Re: Preferentes UNNIM XS0225115566
L'Ir dice che l'integracion ufficial es terminada en 1 trimestre 2013,dopo de che todos diventa BBva.
FITCH UPGRADES UNNIM BANC TO 'BBB+'; NEGATIVE
Fitch Ratings-London/Barcelona-14 September 2012: Fitch Ratings has upgraded Unnim Banc
S.A.'s Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'BBB+' from 'BB+' and Short-term IDR to 'F2'
from 'B' and removed them from Rating Watch Positive (RWP). The Outlook is Negative. These
rating actions follow the formalisation of BBVA's acquisition of Unnim Banc on 27 July 2012
when all of the authorities' approvals of the transaction were received, including that of the
European Commission.
BBVA acquired Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring's 100%-stake in Unnim Banc for one euro,
with the Spanish banks' Deposit Guarantee Fund (DGF) financially absorbing losses of EUR953m
arising from the operation. In addition, the DGF granted BBVA an asset protection scheme (APS)
of above EUR6bn of Unnim Banc's real estate assets. A full list of rating actions is at the end of this
comment.
RATING ACTION RATIONALE AND DRIVERS - IDRS, VR, SUPPORT RATING AND
SUPPORT RATING FLOOR
Unnim Banc is now a 100%-owned bank subsidiary of BBVA and is fully consolidated into the
group accounts. Its IDRs, senior and lower tier 2 debt ratings are aligned with those of BBVA. Fitch
considers Unnim Banc to be part of BBVA's core banking business in Spain and expects it to be
merged into the parent. Until that time, the likelihood of support for Unnim Banc from BBVA,
should it be needed, is high. This is reflected in the '2' Support Rating, which was upgraded from '3'
and removed from RWP.
Fitch has affirmed and withdrawn Unnim Banc's Viability Rating (VR) because it is no longer
considered analytically meaningful in the context of its acquisition by BBVA and the ensuing
integration/merger process. For similar reasons, the bank's Support Rating Floor (SRF) has been
affirmed, removed from RWP and withdrawn because the primary source of support for the bank is
now considered by Fitch to be BBVA, rather than the Kingdom of Spain.
Although a small transaction for BBVA, in Fitch's view, the acquisition of Unnim Banc makes
strategic sense. Unnim Banc operates in Catalonia, one of the more dynamic regions in Spain, and
allows BBVA to roughly double its market share for loans and deposits to 17% and 12%,
respectively.
RATING SENSITIVITIES - IDRS
Unnim Banc's IDRs are sensitive to the same factors that might drive a change in BBVA's IDRs and
the bank's Long-term IDR is therefore on Negative Outlook, like that of BBVA. For more
information in this regard, see 'Fitch Downgrades Santander & BBVA to 'BBB+'/Negative Outlook
on Sovereign Action', dated 11 June 2012 and other research at www.fitchratings.com.
SUBORDINATED DEBT AND OTHER HYBRID SECURITIES
Unnim Banc's dated subordinated debt rating has been upgraded to 'BBB' from 'B' and removed
from Rating Watch Evolving (RWE). The debt class is performing and Fitch considers its risk
profile to be the same now as the same class of debt issued by BBVA.
Unnim Banc's upper tier 2 and preferred stock ratings have been affirmed. They are still
non-performing and their ratings reflect this. These instruments could be upgraded once more
clarity emerges over their prospects for re-performance. This could emerge over the relatively near
term as Unnim Banc's integration with BBVA progresses.
The rating actions are as follows:
Unnim Banc:
Long-term IDR: upgraded to 'BBB+' from 'BB+', removed from RWP, Outlook Negative
Short-term IDR: upgraded to 'F2' from 'B', removed from RWP
VR: affirmed at 'f', withdrawn
Support Rating: upgraded to '2' from '3', removed from RWP
SRF: affirmed at 'BB+', removed from RWP ; withdrawn
Lower tier 2 subordinated debt: upgraded to 'BBB' from 'B', removed from RWE
Upper tier 2 subordinated debt: affirmed at 'CC'
Preferred stock: affirmed at 'C