NEAR AND LONGER-TERM CREDIT RISKS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR UNIVERSITY WITH APPROXIMATELY $1 BILLION OF RATED DEBT
New York, November 11, 2011 -- Moody's Investors Service has placed the Aa1 revenue bond rating
of Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) on review for possible downgrade
to assess credit risks emanating from the announcement this week by the
Pennsylvania Attorney General of the filing of criminal charges involving
child sexual abuse against a former assistant football coach, as
well as perjury and failure to report charges against two senior university
officials, including the CFO of the university. The university
board has also dismissed Penn State's president and head football
coach.
Over the next several months, Moody's will evaluate the potential
scope of reputational and financial risk arising from these events.
While the full impact of these increased risks will only unfold over a
period of years, we will also assess the degree of near and medium
term risks to determine whether to downgrade the current Aa1 rating.
We will monitor possible emerging risks emanating from potential lawsuits/settlements,
weaker student demand, declines in philanthropic support,
changes in state relationship and significant management or governance
changes.
Penn State is currently rated Aa1, reflecting its very strong student
demand and other credit strengths linked to its status as Pennsylvania's
flagship and land grant university. Penn State has developed a
strong national academic brand identity that has improved substantially
over the past several decades. It has demonstrated consistent ability
to draw out-of-state students who pay high tuition rates,
which mitigates exposure to the declining number of high school graduates
in its home state. In addition to its flagship campus in State
College, it operates regional campuses throughout Pennsylvania.
The university is a major research enterprise as well, with $725
million of research expenditures reported for fiscal year (FY) 2011.
It also operates a major hospital which generates good operating margins.
The University is one of the largest in the U.S.,
with enrollment of over 80,000 full-time equivalent students
and total operating revenues of $4.6 billion for FY 2011.
FY 2011 financial resources totaled $3.9 billion,
most of which are liquid, unrestricted investments. For more
information, please see Moody's last published report for
Pennsylvania State University dated April 28, 2010.
The principal methodology used in this rating was U.S. Not-for-Profit
Private and Public Higher Education published in August 2011. Please
see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy
of this methodology.
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rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
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Dennis M. Gephardt
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Public Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Diane F. Viacava
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Public Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
MOODY'S PLACES PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S Aa1 RATING ON REVIEW FOR POSSIBLE DOWNGRADE