Mexico, January 26, 2021 -- Moody's de Mexico has assigned ratings of Ba1 (Global Scale, Local
Currency) and A1.mx (Mexico National Scale Rating) to the State
of Veracruz's MXN 1.1 billion FISE bank loan from Banobras that
matures in November 2024.
The loan is payable through a trust (851-01908, Banregio
as trustee), to which the state has pledged the rights and flows
of 25% of the revenue it receives from the Fund for Social Infrastructure
for States (FISE), which is a component of the Contribution Fund
for Social Infrastructure (FAIS).
RATINGS RATIONALE
The Ba1/A1.mx ratings assigned to the FISE loan reflect the underlying
creditworthiness of Veracruz (B1/Baa2.mx, stable) supported
by the following legal and credit enhancements:
1. The legal validity of the trust structure, which authorizes
the trust to be used as a mechanism to service the debt.
2. An irrevocable instruction to the Federal Treasury (TESOFE)
regarding the transfer of rights and flows of the FAIS/FISE revenues to
the trust. FAIS/FISE transfers are specifically earmarked for infrastructure
projects, but can also be used to service debt acquired to fund
public works. The earmarked nature of this revenue limits the incentive
for states to attempt to divert these flows in the event of unexpected
stress to cover operating needs.
3. Strong debt service coverage levels. The Fiscal Coordination
Law stipulates that the amount of FAIS/FISE transfers available to service
debt is up to 25% of FAIS/FISE transfers in a given year,
or 25% of FAIS/FISE revenue in the year the loan was acquired (in
this case, 2020), whichever is higher. This effectively
sets a floor on coverage levels given that FAIS/FISE transfers would need
to fall by more then 75% below 2020 levels before cash flows became
insufficient to cover debt service. Such a decline is unlikely
given that FAIS/FISE transfers are fixed each year in the federal budget,
making them more stable than non-earmarked transfers (participations),
which are vulnerable to economic fluctuations. In the case of Veracruz,
FISE transfers have grown at a compound annualized growth rate of 7.8%
over the past 10 years.
The assigned ratings also take into account the absence of a dedicated
reserve fund to mitigate against possible delays in debt service payments.
However, this weakness is somewhat mitigated by a contract feature
that tolerates 3 cases of missed debt service payments without penalties,
provided the payments are made in full before the next payment period.
While this feature is not equivalent to a cash reserve, which can
be replenished from excess cash flows and therefore would be available
on more than three occasions, the absence of a reserve is also offset
by the TESOFE's strong history of timely payment and the relatively short
maturity profile of the program (less than four years).
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
An upgrade of the State of Veracruz's issuer ratings could result in an
upgrade of the ratings. Conversely, the ratings could face
downward pressure if debt service coverage levels fall materially below
Moody's expectations. Given the links between the loan and the
credit quality of the issuer, a downgrade of the State of Veracruz's
issuer ratings could also exert downward pressure on debt ratings for
this loan.
The methodologies used in these ratings were Regional and Local Governments
published in January 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1091595,
and Enhanced Municipal and State Loans in Mexico Methodology published
in May 2019 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1157935.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com.mx
for a copy of these methodologies.
The period of time covered in the financial information used to determine
state of Veracruz' ratings is between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2019 (source:
State of Veracruz financial statements).
Moody's National Scale Credit Ratings (NSRs) are intended as relative
measures of creditworthiness among debt issues and issuers within a country,
enabling market participants to better differentiate relative risks.
NSRs differ from Moody's global scale credit ratings in that they are
not globally comparable with the full universe of Moody's rated entities,
but only with NSRs for other rated debt issues and issuers within the
same country. NSRs are designated by a ".nn" country modifier
signifying the relevant country, as in ".za" for South Africa.
For further information on Moody's approach to national scale credit ratings,
please refer to Moody's Credit rating Methodology published in May 2016
entitled "Mapping National Scale Ratings from Global Scale Ratings".
While NSRs have no inherent absolute meaning in terms of default risk
or expected loss, a historical probability of default consistent
with a given NSR can be inferred from the GSR to which it maps back at
that particular point in time. For information on the historical
default rates associated with different global scale rating categories
over different investment horizons, please see https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1216309.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity
analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity
to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and
Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
Information sources used to prepare the rating are the following:
parties involved in the ratings, public information, and confidential
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The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity prior to public dissemination.
A general listing of the sources of information used in the rating process,
and the structure and voting process for the rating committees responsible
for the assignment and monitoring of ratings can be found in the Disclosure
tab in www.moodys.com.mx.
The date of the last Credit Rating Action was 21/04/2020.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
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Matthew Walter
Asst Vice President - Analyst
Sub-Sovereign Group
Moody's de Mexico S.A. de C.V
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Alejandro Olivo
MD-Sovereign/Sub Sovereign
Sub-Sovereign Group
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