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Aktia Bank Plc: As part of review of the banking sector Moody's downgrades also Aktia Bank's rating

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As part of review of the banking sector Moody's downgrades also Aktia Bank's rating

Aktia Bank is one of the few banks that has, since spring 2007 through the financial crisis, had an unchanged rating. Following downgrades of a number of other banks’ ratings, Moody’s Investor Service Ltd is now also downgrading Aktia Bank’s rating.

As a consequence of the turbulence on the financial market, the rating institutes have reviewed the sovereign states and the banking sector in the Euro zone according to new rating methods. The review is made on the account of negative effects of the prolonged financial crisis in the Euro zone, downgrading of several sovereign states' rating, and major long-term challenges for the banking sector. The rating institutes fear that these factors may reduce the states' ability to support their banking systems.

Moody’s has stated that Aktia Bank’s asset quality is strong and that the risk profile is low.
Aktia Bank’s capital ratios and liquidity position are solid. 

However, Moody's motivates the downgrade with general unrest in the banking sector, Aktia Bank's lower result outlook and relatively high reliance on market funding (covered bonds) for its mortgage stock.

As Moody’s notified in November 2011, Aktia Bank Plc's credit rating for long-term borrowing has today been downgraded to A3 from A1, for short-term borrowing to P2 from P1, and for financial strength to C- from the previous C rating, all with a stable outlook. The downgrade means that Aktia Bank’s rating returns to the level it had in 2006.

Aktia Real Estate Mortgage Bank Plc's covered bonds’ rating is since 2009 Aa1 (under review).

 

AKTIA BANK PLC

For more information, please contact:
Deputy Managing Director, CFO Stefan Björkman, tel. +358 10 247 6595

From:
Anna Gabrán, Investor Relations Manager, tel. +358 10 247 6501, +358 40 708 1807

 

Distribution:
Nasdaq OMX Helsinki Ltd
Central media
www.aktia.fi

 

Aktia Group provides a broad range of products within banking, insurance and real estate agency.­ Aktia operates  in Finland's coastal areas and inland growth areas. Aktia has some 400,000 customers who are served by nearly 1,400 employees at 70 branch offices and via Internet and telephone services. Aktia's shares are listed on the list of NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd. For more information about Aktia, see www.aktia.fi.