OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings views the Commonwealth Bank of Australia's (CBA, AA-/ Stable) capital raising in addition to its strong full year profit announcement today as a credit-positive, supporting its current ratings.

CBA announced it was raising approximately AUD5bn to boost its capital levels to address the recent regulatory changes of the average mortgage risk weights for Australian residential mortgages as announced by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) on 20 July 2015.

The capital raise will add 135 basis points (bp) of additional common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital and result in a CET1 ratio of 10.4% on a pro-forma basis as of end-June 2015. CBA's capital raising plan follows a trend among the major Australian banks which all announced different capital raising measures from May 2015. Capital is mainly raised to address anticipated changes in regulatory capital requirements. The size of CBA's capital raise reflects it is the largest mortgage lender in Australia with a home loan market share of 25% at end-June 2015. CBA follows two other major banks which, together, will have raised fresh capital totalling AUD13.5bn from the market. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (AA-/ Stable) announced an increase of AUD3bn on 6 August 2015 while National Australia Bank Limited (AA-/ Stable) raised AUD5.5bn CET1 capital in May 2015.

The AUD5bn capital raise is fully underwritten and expected to be raised through an entitlement offer of ordinary CBA shares to all existing shareholder. CBA will also retain at least 25% of its AUD9.1bn net profit as of end-June 2015 in addition to an expected small portion of dividend reinvestments which will not benefit from a share price discount. The majority of the capital raising initiatives are likely to cover the capital shortfall arising from the increased average risk-weightings for residential mortgages in Australia but also allows for asset growth in the financial year 2016.

Fitch expects the major Australian banks will continue to increase their capital positions using a range of measures, including the usage of dividend reinvestment plans, capital raising and retained earnings, over the next 24 months. This is to address further increases in regulatory capital requirements, most likely as a result of changes to the global framework which are expected either late 2015 or early 2016.