Rating agency Icra said it has placed long-term ratings for Rs 4,286.20 crore upper tier II bonds programme and Rs 1,708.80 crore basel II compliant perpetual bonds of IDBI Bank on Rating Watch with Developing Implications (RWD), reported PTI.
"The ratings on the upper tier II bonds and basel II compliant perpetual bonds are placed on RWD due to the deterioration in the capital adequacy ratios, which were below the regulatory levels," Icra said in a release today.
Maintaining the capital ratios above regulatory levels is critical for servicing the banks Basel II debt capital instruments2
In May 2018, the rating agency had highlighted the banks weak capital ratios and had noted that it would require regular capital infusion from the government to keep its capital ratios above regulatory levels.
In June 2018, IRDAI approved life insurance major LIC's proposal to take over 51 per cent stake in IDBI.
LIC is proposed to increase it's stake to 51 per cent from 7.98 per cent, through fresh capital infusion and secondary market purchase.
On August 28, 2018, LIC has given in principle approval to infuse capital in the bank, raising its shareholding to 14.90 per cent, before the acquisition of majority ownership from the government.
"The transaction, which would raise the capital ratios to the regulatory levels in the immediate term and thereby enable the servicing of the Basel II capital instruments, requires approval of the banks shareholders," the rating agency said.
In the first quarter of FY19, the banks asset quality ratios deteriorated with GNPAs and NNPAs at 30.78 per cent and 18.76 per cent, respectively.
It's profitability remains under pressure with compressed net interest margins (NIMs) and net interest income (NII) coupled with high credit costs.
The rating agency said the banks profitability, and consequently its capital position is expected to remain weak.
The outlook may be revised to stable if there is a significant improvement in its capitalisation, solvency and asset quality indicators.
The ratings, however, may be downgraded if the bank is unable to raise sufficient capital in a timely manner to augment the capital adequacy ratios, thereby impacting its ability to service its debt capital instruments, it said.