to-deposit ratio edged up closer to 107% and above the sector average. While, CBD’s liquidity position is deteriorating it remains fairly comfortable with liquid assets comprising c. 20% of the balance sheet. While CBD’s balance sheet remains burdened by legacy troubled loans, the bank’s asset quality metrics continue to improve and cost of risk is falling. CBD’s NPL ratio has now eased down to 6.4% and its provisioning coverage strengthened at 101%. The bank’s Total CAR ratio stood at a strong 17.9% with a Tier 1 ratio at 16.7% which compare favourably with both domestic and regional peers. In addition, CBD has repaid in full all of the AED1.8bn subordinated Tier 2 deposits that it received from the MoF in the aftermath of the Dubai crisis. TABLE 5: CBD – key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H 2015 YTD % Total Assets 38,508 38,241 39,297 44,476 46,879 51,583 10.0% Total Loans 27,165 28,596 29,575 33,117 32,129 37,990 18.2% Total Deposits 29,209 28,423 28,052 30,942 32,161 35,640 10.8% Total CAR 22.1% 23.1% 23.2% 19.8% 18.1% 17.9% NIM 3.7% 3.5% 3.4% 3.4% 3.5% 3.4% ROAE 13.9% 13.0% 12.5% 15.3% 16.7% 16.2% LTD ratio 93.0% 94.3% 96.3% 105.8% 99.9% 106.6% 8.9% 16.7% 13.0% 10.0% 9.2% 6.4% NPLs Source: CBD, Commerzbank Research 18 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Notes Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) Investment overview S&P N/R Moody’s Baa1 Stable Fitch A Stable With assets of c. $40bn Dubai Islamic Bank is the world’s first full Islamic bank and the largest Islamic bank in the UAE holding a c. 5% market share. DIB has been forming partnerships with other banks, both domestically and in international markets. DIB’s credit profile is supported by its leading Islamic banking franchise and solid deposit base benefiting from a cheaper cost of funding. DIB has reported one of the strongest growth rates and remains well positioned to benefit from positive prospects of Islamic Banking in the GCC. More recently the bank has made good progress to improve its high NPLs linked to Tamweel’s troubled real-estate loans. Shareholder structure The Government of Dubai has been DIB’s largest stakeholder since 1998 holding a 27.9% stake. The remaining is floated with only a 6.9% large stake held by Mr. Saeed Ahmed Lootah. Business model and strategy Originally set up in 1975, DIB is the third-largest Islamic bank worldwide offering a wide range of Sharia-compliant services to consumer, wholesale and institutional clients. The business strategy is focused on expanding and preserving its Islamic finance leadership in the GCC region. DIB is aiming to increase its corporate lending to UAE companies that seek to expand in the region and diversify its retail product offerings. The branch network, comprises over 90 branches across the UAE and it has a presence in Jordan, Sudan, Pakistan and Turkey. Financial analysis While competition in Dubai’s retail and corporate banking sectors has been rising DIB has some flexibility to offset margin pressure benefiting from its solid liquidity position and strong franchise in the Islamic finance sector. The bank’s net interest margin hovered at around 3.4% over the past few years, in line with the sector average. Historically, DIB has sustained better liquidity than peers, supported by its solid Shariah-compliant deposit base and has a sound funding structure dominated by deposits which account for almost 87% of non-equity liabilities. Reliance on wholesale funding is very low (7% of liabilities). Customer deposits advanced by a solid 18% so far in 2015, matching loan growth. The strong loan growth pattern of the past few years has led to a higher loan-to-deposit ratio than historically: this stood at 97% as of end-June 2015; however, liquid assets comprise a high 20% of the balance sheet. DIB’s asset quality has been heavily burdened by troubled exposures in Dubai’s real estate and construction loans also linked to its subsidiary Tamweel but it has made good progress to clean up its balance sheet. DIB’s NPLs (impaired loans + 90 days past-due loans) dropped to 6.2% from its 13.8% peak in 2011, while provisioning coverage reached a more comfortable 86% from its 43% lows. We take comfort as most of the troubled loans are secured and collateralised by the properties. DIB’s provisioning coverage ratio including collateral stands at 133%. As of end-June 2015, DIB’s Tier I and Total CAR ratios stood at a