BUENOS AIRES, Argentina--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings assigns a long-term foreign currency rating of 'A-' to Banco de Credito e Inversiones's (BCI) USD500 million senior unsecured fixed rate notes due 2023. The rating assigned to BCI's debt issuance correspond to the entity's long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and ranks equal to other senior unsecured debt.
BCI's IDR and Viability Rating (VR) reflect its strong domestic franchise, improved capital base and balance sheet management, more diversified funding sources, its stable performance through the cycle, while maintaining healthy risk indicators and ample liquidity.
BCI's foreign and local currency long-term IDRs have a Stable Outlook. Upside potential lies in continued growth coupled with a material improvement of its capital base, with greater levels of core capital, while maintaining its sound overall performance, low risk profile and ample liquidity. Downward pressure could result from deterioration of its capital adequacy ratios, which are lower than those of similarly rated banks internationally, or of its asset quality.
BCI, which is 63.81% controlled by the Yarur family, is a multi-product entity that is currently ranked fourth in the Chilean financial system with 12.95% of total loans and 14.43% of sight deposits; it also has eight subsidiaries, 379 commercial contact points and 1,372 ATMs.
BCI's current ratings are as follows:
--Foreign and local currency long-term IDR 'A-';
--Foreign and local currency short-term IDRs 'F1';
--Long-term national rating 'AA+(cl)'
--Short-term national rating 'N1+(cl)';
--Viability rating (VR) 'a-'
--Support rating '2';
--Support rating floor 'BBB+';
--National long-term rating on its senior unsecured bonds totaling CLF45 million at 'AA+(cl)';
--National long-term rating on its senior unsecured bonds totaling MXN3.25 billion at 'AAA(mex)';
--National long-term rating on its subordinated bonds totaling CLF39.6 million at 'AA-(cl)';
--National equity rating at 'Primera Clase nivel 1'
The Rating Outlook is Stable.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. The ratings above were solicited by, or on behalf of, the issuer, and therefore, Fitch has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Global Financial Institutions Rating Criteria' (Aug. 15, 2012).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
Global Financial Institutions Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=686181
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