Fitch Ratings has upgraded the National ratings of FirstRand Bank Holdings Limited (FSR) and its wholly owned subsidiary FirstRand Bank Limited (FRB) to a long term ‘AA(zaf)’ from ‘AA-(minus)(zaf)’ and ‘AA+(zaf)’ from ‘AA(zaf)’ respectively.
The Outlooks remain Stable. All other ratings have been affirmed. A detailed list of ratings is provided at the end of this statement.
The upgrade reflects FirstRand’s and FRB’s improved asset quality and consistent track record of strong earnings growth. The ratings take into consideration FirstRand’s size as one of South Africa’s largest banking groups, its systemic importance and its well established diversified business activities.
Balanced against these factors are FirstRand’s increased exposure to market risk and lower, but satisfactory, capital adequacy ratios.
FirstRand’s profitability for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2005 increased to R7,1-billion (2003:R5,0bn). Strong financial performances were recorded from all FirstRand’s business segments with Rand Merchant Bank and Wesbank reporting earnings growth of 32% and 34% respectively.
Improvements in credit risk management, assisted by benign economic conditions, caused non-performing loans to reduce to 1.4% (2004:1.7%) of gross advances with adequate provisions being set aside.
FirstRand and FRB reported Tier I capital adequacy measures of 8.8% (2004:10.1%) and 7.9% (2004:9.7%) respectively at FYE05.
“Fitch considers FirstRand’s and FRB’s capital adequacy ratios to be acceptable in the context of strong earnings performance. Its ratios are comparable to similarly rated peers.”
FirstRand is wholly owned by FirstRand Limited (FRL) a leading South African financial service company. FRL’s banking activities are conducted through FirstRand.
These activities include the provision of domestic retail and investment banking services through FRB and international activities in Ireland and Australia. The group’s other African interests are in Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland. – I-Net Bridge