Approximately $2.1 billion of rated debt affected
New York, June 19, 2012 -- Moody's Investors Service upgraded RBS Global, Inc.'s ("RBS")
corporate family and probability of default ratings to B2 from B3,
the senior secured credit facilities to Ba2 from Ba3, the senior
unsecured notes to B3 from Caa1 and the speculative grade liquidity rating
to SGL-1 from SGL-2. RBS is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Rexnord Corporation. The rating outlook is stable.
Upgrades:
..Issuer: RBS Global, Inc.
.... Probability of Default Rating,
Upgraded to B2 from B3
.... Corporate Family Rating, Upgraded
to B2 from B3
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility due
Mar 15, 2017, Upgraded to Ba2 LGD2, 19 % from
Ba3 LGD2, 16 %
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility due
Apr 1, 2018, Upgraded to Ba2 LGD2, 19 % from
Ba3 LGD2, 16 %
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
due Sep 1, 2016, Upgraded to B3 LGD5, 75 % from
Caa1 LGD4, 68 %
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
due May 1, 2018, Upgraded to B3 LGD5, 75 % from
Caa1 LGD4, 68 %
.... Speculative Grade Liquidity Rating,
Upgraded to SGL-1 from SGL-2
RATINGS RATIONALE
The upgrade of the corporate family rating to B2 from B3 primarily reflects
improved financial leverage as a result of the initial public offering
(IPO) by Rexnord Corporation, and the use of proceeds to redeem
$300 million of subordinated co-issued by its operating
subsidiaries RBS and Rexnord LLC. Pro forma for the IPO and debt
repayment, Debt to EBITDA (reflecting Moody's adjustments)
was approximately 6.2 times at the end of fiscal year 2012.
The B2 CFR reflects still high financial leverage after the IPO,
as well as economic uncertainties in Europe, which accounts for
approximately 17% of the company's fiscal 2012 revenue.
Furthermore, the company's water business is driven primarily
by construction, new home starts and municipality expansions which
are all expected to remain weak in the near term. Nonetheless,
the ratings are supported by the company's proven ability to generate
positive free cash flow, very good liquidity, expectation
for additional deleveraging due primarily to the anticipated performance
for its process and motion control segment, and a good debt maturity
profile.
The upgrade of the speculative grade liquidity rating to SGL-1
from SGL-2 reflects a very good liquidity profile supported by
over $400 million in cash balances (immediately after the close
of the IPO and after related debt repayments) and about $220 million
available on the $265 million revolver. Moody's expects
good headroom under its financial covenants over the next year.
The stable outlook reflects Moody's expectation for mid-single
digit revenue growth and relatively stable margins over the next year.
Debt to EBITDA should improve to about 5.5 times in fiscal 2013.
The ratings could be upgraded if the company substantially improves financial
strength metrics through sustained operating income growth or further
debt repayments from operating cash flow or equity offerings. Quantitatively,
sustained debt to EBITDA below 4.0 times, free cash flow
to debt above 8.0% and EBIT to interest above 2.0
times would support positive ratings action.
A significant decline in revenue and operating margin or a large debt
financed acquisition that leads to weakening credit metrics could pressure
the ratings. Quantitatively, if Debt to EBITDA is expected
to be sustained at over 6.0 times the rating, the ratings
could be downgraded.
The principal methodology used in rating RBS was the Global Manufacturing
Industry Methodology published in December 2010. Other methodologies
used include Loss Given Default for Speculative-Grade Non-Financial
Companies in the U.S., Canada and EMEA published in
June 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of these methodologies.
Rexnord Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI,
is the indirect parent of RBS Global, Inc. (RBS).
RBS is an industrial company comprised of two business segments:
Process and Motion Control (about 65% of revenues) and water management
(about 35% of revenues). Revenues for the twelve months
ended March 31, 2012 totaled approximately $2.0 billion.
Apollo Management, L.P. ("Apollo") through its affiliates,
is the majority owner of RBS.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
The Global Scale Credit Ratings on this press release that are issued
by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU are endorsed by Moody's
Investors Service Ltd., One Canada Square, Canary Wharf,
London E 14 5FA, UK, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
office that has issued a particular Credit Rating is available on www.moodys.com.
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this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
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this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
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Paul Aran
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate 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
Michael J. Mulvaney
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
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Moody's upgrades RBS Global's CFR to B2, stable outlook