28 August 2017
NEW YORK — Moody's Investors Service on Aug, 25 has downgraded Lebanon's long-term issuer ratings to B3 from B2 and changed the outlook to stable from negative.
The rating downgrade is based on Moody's view that a B3 rating appropriately captures Lebanon's credit risk profile. The ongoing erosion of Lebanon's very weak government finances will continue to constrain the rating pending further clarity on whether recent and prospective fiscal reforms will be effective given the evolving political environment. While Lebanon's external liquidity position continues to be strong, and banking liquidity ample, rising external imbalances, coupled with a weak growth outlook increase Lebanon's vulnerability to external shocks.
The stable outlook reflects the return to a fully-functioning government, which will support reform momentum going forward. Lebanon has a strong track record of servicing debt under stressed conditions, and its external buffers have continued to strengthen in recent years, supported by new deposits and the Central Bank's operations.
Lebanon's local-currency bond and deposit ceilings are unchanged at Ba2. The foreign currency deposit ceiling is lowered to B3 from B2 and the short-term foreign currency deposit ceiling remains at NP. The foreign currency bond ceiling was changed to B1 from Ba3. These ceilings reflect a range of undiversifiable risks to which issuers in any jurisdiction are exposed, including economic, legal and political risks. These ceilings act as a cap on ratings that can be assigned to the foreign and local-currency obligations of entities domiciled in the country.
Lebanon's senior unsecured Medium Term Note Program is also downgraded to (P)B3 from (P)B2 while its other short term rating is affirmed at (P)NP.
The principal driver of the downgrade is the rise in the country's debt burden. Moody's estimates Lebanon's 2018 government debt to reach close to 140% of GDP, the third highest among all rated sovereigns. Government debt has risen inexorably since 2011, when it bottomed out at 121% of GDP, reflecting a deterioration in the fiscal balance. Other fiscal and debt metrics, such as annual gross financing needs, interest payments as a share of government revenue and debt to revenue, also illustrate the very high burden. For instance, Moody's projects government debt will remain close to 700% of government revenues next year.
In Moody's view, recent fiscal reforms are very unlikely to reduce the deficit in 2017 and 2018. The recent revenue package approved by parliament is credit positive as it demonstrates the emerging consensus among decision-makers, but its purpose is simply to offset the planned upward adjustment in public sector salary scales; further action will be needed to reverse the rising debt trajectory. The absence of an approved budget continues to impede the formulation and implementation of debt-stabilizing reforms. No budget has been in place since 2005, and while the recent agreement on a budget within the cabinet raises the prospect of one now being passed by parliament, its likely impact is unclear and its approval comes too late to halt the erosion in fiscal strength.
External imbalances are wide and rising again. The trade deficit reached $13.6 billion in 2016, or 26.2% of GDP, up from $13.1 billion, or 25.8% of GDP last year. Although Lebanon has benefitted from a decrease in hydrocarbon prices and continued remittances inflows, tourism receipts have not recovered. As a result, the current account deficit reached $8.4 billion, or 18.8% of GDP in 2016, and will remain similarly high in 2017.
While the reserves position remains strong, the rising pressure on the authorities to sustain the large foreign currency inflows needed to support the external deficit was illustrated by the recent operations by the Central Bank to raise reserves.
The cost of hosting Syrian refugees, combined with a deterioration in infrastructure and limited donor support have dampened growth to an annual average of 1.6% over the past three years. Even though Moody's expects growth to pick up to close to 3% this year and next, the legacy of years of underinvestment and political instability leave potential growth well below previously high growth levels. Even if political stability consolidates after the May 2018 elections, the economy will remain vulnerable to external shocks.
Signs of an emerging political consensus offer the prospect of greater political stability, with supportive implications for both institutional strength and future growth. In October 2016, Lebanon's parliament voted to elect a president, filling a post that had been vacant since May 2014.
This was accompanied by the formation of a cabinet in December 2016, and a new electoral law was approved in June 2017, all of which suggest a lower level of polarization among political parties and an end to the political paralysis that has undermined government effectiveness and resulted in persistent delays in reforms.
The restored political process has allowed the cabinet to start implementing long-delayed reforms. Moody's expects an acceleration in economic and fiscal reforms, including buttressing the energy sector.
Early signs of willingness to enact fiscal reforms offer the prospect of further measures which could support long-term debt sustainability.
Renewed political consensus is also likely to attract support from the international donor community.
