GCC banks are becoming active buyers of stakes in banks in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) and even farther afield, according to a report by rating agency Standard & Poor's.

As acquirers in Mena, Gulf banks are taking the place of European financial institutions that are shoring up their balance sheets in the aftermath of the financial and sovereign crises, the S&P was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"Banks in the Gulf have capital to spare, and are literally capitalising on their traditional strengths such as strong capital positions, healthy liquidity, and supportive shareholders to pursue acquisitions in Mena emerging-market countries, where opportunities for long-term growth exist," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Timucin Engin.

S&P has noted a sharp rebound in acquisitions by Gulf banks in 2012, especially in Turkey and Egypt, in a report entitled "Exit European Banks, Enter Gulf Banks as Major Acquirers in the Region's Emerging Markets".

Looking at the prices of the announced and realised deals, we observe that the price of a controlling stake in a financial institution is significantly lower than before the crisis, creating affordable access for long-term business operators.

"We look at the potential impact on the ratings of issuers on a case by case basis. Potential rating movements depend on a conflux of factors, such as how well capitalised the acquirers will be post-acquisition, how well they will manage the credit exposures arising from these expansions, and whether they will be able to reap potential benefits of diversification," said Engin.

"Growth into higher economic risk countries could boost a bank's risk-adjusted capital requirements, lowering our assessment of its capital adequacy.

"However, Gulf banks generally have supportive shareholders and strong internal capital generation which might serve as a cushion," the report said.

"Furthermore, these transactions are opportunities for diversification into markets with large 'unbanked' populations, which can provide for longer-term growth. A negative factor is that, excluding a few, banks in the Gulf usually lack lending and credit underwriting experience outside their region, which we view as a significant risk factor," he added.-TradeArabia News Service