MOODY'S UPGRADES BNSF LONG-TERM RATINGS -- SENIOR UNSECURED TO Baa1. OUTLOOK STABLE
Approximately $11.8 billion of Debt Securities Affected.
New York, July 28, 2006 -- Moody's Investors Service upgraded the long term ratings of Burlington
Northern Santa Fe Corporation ("BNSF"), senior unsecured
to Baa1, and its subsidiaries, certain ETC's to Aa2
and senior unsecured to A3. Moody's also affirmed the Prime-2
short term rating. The rating outlook is stable.
The upgrades recognize BNSF's superior market position as its extensive
and well maintained western railroad, which connects with the key
rail gateways and ports, leads to Moody's expectation of sustainable
cash flow from steady revenue growth and a low cost operating structure.
Particularly strong recent operating results have produced sharply improved
credit metrics with strong free cash flow. Key measures of debt
to EBITDA and EBIT to interest expense are now within the low end of the
range of A3 rated debt issuers. Importantly, BNSF is now
producing a return exceeding its cost of capital from taking full advantage
of the combination of sharply higher volumes, productivity enhancements
to create additional capacity and the most favorable pricing environment
in recent history. The Baa1 rating of BNSF Corporation debt reflects
the structural subordination of the holding company debt to the considerable
obligations at the railroad level.
In Moody's view, BNSF has the industry's most geographically
attractive railroad system in that the network is particularly well-suited
to serve the rapidly growing import activity as well as the steady demand
for western coal. BNSF has performed within expectations of a market
leader operating in a strong market. The railroad created more
incremental capacity through operating efficiency than it did through
actual capital dollars to satisfy unprecedented growth in its core freight
markets. With tight supply demand conditions in freight transportation,
BNSF has appropriately increased yields and we anticipate the favorable
pricing conditions to continue over the near term, at least.
For several years, BNSF has managed its aggressive share repurchase
activity effectively and within Moody's expectations. The
company uses only discretionary free cash flow (after its considerable
capital investment in the business) for shareholder returns, and
it has maintained a stable capital structure for some time.
The stable outlook anticipates improving near-term financial results
with solid demand for rail transport producing strong top-line
growth. Railroad operations are expected to remain fluid even as
demand on the system increases. Ratings could be upgraded further
if BNSF can sustain an improvement in EBITA to average Assets to the 12%
range, along with an operating ratio in the low 70% level,
Debt to EBITDA not substantially higher than 3.0x, and EBITDA
to Interest Expense in excess of 9x (using Moody's standard adjustments).
Operating at modest levels of free cash flow, at the $200
million level absent unusual capital investments, for some time
because of protracted loss of fluidity in the network or volume declines
could pressure the rating down. EBIT to Interest Expense below
4x or retained cash flow to debt below 20% would also pressure
the rating down.
Upgrades:
..Issuer: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Company
....Senior Secured Equipment Trust,
Upgraded to a range of Aa3 to Aa2 from a range of A1 to Aa3
..Issuer: BNSF Funding Trust I
....Preferred Stock, Upgraded to Baa3
from Ba1
..Issuer: BNSF Railway Company
....Senior Secured Equipment Trust,
Upgraded to Aa2 from Aa3
....Senior Secured Pass-Through,
Upgraded to Aa2 from Aa3
....Senior Secured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Upgraded to A2 from A3
..Issuer: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Upgraded to Baa1 from Baa2
....Senior Unsecured Shelf, Upgraded
to (P)Baa1 from (P)Baa2
..Issuer: Burlington Northern, Inc.
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Upgraded to A3 from Baa2
..Issuer: Northern Pacific Railway Company
....Senior Secured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Upgraded to A2 from Baa1
..Issuer: Unif. Govt. of Wyandotte Co./Kansas
City, KS
....Senior Unsecured Revenue Bonds,
Upgraded to A3 from Baa1
..Issuer: Westside Intermodal Transportation Corp.
....Senior Unsecured Revenue Bonds,
Upgraded to A3 from Baa1
Assignments:
..Issuer: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
....Issuer Rating, Assigned Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Shelf, Assigned
(P)Baa1
....Subordinated Shelf, Assigned (P)Baa2
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
Company
....Outlook, Changed To Stable From
Positive
..Issuer: BNSF Funding Trust I
....Outlook, Changed To Stable From
Positive
..Issuer: BNSF Railway Company
....Outlook, Changed To Stable From
Positive
..Issuer: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
....Outlook, Changed To Stable From
Positive
..Issuer: Burlington Northern, Inc.
....Outlook, Changed To Stable From
Positive
..Issuer: Northern Pacific Railway Company
....Outlook, Changed To Stable From
Positive
Withdrawals:
..Issuer: Burlington Northern, Inc.
....Issuer Rating, Withdrawn,
previously rated Baa2
Moody's assigned long term ratings to a BNSF shelf registration and reassigned
the Issuer Rating at BNSF from Burlington Northern, Inc.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, based in Fort Worth Texas,
operates a Class I railroad.
New York
Michael J. Mulvaney
Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
New York
Robert Jankowitz
Senior Vice President
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653