NEW YORK — Moody's Investors Service on Aug, 25 has downgraded Lebanon's long-term issuer ratings to B3 from B2 and changed the outlook to stable from negative.
The rating downgrade is based on Moody's view that a B3 rating appropriately captures Lebanon's credit risk profile. The ongoing erosion of Lebanon's very weak government finances will continue to constrain the rating pending further clarity on whether recent and prospective fiscal reforms will be effective given the evolving political environment. While Lebanon's external liquidity position continues to be strong, and banking liquidity ample, rising external imbalances, coupled with a weak growth outlook increase Lebanon's vulnerability to external shocks.
The stable outlook reflects the return to a fully-functioning government, which will support reform momentum going forward. Lebanon has a strong track record of servicing debt under stressed conditions, and its external buffers have continued to strengthen in recent years, supported by new deposits and the Central Bank's operations.
Lebanon's local-currency bond and deposit ceilings are unchanged at Ba2. The foreign currency deposit ceiling is lowered to B3 from B2 and the short-term foreign currency deposit ceiling remains at NP. The foreign currency bond ceiling was changed to B1 from Ba3. These ceilings reflect a range of undiversifiable risks to which issuers in any jurisdiction are exposed, including economic, legal and political risks. These ceilings act as a cap on ratings that can be assigned to the foreign and local-currency obligations of entities domiciled in the country.
Lebanon's senior unsecured Medium Term Note Program is also downgraded to (P)B3 from (P)B2 while its other short term rating is affirmed at (P)NP.
The principal driver of the downgrade is the rise in the country's debt burden. Moody's estimates Lebanon's 2018 government debt to reach close to 140% of GDP, the third highest among all rated sovereigns. Government debt has risen inexorably since 2011, when it bottomed out at 121% of GDP, reflecting a deterioration in the fiscal balance. Other fiscal and debt metrics, such as annual gross financing needs, interest payments as a share of government revenue and debt to revenue, also illustrate the very high burden. For instance, Moody's projects government debt will remain close to 700% of government revenues next year.
In Moody's view, recent fiscal reforms are very unlikely to reduce the deficit in 2017 and 2018. The recent revenue package approved by parliament is credit positive as it demonstrates the emerging consensus among decision-makers, but its purpose is simply to offset the planned upward adjustment in public sector salary scales; further action will be needed to reverse the rising debt trajectory. The absence of an approved budget continues to impede the formulation and implementation of debt-stabilizing reforms. No budget has been in place since 2005, and while the recent agreement on a budget within the cabinet raises the prospect of one now being passed by parliament, its likely impact is unclear and its approval comes too late to halt the erosion in fiscal strength.
External imbalances are wide and rising again. The trade deficit reached $13.6 billion in 2016, or 26.2% of GDP, up from $13.1 billion, or 25.8% of GDP last year. Although Lebanon has benefitted from a decrease in hydrocarbon prices and continued remittances inflows, tourism receipts have not recovered. As a result, the current account deficit reached $8.4 billion, or 18.8% of GDP in 2016, and will remain similarly high in 2017.
While the reserves position remains strong, the rising pressure on the authorities to sustain the large foreign currency inflows needed to support the external deficit was illustrated by the recent operations by the Central Bank to raise reserves.
The cost of hosting Syrian refugees, combined with a deterioration in infrastructure and limited donor support have dampened growth to an annual average of 1.6% over the past three years. Even though Moody's expects growth to pick up to close to 3% this year and next, the legacy of years of underinvestment and political instability leave potential growth well below previously high growth levels. Even if political stability consolidates after the May 2018 elections, the economy will remain vulnerable to external shocks.
Signs of an emerging political consensus offer the prospect of greater political stability, with supportive implications for both institutional strength and future growth. In October 2016, Lebanon's parliament voted to elect a president, filling a post that had been vacant since May 2014.
This was accompanied by the formation of a cabinet in December 2016, and a new electoral law was approved in June 2017, all of which suggest a lower level of polarization among political parties and an end to the political paralysis that has undermined government effectiveness and resulted in persistent delays in reforms.
The restored political process has allowed the cabinet to start implementing long-delayed reforms. Moody's expects an acceleration in economic and fiscal reforms, including buttressing the energy sector.
Early signs of willingness to enact fiscal reforms offer the prospect of further measures which could support long-term debt sustainability.
Renewed political consensus is also likely to attract support from the international donor community.
© The Saudi Gazette 2017
