[RAM] RAM Ratings reaffirms Maybank's AAA ratings

RAM Ratings has reaffirmed Malayan Banking Berhad’s (Maybank or the Group) AAA/Stable/P1 financial institution ratings on the national and ASEAN scales, as well as the ratings of its debt programmes (Table 1 below). The reaffirmation of the ratings reflects Maybank’s dominant market position as the largest bank in Malaysia and its strong funding capabilities by virtue of an extensive branch network. The ratings also consider the Group’s sound earnings generation capacity and robust capital position. While we noted some weakening in Maybank’s asset quality, its sturdy loss absorption buffer is expected to comfortably cushion potential impairments in the prevailing macroeconomic landscape. Commanding about 18% each of the domestic market’s deposits and loans as at end-September 2019, Maybank is systemically important to Malaysia. It also ranks among the top five in the ASEAN region by asset size.

Slowing growth environments in Maybank’s home markets of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have given rise to weaker repayment trends in non-retail borrower segments, seen in the deterioration of the Group’s key asset quality indicators in 9M fiscal 2019. The Group’s headline gross impaired loan ratio had climbed to 2.7% as at end-September 2019 (end-December 2018: 2.4%) while its credit cost ratio came in at an annualised 50 bps in 9M fiscal 2019 (fiscal 2018: 31 bps). Maybank had cited recent impairments as borrower-specific risks, with additional provisions made on Hyflux-related projects a contributory factor to higher impairment charges. While the prolonged US-China trade war and softer growth outlook could weigh on Maybank’s asset quality in the next 12-18 months, potential impairments are expected to be manageable in view of the Group’s sturdy loss absorption buffer in the form of sound pre-provision earnings and robust capitalisation.

Pre-provision profit was up 5% y-o-y at RM9.7 bil in 9M fiscal 2019 (9M fiscal 2018: RM9.2 bil), primarily on the back of stronger trading and investment income, while loan growth and interest income from an enlarged securities portfolio were minor contributors to earnings growth. Although higher impairments had negated these improvements – resulting in a marginally lower pre-tax profit of RM7.8 bil in 9M fiscal 2019 (-0.7%) – the Group’s bottom line still translated into a sound pre-tax return on risk-weighted assets of 2.7% on an annualised basis. Disciplined risk-based pricing and a current and savings account (CASA)-focused deposit-gathering strategy have held Maybank’s net interest margin steady at around 2.3% in the last five years, while its capital position remains one of the strongest among Malaysian domestic banking groups. The Group’s post-dividend common equity tier-1 capital ratio stood at a robust 14.4% as at end-September 2019 (end-December 2018: 14.5%).

Analytical contact
Loh Kit Yoong
(603) 3385 2493
kityoong@ram.com.my

Media contact
Padthma Subbiah
(603) 3385 2577
padthma@ram.com.my