OREANDA-NEWS. On February 09, 2009 Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the long-term bank deposit and unsecured debt ratings of Alliance Bank to B2 from Ba2. At the same time, the E+ bank financial strength rating ("BFSR") was lowered to E. The bank's Not Prime short-term ratings were affirmed. Debt and deposit ratings remain on review for possible further downgrade, reported the press-centre of KASE.

At the same time, Moody's downgraded the long-term foreign and local currency issuer ratings of Seimar Alliance Financial Corporation (Kazakhstan) (SAFC) - a holding company of the bank - to Caa1 from Ba3. Issuer ratings remain on review for possible further downgrade.

"The downgrade of Alliance Bank's long-term deposit and debt ratings has, in turn, been prompted by the lowering of the bank's BFSR by one notch from E+ to E", says Semyon Isakov, a Moscow-based Moody's Analyst, and lead analyst for Alliance Bank.

According to Moody's, the lowering of the bank's BFSR - which now maps to a Baseline Credit Assessment of Caa1 compared to B2 previously – reflects the rapidly increasing vulnerability of the bank's liquidity profile and continuing deterioration of the bank's assets. Moody's believes that being substantially funded by foreign currency wholesale debt, the bank's stand-alone ability to serve its debt (as captured in its Baseline Credit Assessment) has been substantially weakened recently amid the devaluation of the local currency and the overall liquidity pressure in Kazakhstan's banking system. In addition, Moody's also notes the increased "cliff-edge risks" related with the possible acceleration of debt repayment after the announcement of the bank's nationalisation.

In addition, Moody's notes that the deteriorating operating environment in Kazakhstan, recently reinforced by the devaluation of the local currency, will create additional negative pressure on Alliance Bank's loan book as a large portion relates to retail lending and non-export oriented corporate and SME clients.

Moody's also notes that the Alliance Bank's ratings continue to benefit from the high degree of government support incorporated in its ratings. Recently KZT24 billion (US200 million) was provided to the bank by Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund to support its liquidity. Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund also recently reached an agreement with the bank's controlling shareholder SAFC to acquire 76% stake in the bank.

The long-term deposit and unsecured debt ratings of Alliance Bank remain on the review for possible further downgrade, that reflects both the weakening stand-alone financial profile of the bank and the uncertainty with regard to the nature as well as the extent of the government support which may be provided to the bank followed its nationalization by Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund.

Moody's previous rating action on Alliance Bank and SAFC was on 12 December 2008 when the continuation of the review for possible downgrade of the both issuers' long-term ratings was affirmed.

The principal methodologies used in rating the issuer - Alliance Bank – are "Bank Financial Strength Ratings: Global Methodology" and "Incorporation of Joint-Default Analysis into Moody's Bank Ratings: A Refined Methodology", which can be found at www.moodys.com in the Credit Policy & Methodologies directory, in the Ratings Methodologies subdirectory. Other methodologies and factors that may have been considered in the process of rating can also be found in the Credit Policy & Methodologies directory.

Headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Alliance Bank had assets of KZT1.069 trillion (US8.9 billion) at end-June 2008.

Based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, SAFC is a holding company that includes a banking segment (represented largely by Alliance Bank), as well as non-banking lending, life and non-life insurance, financial brokerage and business support segments.