healthy 16.8% and 17.1% respectively; however, its stronger growth than the sector average continues to deplete its capital base. DIB has already issued two perpetual hybrid tier 1 capital eligible sukuk that boosted its capital and is contemplating another Tier I perpetual sukuk before year end. Overall the government shareholding participation and DIB’s leading Islamic banking position ensure systemic support if needed. TABLE 6: DIB – key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H 2015 YTD % Total Assets 89,884 90,588 98,698 113,289 123,887 146,699 18.2% Total Loans 57,171 51,507 55,183 56,071 73,977 87,137 18.0% Total Deposits 63,447 64,930 66,726 79,061 92,345 109,158 18.4% Total CAR 17.8% 18.3% 17.4% 18.2% 14.9% 17.1% Net Financing Margin 3.2% 3.5%% 3.3% 3.4% 3.6% 3.7% ROAE 6.0% 10.9% 12.6% 13.8% 17.9% 19.8% LTD ratio 90.1% 85.0% 88.2% 70.9% 98.1% 97.2% NPLs 12.2% 13.8% 12.9% 11.1% 8.0% 6.2% Source: DIB, Commerzbank Research 30 January 2015 19 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Emirates NBD (ENBD) Investment overview S&P N/R Moody’s Baa1 Positive Fitch A+ Stable ENBD is the second-largest bank in the UAE with total assets of $106bn, accounting for a 20% share in loans and 19% share of country deposits. It is also the fourth-largest bank in the MENA region, after QNB, NCB and NBAD. The group was formed in 2007 by the government-led merger of Emirates Bank International and National Bank of Dubai, in an effort to prevent systemic risks from the sizeable asset exposures to the troubled Dubai GREs. ENBD’s credit profile is underpinned by its leading domestic franchise in Dubai and very high probability of government support. Legacy troubled Dubai GRE exposures have weighed negatively on its risk profile as reflected by a small premium of ENBD’s bonds to peers such as NBAD and FGB but the bank’s asset quality has been improving and the premium steadily tightened. Shareholder structure ENBD is majority-owned by the Dubai government, which holds a 55.6% stake through SWF ICD. Its strong ties with the Dubai government provide the comfort of state support. Business model and strategy ENBD follows a universal banking model operating under five different business segments and also offers Islamic banking services. Consumer banking is the largest revenue contributor followed by corporate banking. ENBD’s geographical focus is mainly in the domestic UAE market but has some smaller operations in MENA and international offices in Asia and the UK. The bank’s strategic focus is to improve asset quality and optimise its balance sheet. The recent stricter regulations on GRE exposures may encourage ENBD to expand its market share in the private corporate and SME sectors. Financial analysis ENBD’s profitability has benefited lately from the recovery of Dubai’s economy that resulted in strong revenue growth rates. The bank’s net income surged by 41% in H1 2015 aided by lower provisions while operating revenues reported healthy dynamics supported by rising volumes on higher yielding products and cheaper cost of funding. The pace of consumer lending has slowed down but the Islamic finance division continues to grow at double-digits. During H1 2015, ENBD’s deposits increased by a healthy 6%, with a large share of new deposits being zero-cost current and savings accounts that support the funding base. The loan-to-deposit ratio has moderated at 93%, below the sector average, and in line with management’s targeted range. ENBD has also been a frequent user of private placements under its EMTN program and we expect that the bank will maintain good access to the international capital markets. ENBD’s asset quality has been challenged by large legacy troubled loans to Dubai GREs. However, following the reclassification of Dubai World’s exposure to performing loans ENBD’s NPL ratio has dropped to 7.4% from its peak of 14% in the aftermath of the crisis. At the same time provisioning coverage including the Dubai World exposure stood at c. 110%. ENBD has one of the strongest capital ratios among UAE banks with the total CAR and Tier I ratios at 21% and 18% respectively supported by recent private placement issues and slower credit growth. Overall, ENBD’s current capitalisation levels provide an adequate cushion and its systemic importance and government ownership imply a high probability of state support. TABLE 7: ENBD – key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H 