1. August 30, 2010
Research Update:
Paraná Banco Ratings Raised To
'BB-/B' From 'B+/B', After Showing
Good Performance Through
Downcycle
Primary Credit Analyst:
Ricardo Brito, Sao Paulo (55) 11 3039-9733;ricardo_brito@standardandpoors.com
Secondary Contact:
Milena Zaniboni, Sao Paulo (55) 11 3039-9739;milena_zaniboni@standardandpoors.com
Table Of Contents
Overview
Rating Action
Rationale
Outlook
Related Criteria And Research
Ratings List
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817814 | 301116491
2. Research Update:
Paraná Banco Ratings Raised To 'BB-/B' From
'B+/B', After Showing Good Performance
Through Downcycle
Overview
• Paraná Banco posted solid operating performance during an economic
downcycle.
• We are raising our ratings on the bank, including raising the
counterparty credit ratings to 'BB-/B' from 'B+/B' on the global scale
and to 'brA-' from 'brBBB+' on the Brazilian national scale.
• The outlook is stable.
• Maintaining its current business profile, profitability, and
capitalization will be critical to support the ratings.
Rating Action
On Aug. 30, 2010, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services raised its ratings on
Paraná Banco S.A., including raising the counterparty credit ratings to
'BB-/B' from 'B+/B' on the global scale and to 'brA-' from 'brBBB+' on the
Brazilian national scale. The outlook is stable.
Rationale
The upgrade primarily reflects Paraná Banco's solid operating performance over
the past two years, during an economic downcycle. We take into account the
earnings stability afforded by the bank's payroll-lending business and the
insurance business managed by fully owned subsidiary J. Malucelli Seguradora
S.A. (national scale: brA-/Stable/--). Very high capital and adequate
liquidity management, which we trust offer significant protection during
periods of stress, also support the ratings. The severe competition the bank
faces somewhat offset these positives. The larger banks in Brazil are
currently targeting payroll lending, and this could lead to portfolio growth
challenges for Paraná Banco.
Paraná Banco's profitability is supported by its ability to generate low-risk,
high-margins payroll discount lending and by its lean and efficient structure.
Return on adjusted assets (ROAA) for first-six-months 2010 stood at about
3.8%, which we consider good given the bank's risk profile and compared with
the average of its major rated peers. The bank registered an efficiency ratio
(noninterest expenses to total revenues) of 48% at the same date, which also
compares positively with that of its major peers.
The bank's capitalization in our view is a supportive factor for the ratings.
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817814 | 301116491
3. Research Update: Paraná Banco Ratings Raised To 'BB-/B' From 'B+/B', After Showing Good Performance
Through Downcycle
The bank has historically maintained capitalization at very high levels,
reflecting management conservatism. As of June 2010, adjusted total equity to
adjusted assets was at 26.9%, well above the peer average. We calculate the
bank's risk-adjusted capital ratio at a very high 15.5% after diversification
adjustments. Liquidity is adequate, with loans accounting for just 69% of
deposits plus long-term funding.
Asset quality ratios are good, with manageable nonperforming loans (NPLs). The
NPL-to-total loans ratio peaked at 4.9% at year-end 2008 and has improved
since then to 3.8% in June 2010, with net charge-offs at 1.6% of average
loans. These asset quality indicators reflect the nature of payroll discount
loans to retirees, pensioners, and civil servants, and proper control on the
delay in payment to employees, which we expect the bank will maintain. Paraná
Banco benefits from a diversified credit portfolio because its credit
operations are aimed at providing small loans to a great number of
individuals.
Paraná Banco is a niche bank, with adjusted assets of Brazilian reais 2.9
billion as of June 2010. The bank is part of a broader conglomerate owned by
the Malucelli family, with operations in different sectors but concentrated in
southern Brazil.
Outlook
The stable outlook reflects our expectation that the bank will be able to
maintain its core competencies in the medium term with an adequate financial
profile. However, the bank's business profile limits ratings upside. We could
revise the outlook to negative or lower the ratings if capitalization worsens
significantly or if profitability drops drastically.
Related Criteria And Research
• Risk-Adjusted Capital Framework For Financial Institutions, April 21,
2009
• Bank Rating Analysis Methodology Profile, March 18, 2004
Ratings List
Parana Banco S.A
Upgraded; Short-Term Rating Affirmed
To From
Counterparty Credit Rating BB-/Stable/B B+/Stable/B
Senior Unsecured BB- B+
Upgraded
To From
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817814 | 301116491
4. Research Update: Paraná Banco Ratings Raised To 'BB-/B' From 'B+/B', After Showing Good Performance
Through Downcycle
Parana Banco S.A
Counterparty Credit Rating
Local Currency brA-/Stable/-- brBBB+/Stable/--
Complete ratings information is available to RatingsDirect subscribers on the
Global Credit Portal at www.globalcreditportal.com and RatingsDirect
subscribers at www.ratingsdirect.com. All ratings affected by this rating
action can be found on Standard & Poor's public Web site at
www.standardandpoors.com. Use the Ratings search box located in the left
column.
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