OREANDA-NEWS. December 15, 2015. Fitch Ratings has affirmed the National Ratings of Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa's (Landbank) at 'AA+(zaf)' and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) at 'AA+(zaf)'. The Outlooks are Stable.

The affirmations follow a peer review, which included all of the Fitch-rated South African financial institutions except for the five major banks. A full list of rating actions is at the end of this rating action commentary.

KEY RATING DRIVERS - NATIONAL RATINGS and SUPPORT RATINGS
DBSA and Landbank's Long-term National Ratings and Support Ratings reflect the high probability that they would receive support from the South African authorities as state-owned development finance institutions, incorporated by Acts of Parliament. The National Ratings are driven by South Africa's local currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR; BBB/Stable). On the national scale DBSA and Landbank's ratings of 'AA+(zaf)' reflect lower perceived creditworthiness relative to sovereign.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
NATIONAL RATINGS AND SUPPORT RATINGS
DBSA and Landbank's National Ratings would be sensitive to any change in Fitch's perception of the South African authorities' willingness to support if required. This could include public statements of a decrease in willingness to support or potentially an increase in willingness to support including explicit, formalised support such as guarantees or callable capital facilities.

DBSA and Landbank's Support Ratings would be affected if there was a further downgrade of the sovereign rating reflecting a further weakening in the sovereign's ability to provide support.

The rating actions are as follows:

Development Bank of Southern Africa
National Long-term rating: affirmed at 'AA+(zaf)'; Outlook Stable
National Short-term rating: affirmed at 'F1+(zaf)'
Support Rating: affirmed at '2'

Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa
National Long-term rating: affirmed at 'AA+(zaf)'; Outlook Stable
National Short-term rating: affirmed at 'F1+(zaf)'
Support Rating: affirmed at '2'