2015 YTD % Total Assets 286,078 284,613 308,296 342,100 363,015 388,110 7.0% Total Loans 196,223 203,140 218,161 238,300 246,050 256,200 4.0% Total Deposits 199,972 193,314 213,928 239,600 258,350 274,375 6.0% 19.8% 20.5% 20.6% 19.6% 21.1% 21.0% Net Interest Margin 2.5% 2.7% 2.4% 2.6% 2.9% 2.8% ROAE 7.0% 7.1% 7.0% 8.3% 11.6% 21.0% LTD ratio 98.1% 105.1% 101.9% 99.5% 95.2% 93.4% NPLs 10.0% 13.8% 14.3% 13.9% 7.9% 7.4% Total CAR Source: ENBD, Commerzbank Research 20 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research First Gulf Bank (FGB) Investment overview S&P N/R Moody’s A2 Stable Fitch A+ Stable FGB is the third-largest bank in the UAE with total assets of $60bn, a leading banking franchise and 10% average market shares in loans and deposits. FGB’s credit profile exhibits some of the best characteristics among UAE banks, with strong asset quality, resilient profitability and the best cost-efficiency indicators in the system. Its robust capitalisation and high profile shareholder structure are additional credit strengths. FGB looks well placed to defend its core profitability given its high concentration in Abu Dhabi government-related entities and UAE Nationals. Shareholder structure FGB is 65% controlled by members of the Abu Dhabi ruling family and the remaining shares are listed on the ADX with a market capitalisation of c. $17bn. Business model and strategy Established in 1979, FGB has gradually transitioned from a corporate into a full-service universal bank offering retail, debt capital markets and investment banking services. Retail operations remain the largest revenue contributor and the bank offers Islamic banking and real estate services. The bulk of the business is based in the UAE, through a network of 21 branches, and has overseas operations in Singapore, Qatar, Hong Kong, South Korea, Libya, the UK and in India. FGB’s strategic priorities are to sustain organic growth focusing on its core corporate and retail activities in the UAE and expand its investment banking and Islamic finance operations. Financial analysis FGB continues to report healthy earnings and despite increased lending to lower-margin government business it managed to sustain its NIM at c. 3.4%, one of the highest margins in the UAE. The bank’s earnings base is fairly diversified with fees & commissions income accounting for c. 30% of operating revenues. In addition, FGB has a very efficient cost structure, with a costto-income ratio at a low 24%, below the industry average (c. 30%). FGB reported healthy ROAA and ROAE of 2.7% and 17.1%, respectively and we expect profitability ratios to remain defensive as the bank plans to optimise its capital structure. Although FGB has high related party exposures it also benefits from large government deposits. However, the current low oil price environment increases the risk of lower government deposit inflows as the bank has already reported a modest drop on its Q2 2015 deposits. The loan book is well diversified across various sectors and exposure to GREs is not material. The loan book continues to grow above the sector average (up 16% in the last 12 months ending June 2015) as the bank increases its share on GREs and mid-tier corporates. FGB’s capitalisation has historically been supported by healthy internal earnings generation and its solid shareholder structure that is controlled by the ruling family. Capitalisation levels are quite robust with Total CAR at 18.7% and Tier 1 at 17.5%, as of end-June 2015 and it was the first bank to repay in full its AED 4.51bn Tier II notes to the MoF. Overall refinancing risks appear easily manageable. FGB’s asset quality metrics remained healthy with the NPL ratio at 2.6% and provision coverage at 116% as of end June 2015 while cost of risk continued to drop to a post crisis low of 80bp. The strong growth pace has led to tighter liquidity with the loan-to-deposit ratio rising to 106% modestly above the sector average. TABLE 8: FGB – Key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H 2015 YTD % Total Assets 140,758 157,480 175,034 198,200 212,168 219,059 3.2% Total Loans 95,628 104,720 114,644 125,600 139,700 148,900 6.6% Total Deposits 98,742 103,474 119,305 138,000 141,272 140,321 -0.6% Total CAR 22.9% 21.5% 21.3% 17.5% 17.5% 18.7% 3.6% 3.8% 3.8% 3.7% 3.6% 3.4% ROAE 14.7% 13.9% 14.2% 15.8% 17.3% 17.1% LTD ratio 96.8% 101.2% 96.1% 91.0% 99.9% 106.1% 3.7% 3.4% 3.3% 3.3% 2.5% 2.6% NIM