"We are revising to negative from stable our outlook on the long-term rating on HSBC Holdings Plc, as well as on the rated intermediate holding companies, and the group's 'core' and 'highly strategic' subsidiaries, except for The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd (HBAP) and its subsidiaries," the rating agency said in a statement.
The ratings agency affirmed HSBC's A+/A-1 credit rating as the banking entity allegedly failed to adhere with the US anti-money laundering standards.
"We are affirming our 'A+/A-1' counterparty credit ratings on HSBC Holdings PLC and the group's rated intermediate holding companies, our'A+/A-1' counterparty credit ratings on most of the group's "highly strategic" operating companies, and our 'AA-/A-1+' counterparty credit ratings on the group's "core" subsidiaries," S&P said.
A US congressional panel report last month accused HSBC of exposing the American financial system to various terror financing, money laundering and drug trafficking activities with transactions worth billions of dollars, due to poor risk control systems at the bank.
S&P said, "HSBC is by no means alone in facing such problems. Indeed, we note the large fines handed out by the US authorities in the past few years to some other European banks due to perceived AML failures.
"Nevertheless, we consider that these issues could potentially carry some specific rating implications for HSBC," the rating agency said.
In addition, the rating agency noted that the full extent of the US regulatory actions against the group in respect of the AML failures remains uncertain at this time as the group still faces the prospect of legal action.
S&P noted that HSBC has set aside USD 700 million for potential penal actions against the bank in the US.
