Singapore, March 25, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the B1 corporate family rating
(CFR) of Golden Energy And Resources Ltd (GEAR). At the same time,
Moody's has affirmed the B1 rating on the senior secured bond issued by
GEAR.
The outlook remains stable.
"The rating affirmation reflects the solid operating performance
of GEAR's Indonesian thermal coal mining subsidiary despite challenging
conditions, and its improving business profile with growing exposure
to metallurgical coal and gold in Australia," says Maisam
Hasnain, a Moody's Assistant Vice President and Analyst.
"GEAR's B1 ratings also incorporate our expectation that the
company will maintain prudent financial policies, particularly with
respect to its growth and diversification strategy," adds
Hasnain, also Moody's Lead Analyst for GEAR.
RATINGS RATIONALE
GEAR's credit profile continues to be supported by rising production and
stable profitability at its 67% owned subsidiary, PT Golden
Energy Mines Tbk (GEMS). Despite challenging operating conditions
including a considerable decline in thermal coal prices, GEMS increased
production and cut costs to grow adjusted EBITDA to around $150
million in 2020, from around $140 million in 2019.
Moody's expects GEMS' coal production to continue increasing
over the next few years, subject to the receipt of higher production
quotas from the Indonesian government each year. GEMS also has
a long reserve life of around 31 years based on 33.5 million tons
of coal produced in 2020.
GEAR's investments in Australia will provide geographic and commodity
diversification, and help improve its business profile. These
include GEAR's investment in metallurgical coal via its effective
60% stake in Stanmore Coal, and gold via its 50-50
joint venture in Ravenswood gold mine with private equity firm EMR Capital.
Nonetheless, Moody's estimates these businesses are unlikely
to pay meaningful dividends over the next 12-18 months as they
undertake large capital spending to expand operations.
As a result, GEAR's credit profile will remain constrained
by its dependence on cash dividends from GEMS to service its debt.
Moody's expects GEAR to maintain interest coverage from dividends received
of around 2.6x--3.9x over the next two years,
up from around 2.3x in 2020 and 1.6x in 2019.
These projections assume that GEAR will continue to maintain at least
a 62.5% ownership stake in GEMS, pending its planned
4.5% stake sale in the Indonesian coal miner. The
minority stake sale will help GEMS comply with the minimum free float
requirements to remain listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange.
While GEMS and its subsidiaries account for most of GEAR's earnings and
cash flow, GEMS is not a subsidiary guarantor of GEAR's US
dollar notes. As a result, noteholders' claims in a
distressed situation are subordinate to liabilities at GEMS and its operating
subsidiaries. This subordination risk is reflected in GEAR's
B1 CFR.
Moody's expects GEAR to maintain good liquidity at the holding company
level, with internal cash sources sufficient to meet its planned
uses over the next 12 months, including up to an additional AUD75
million ($57 million) equity investment in Ravenswood to support
its growth.
"While not our base case, prolonged funding support from GEAR
to Stanmore or Ravenswood will weaken GEAR's holding company liquidity,
and would likely offset the positive credit implications we anticipate
from these investments," adds Hasnain.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
The stable outlook reflects Moody's expectation that GEAR will continue
to develop and grow its coal and gold mine operations, while maintaining
prudent operating and financial policies.
An upgrade is unlikely over the next 12 months, given the large
capital spending requirements and execution risk associated with GEAR's
growth and diversification plans, GEAR's cash flow concentration
and its ownership structure.
Nevertheless, the rating could be upgraded over time if GEAR (1)
continues to increase its scale, (2) generates steady dividends
from all its investments, (3) is not required to provide additional
funding to support these businesses, and (4) maintains debt serviceability
at the holding company level such that its interest coverage from dividend
receipts exceeds 3.0x — excluding the interest reserve account
— on a sustained basis.
Conversely, GEAR's rating could be downgraded as a result of (1)
an inability to execute its current growth and diversification plans;
(2) aggressive financial policies, including continued debt-funded
investments; (3) weakening industry fundamentals or a higher cash
usage at GEMS, including higher-than-expected capital
spending, which reduces the cash flow available for paying dividends
to GEAR; or (4) any signs of increased related-party transactions
including continued funding support rendered to its subsidiary and joint
venture investments.
Specific indicators that Moody's would consider for a downgrade include
interest coverage at GEAR on a standalone basis falling below 1.5x
or consolidated adjusted debt/EBITDA of above 3.0x.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Mining published in
September 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1089739.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, Golden Energy And Resources
Ltd (GEAR) is an energy and resources company with investments in coal
and gold. Its primary asset is its 67% stake in PT Golden
Energy Mines Tbk, an Indonesian thermal coal producer with coal
mines located in Kalimantan and Sumatra. GEAR also owns a 60%
effective stake in Australian metallurgical coal producer Stanmore Coal,
and a 50% joint venture stake in Australian gold producer Ravenswood
Gold Mine.
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.
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Maisam Hasnain, CFA
Asst Vice President - Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Ian Lewis
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
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Singapore 48623
Singapore
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Client Service: 852 3551 3077