NPLs Source: FGB, Commerzbank Research 1 September 2015 21 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Mashreq Bank (Mashreq) Investment overview S&P BBB+ Stable Moody’s Baa2 Stable Fitch A Stable Mashreq is one of the key second-tier banks and the largest private bank in the UAE. With a balance sheet of c. $31bn Mashreq holds close to 4.5% market share by assets, and a 4% share in loans. Mashreq’s heavy concentration in Dubai resulted in a notable deterioration in asset quality, although following de-leveraging efforts the bank managed to stabilise the risks on its balance sheet. Over the past three years Mashreq exhibited strong lending growth dynamics above the system average as it shifted its focus on to the higher margin SME sector. Mashreq’s credit profile benefits from its diversified revenue base, solid capitalisation, and a high probability of financial backing from its main shareholder group. Shareholder structure Mashreq is majority controlled (87%) by the Al Ghurair family, one of Dubai’s most prominent business families with a diverse portfolio of investments. Business model and strategy Established in 1967, Mashreq is the largest private bank in the UAE and one of the oldest banks in the country. The bank has a diversified business model although the main focus is on retail and corporate banking activities. Primarily focused on the UAE market where it has an extensive network of 44 branches, Mashreq also has smaller operations in MENA and overseas offices in Hong Kong, London, New York and Mumbai. Mashreq is gradually shifting its strategy, aiming to grow its market share in the higher margin SME market and the healthier Abu Dhabi corporates and is also targeting the high net-worth retail customer base. Financial analysis Mashreq’s operating income increased by 5.7% during H1 2015 driven by strong net interest income (up 13.6%), while the bottom line expanded by 11.6% supported by lower provisions. Key profitability indicators remain in line with the sector average with an ROAA at 2.4% and an ROAE at 15.7% while the net interest margin is at the upper end of the sector average at 3.1%. Mashreq’s diversified revenue base combined with its large share of retail operations mitigate earnings volatility; however, because of its extensive branch network it has a relatively high cost structure with a cost-to-income ratio at c. 40%. After three years of strong growth Mashreq’s growth dynamics moderated in H1 2015 as the loan book expanded marginally (0.7%). Personal loans account for c. 30% of the aggregate loan portfolio with the remaining balance from corporates. On the other hand deposit growth demonstrated healthier dynamics with customer funds rising by 10% during H1 2015 which consequently led to a stronger loan-to-deposit ratio that dropped to c. 78%, one of the lowest rates among UAE banks. The bank’s balance sheet is very liquid with total liquid assets comprising almost 30% of the balance sheet. Due to its heavy exposure in Dubai Mashreq has been hit by various rounds of restructurings in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis. The bank’s NPL ratio peaked at 15% back in 2011, but recovered notably ever since with the latest reported NPL at a comfortable 3.7% level while provisioning coverage has also improved at c. 138%; however, we note that Mashreq reclassified part of its troubled loan as performing loans. In line with other UAE banks Mashreq continues to report adequate capitalisation ratios with the Tier I and Total CAR at 15.2% and 16.5% respectively as of endJune 2015. Furthermore, the bank’s equity share is high while the presence of the Al Ghurair family in the shareholding structure provides comfort of support. TABLE 9: Mashreq – key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H 2015 YTD % Total Assets 84,846 79,241 76,383 83,010 105,840 112,280 6.1% Total Loans 41,211 37,695 41,408 48,727 58,046 58,450 0.7% Total Deposits 51,254 45,417 47,453 54,117 68,488 75,329 9.9% Total CAR 22.7% 22.6% 19.3% 18.2% 16.6% 16.5% NIM 2.6% 2.4% 2.6% 2.9% 3.2% 3.1% ROAE 6.9% 6.8% 10.3% 9.4% 15.7% 15.7% LTD ratio 80.4% 83.0% 87.3% 90.0% 84.8% 77.6% NPLs 11.7% 14.8% 9.4% 6.4% 3.7% 3.7% Source: Mashreq, Commerzbank Research 22 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) S&P AA- Stable Moody’s Aa3 Stable Fitch AA- Stable Investment overview NBAD is Abu Dhabi’s flagship bank, acting as the private banker to the Abu Dhabi