OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has assigned an expected 'BBB-(EXP)' rating to TMB Bank Public Company Limited's (TMB; BBB-/Stable) proposed Chinese yuan-denominated senior unsecured notes, issued under its USD3.0bn euro medium-term note (EMTN) programme. The EMTN programme has been rated 'BBB-'.

The proposed tenor for the notes is three years and they will be issued out of TMB's Cayman Islands branch, with proceeds planned for general corporate purposes, including meeting funding requirements of the bank.

The final rating is subject to the receipt of final documentation conforming to information already received.

KEY RATING DRIVERS
The notes are rated at the same level as Thailand-based TMB's EMTN programme and Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of 'BBB-', as they represent unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the bank.

TMB's IDR reflects its stand-alone credit strength. TMB is Thailand's seventh-largest commercial bank by assets as of December 2014, and its rating is supported by continued improvements in its financial performance.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
The rating on the senior unsecured notes would be directly impacted by any changes in TMB's EMTN which, in turn, would be affected by changes in the bank's IDR.

TMB's ratings could be hurt by a major deterioration in its financial performance, such as in a weaker economic environment, or from an increase in the bank's risk appetite. Meanwhile, the bank's ability to maintain or improve its financial performance and a clear strengthening of its domestic franchise would be positive to the ratings.

For further details on TMB's key rating drivers and rating sensitivities, refer to the rating action commentary "Fitch Affirms Thai Mid-Sized Banks; Revises Thanachart Bank's Outlook to Stable", dated 3 February 2015 and available at www.fitchratings.com.

The other ratings of TMB are unaffected by this action, and are as follows:
Long-Term IDR: 'BBB-'; Outlook Stable
Short-Term IDR: 'F3'
USD3.0bn senior unsecured medium-term note programme: 'BBB-'
Viability Rating: 'bbb-'
Support Rating: '3'
Support Rating Floor: 'BB+'
National Long-Term Rating: 'A+(tha)'; Outlook Stable
National Short-Term Rating: 'F1(tha)';
National subordinated debt rating: 'A(tha)'