Singapore, June 24, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has today affirmed Perusahaan Gas Negara (P.T.)'s
(PGN) Baa2 issuer rating and its Baa2 senior unsecured rating.
The rating outlook remains stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The affirmation reflects PGN's strong financial profile and
strong liquidity which should be able to absorb any weaknesses due to
lower gas demand and lower distribution margins, along with uncertainty
about the company's role while it implements the government's
directive to sell gas at $6/mmbtu to end users ," says
Abhishek Tyagi, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
PGN's Baa2 rating reflects (1) its standalone credit profile, which
is consistent with its Baa3 rating, and (2) a one-notch uplift,
based on Moody's expectation that the company will receive support
from the Government of Indonesia (Baa2 stable), possibly through
Pertamina (Persero) (P.T.) (Pertamina, Baa2 stable),
in times of need.
PGN's pricing power has declined markedly over the last year due
to a series of government interventions to reduce gas prices for several
industries, including a directive to cap the price of gas at $6/mmbtu
for around 60% of its customers. Coupled with a likely contraction
in gas demand, Moody's expects this measure will weaken PGN's
credit metrics in 2020 but the level of these metrics will remain above
the threshold for its standalone credit profile.
The profitability of PGN's upstream business will also be negatively
impacted by low oil prices and a cut in its capital expenditure,
which will lead to a decline in production from its producing assets.
PGN's credit metrics will weaken over the next 12 to 18 months,
with retained cash flow (RCF)/debt at 15%-20% and
interest coverage around 4.0x-4.5x. That said,
PGN has financial buffer to manage its credit metrics within rating expectation.
The stable outlook on the ratings reflects PGN's strong liquidity
and our expectation that PGN has financial headroom that will support
its ability to navigate through the challenging industry conditions.
In addition, we expect that PGN will maintain its strategically
important position as the country's dominant gas transmission and distribution
company, and its role in implementing the Indonesian government's
policy decisions.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
Moody's could upgrade PGN's ratings if Indonesia's sovereign
rating is upgraded, and if PGN maintains its standalone credit strength.
An upgrade of PGN's ratings is very unlikely if the sovereign rating is
not upgraded, because the company's revenue comes from domestic
sources.
A downgrade of Indonesia's sovereign rating will almost certainly
trigger a downgrade for PGN. The ratings could also be downgraded
if there is a material weakening of PGN's financial profile, including
its consolidated debt/capitalization exceeding 60%-65%
or its retained cash flow/debt falling below 12% on a sustained
basis.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Regulated Electric
and Gas Utilities published in June 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1072530.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
PGN is primarily engaged in the transmission and distribution of natural
gas. Its transmission business is mainly operated by two subsidiaries,
the 60%-owned PT Transportasi Gas Indonesia and the 51%-owned
Pertamina Gas (P.T.) (Pertagas). Its distribution
business recorded a strong 89% share of the total distribution
volume in Indonesia in 2018, after consolidating Pertagas.
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.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
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issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain
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support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action
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provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional
rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may
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to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
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Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
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review.
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and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.
The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was
issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed
by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt
am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
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Abhishek Tyagi
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Project & Infrastructure Finance
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
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Terry Fanous
MD-Public Proj & Infstr Fin
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
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