government. With assets of $106bn, NBAD is the largest bank in the UAE with a c. 15% market share in country loans and deposits. NBAD has a record of resilient earnings, given its focus on the more promising Abu Dhabi market and benefits from a high share of government deposits. NBAD’s credit profile looks stronger in terms of asset quality and profitability as well as a very high probability of state support and therefore its bonds trade with a tighter premium to its UAE peers. Shareholder structure NBAD is majority controlled by the Abu Dhabi government which holds a 70.5% stake through the sovereign wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC). NBAD is the highest rated financial institution in the GCC and also ranks among the highest rated banks worldwide. Business model and strategy NBAD’s business model is centred around Abu Dhabi’s corporate and public sectors and has strong business ties with the government and public sectors. NBAD has the largest international presence among UAE banks with operations in MENA and Europe and plans to enhance its presence in Asia. International assets collectively account for 20% of the group’s profits. Financial analysis NBAD has a record of resilient earnings and stronger growth dynamics than the sector average. However, the ongoing low yield environment continued to weigh on margins with its NIM hovering in the 2% range over the past few quarters. Key profitability indicators moderated with an ROAA of 1.5% and an ROAE of 14.4% and we see no upside over the near to medium term. NBAD’s medium-term targets include a 15% ROE while keeping its cost to income ratio at 35%. Credit growth remained robust as the loan book expanded by almost 20% during the last 12 months ending June 2015. The implementation of the Central Bank limits to curtail large lending exposures to GREs may have some impact on growth but its diversified operations and international expansion plans should offset such pressure. Unlike other UAE banks, NBAD had limited exposure to the troubled Dubai GREs and as a result, it maintained lower NPLs than the sector average. The level of NPLs stands at a comfortable 2.6%, and provisioning coverage is strong at 112%. NBAD has a very liquid balance sheet with liquid assets comprising c. 40% of the total. Deposits growth has contracted in H1 2015 (dropping 8% during Q2 2015) due to an outflow of government deposits and, as a result, the loan-to-deposit ratio spiked to c. 95% from 80% at end-2014. While we expect government deposit outflows to continue, especially if the low oil prices persist, NBAD should remain the government’s preferred deposit holder and manage to find alternative funding sources. NBAD is well capitalised with the Tier I and Total CAR ratios at 15.4% and 16.6% respectively as of end-June 2015 although its capital ratios are lower than the sector average reflecting the strong growth rates of the past few years. Its sovereign shareholding base implies a very high probability of state support. In anticipation of the transition to Basel III standards NBAD has recently issued its inaugural additional Tier 1 perpetual bond that was priced at the lowest coupon level among all other AT1 offerings in the GCC. Refinancing risk looks easily manageable: NBAD has proven its capacity to raise external funds even during challenging times. TABLE 10: NBAD – Key financial indicators IFRS, AEDm 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 1H2015 Total Assets 211,427 255,667 300,599 325,061 376,098 392,606 4.4% Total Loans 136,833 159,522 164,599 182,500 194,279 217,852 12.1% Total Deposits 123,131 151,817 190,303 229,497 243,185 230,121 -5.4% 22.6% 20.7% 19.9% 17.8% 16.4% 16.6% Total CAR NIM ROAE Loan-to-deposit ratio NPLs 2.6% 2.5% 2.2% 2.0% 1.9% 2.0% 16.5% 14.7% 13.9% 15.1% 15.4% 14.4% 111.1% 105.1% 86.5% 80.0% 80.1% 95.0% 2.3% 2.9% 3.2% 3.3% 3.1% 2.6% YTD % Source: NBAD, Commerzbank Research 1 September 2015 23 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Notes 24 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Notes 1 September 2015 25 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research Notes 26 1 September 2015 Emerging Markets | EM Credit Research This document has been created and published by the Corporates & Markets division of Commerzbank AG, Frankfurt/Main or Commerzbank’s group companies mentioned in the document. 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