The
RWN on Halk's VR reflects Fitch's view of a still material risk of the bank becoming subject to a fine or other punitive measures as a result of the US investigation, which resulted in the conviction of its deputy general manager for violation of US sanctions.
According to Fitch Ratings, it has placed Bank of Cyprus (BOC), Cyprus Popular Bank (CPB) and Hellenic Bank's (HB) Long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) and Support Rating Floors (SRFs) of 'BB+' and Support Ratings of '3' on Rating Watch Negative (
RWN).
The resolution of the
RWN on the banks' LC IDRs will therefore be the key input in resolving the
RWN status on their DPR programmes, but through Fitch's uplift methodology any bank rating action would not necessarily need to lead to an equivalent rating action on the DPR ratings.