Fitch Ratings on Tuesday downgraded realty major Unitech Limited's (Unitech) Long-term rating to 'BBB(ind)' from 'A-(ind)' (A minus) an maintains its ngative long-term rating outlook.

The downgrade reflects the ongoing delay in the completion of asset sales, and its impact on Unitech's ability to service its short-term debt obligation, according to a release by the company.

Fitch on 11 November 2008 had said that it expected the asset sales to be completed by December 2008, and noted that the unsuccessful completion of the projected asset sales would trigger a ratings downgrade.

The Negative Outlook reflects Unitech's reduced liquidity position, as the company is facing significant maturities during the next six months (principal amount around INR27bn) and the ensuing substantial refinancing risk. The liquidity risks are accentuated by the tightness of the credit environment.

The Outlook also reflects potential further negative pressure on cash flow generation and credit metrics, stemming from a more adverse real estate sector environment than previously envisaged.

Following this rating action, Fitch also downgraded single certain structured products loan sell down transactions where the ratings of the pass through certificates (PTCs). The downgrade of the PTCs follows the downgrade of Unitech Limited's National Long-term and Short-term ratings to 'BBB(ind)' from 'A-(ind)' (A minus(ind)) and to 'F3(ind)' from 'F2+(ind)', respectively.

Source : EconomicsTimes

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Battered by rumours casting doubts about its financial health, ICICI Bank on Sunday received a shot in the arm with global rating agencies Moody's and S&P giving it a thumbs up saying its overseas arms have no significant sub-prime risks.

"ICICI Bank's UK subsidiary has no high risk sub-prime securities and enjoys robust asset quality and liquidity," Moody's said in its latest credit report.

Separately, another leading rating agency Moody's said that the Indian lender's credit fundamentals remain sound and any mark-to-market loss would not have any significant impact on its credit profile.

These ratings assume importance in the wake of reports that it was over-exposed to risk caused by the global meltdown and that the bank's loan profile was not fully secured and credible.

Interestingly, Morgan Stanley in one of its recent reports had said that among Asian banks, ICICI Bank has the largest exposure to weak global markets.

Moody's reaffirmed its rating on ICICI Bank UK Plc with a "stable outlook" in its latest credit opinion, which was released after a sharp plunge of about 20 percent in ICICI Bank's share price on Indian bourses.

Moody's also said that ICICI continues to have highest rating for senior debt among Indian banks and it has "no high risk sub-prime securities in ICICI Bank UK investment book." At the same time, S&P's senior director, financial institutions ratings, Asia, Ritesh Maheshwari, said that "credit fundamentals of ICICI Bank continue to remain sound despite the reports on its exposure to Lehman Brothers or the Bakerie group."

"These have to be seen in the context of the USD 10 billion capitalisation of the bank and USD one billion of profits, Maheshwari said.

He added that while the overseas investment portfolio might be subject to mark-to-market valuation loss but it should not be significant enough to hurt ICICI Bank's credit profile.

Moody's retained its ICICI Bank UK rating at 'Baa1' for senior debt, which is higher than the foreign currency senior debt rating of any Indian bank.

The rating reflects the bank's improving core banking activities and robust asset quality, as well as the developing franchise within the UK, Moody's said, adding that the corporate banking business is centred on providing services to Indian corporates which are in the UK, including merger and acquisition advice, forex business and syndicating Indian paper.

"It has robust asset quality ratios with no loans classified as impaired. It has also stated that ICICI Bank UK maintains a rather conservative investment policy and does not hold any sub-prime assets, nor does it have exposure to CDOs, SIV/SIV Lites and leveraged loans.

"The mark-to-market impact in its investment book is not associated with any structured or high-risk sub-prime related securities but is due to the general widening of the credit spreads due to the global market conditions," the agency said.

It further asserted that ICICI Bank UK has a robust liquidity position and that ICICI UK has a relatively high level of capitalisation, with total capital adequacy at 19 percent at March 31, 2008 and ICICI UK has a strong backing from its parent ICICI Bank Limited.

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