Singapore, September 23, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed GMR Hyderabad International Airport
Limited's (HIAL) Ba2 corporate family rating (CFR) and Ba2 senior secured
USD bond rating.
The outlook on the ratings remains negative.
"The rating affirmation reflects our expectation of a gradual improvement
in HIAL's revenue over the next 2-3 years, driven by the
implementation of higher tariffs under the final tariff order from April
2022, and a gradual recovery in passenger traffic and non-aeronautical
businesses under our base case," says Spencer Ng, a Moody's
Vice President and Senior Analyst.
"Nevertheless, the headroom available to HIAL to manage any
further downside risks have narrowed relative to our previous expectation.
This is due to the regulator's decision to defer around INR6.7
billion of HIAL's regulated revenue to the next control period starting
in April 2026, and the delay in passenger traffic recovery caused
by the second wave of coronavirus cases in the June 2021 quarter,"
adds Ng.
RATINGS RATIONALE
HIAL has a long-term concession to operate the Rajiv Gandhi International
Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad under a public-private partnership
model. HIAL is undertaking a major airport expansion that will
cost INR55 billion (excluding interest during construction) with targeted
completion before the end of 2022.
After factoring in the revenue deferral and slower traffic recovery,
HIAL's funds from operations (FFO) will likely remain negative over
the next 12-18 months. Moody's does not expect HIAL's
FFO/debt to recover above the minimum tolerance level until the year ending
31 March 2025 (fiscal 2025). Given the already extended recovery
phase, any further delay in the recovery time frame will exert downward
pressure on the rating.
As of the end of June, the airport had around INR27 billion of available
liquidity, comprising largely short-term liquid investments.
Despite HIAL's substantial liquidity holdings, Moody's
expects the airport to need additional debt to complete the expansion,
considering the remaining spending commitment as well as the impact of
the revenue deferral in fiscals 2023 and 2024.
Moody's base-case projections exclude the forthcoming upfront
proceeds from HIAL's recent transaction to lease out its IT services,
or the repayment of a INR2 billion loan HIAL has extended to its promoter
maturing in August 2022. The timely completion of these transactions
will help reduce the funding requirement.
Despite the weaker credit metrics, the visibility of the airport's
recovery path over the next 2-3 years has improved considering
the certainty over its tariffs, progress made in the airport expansion
and the improving vaccination rate in India.
The airport expansion is close to 65% complete as of mid-September,
with most of the airside works finished and the terminal extension nearing
completion, which reduces the risk of a material cost or time overrun.
Management expects the expansion to be delivered on time and on budget,
by September 2022.
Moody's expects passenger traffic at Hyderabad Airport to increase
from the previous fiscal year's, driven by solid underlying
demand for air travel. Monthly domestic passenger traffic has recovered
from a low of around 300,000 in May amid lockdowns imposed during
the second wave, to over one million in August, although it
remains just below a 12-month high of 1.1 million in February
and March 2021.
Nevertheless, a full recovery of passenger traffic to pre-pandemic
levels is not likely until 2023 or 2024 under Moody's base-case
scenario, given the lag in resumption of international travel,
which represents just below 20% of traffic at Hyderabad Airport
in 2019.
While not incorporated in Moody's base case, passenger recovery
remains vulnerable to further outbreaks of coronavirus cases, particularly
given the relatively low rate of vaccination in India currently,
where only 15% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
HIAL's Ba2 CFR continues to reflect the airport's established market position
in its catchment area, which has a predominantly domestic origin
and destination passenger mix.
The negative outlook reflects potential downside risks over the next 12-18
months, that could stem from a slower-than-expected
recovery in the airport's traffic and the airport's very limited
financial headroom to manage further downside risks.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
An upgrade of the ratings is unlikely over the next 12-18 months,
given the negative outlook and HIAL's high financial leverage.
Nevertheless, Moody's could change the outlook to stable if operating
conditions recover to a level that would restore the airport's FFO/debt
to the mid-single digit percentage range on a sustained basis.
On the other hand, Moody's could downgrade HIAL's Ba2 ratings if
there is any indication of liquidity stress or if its FFO/debt is likely
to remain below 4% on an extended basis beyond Moody's current
expectations. Such delays could result from (1) a slower-than-expected
recovery in operating conditions, or (2) material missteps in the
implementation of the expansion project.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Privately Managed
Airports and Related Issuers published in September 2017 and available
at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1092224.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited has a long-term concession
to operate the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad under a
public-private partnership model. The airport is one of
the leading airports in India by passenger traffic.
The airport has a current design capacity of 12 million passengers per
annum. Equity in the company is held by GMR Airports (63%),
Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (11%, A3 negative),
the Government of India (Baa3 negative) through the Airports Authority
of India (13%), and the Government of Telangana (13%).
GMR Airports is a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited (51%)
and Groupe ADP (49%).
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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Spencer Ng
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Project & Infrastructure Finance
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
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Singapore 48623
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Ian Lewis
Associate Managing Director
Project & Infrastructure Finance
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
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Singapore 48623
Singapore
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Client Service: 852 3551 3077