Singapore, January 05, 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the Baa3 ratings of India's
three state-owned oil refining and marketing companies --
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
(BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL).
Moody's has also assigned Baa3 ratings to the foreign currency senior
unsecured bonds to be issued by BPRL International Singapore Pte.
Ltd. and guaranteed by BPCL. The issuance is in the form
of a drawdown from an MTN program.
The outlook on the ratings of all three oil refining and marketing companies
is positive.
A list of affected ratings can be found at the end of this press release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The ratings affirmation reflects the continued improvement in the
credit metrics of the three oil refining and marketing companies,
as diminished levels of fuel subsidies and moderated working capital requirement
-- resulting from low oil prices -- have reduced
borrowings," says Vikas Halan, a Moody's Vice
President and Senior Credit Officer.
The sustained decline in crude oil prices since June 2014, along
with the deregulation of diesel prices since October 2014, has led
to a structural decline in total subsidies in India.
The amount of subsidies had fallen to INR276 billion in fiscal 2016 from
INR 1.4 trillion in fiscal 2014. For the six months ended
30 September (1H FY2017), subsidies totaled INR78 billion.
Furthermore, the earnings of the oil refining and marketing companies
have improved as the commissioning of new capacity and higher marketing
margins have more than offset weaker refining margins.
"We expect the earnings of the state-owned refiners to improve
as their additional capacities become fully operational during fiscal
2018," says Halan, who is also the lead analyst for
the oil refining and marketing companies at Moody's.
As a result of better earnings and lower borrowings, the credit
metrics of the oil refining and marketing companies have improved to levels
that are more consistent with a higher BCA.
Debt/EBITDA for all three had dropped below 2x as of fiscal 2016 against
more than 3x-4x in fiscal 2014. RCF/debt was above 35%-40%
for fiscal 2016.
These and other metrics position the companies strongly relative to previous
expectation. Consequently, Moody's has upgraded the
baseline credit assessments (BCAs) of all three oil refining and marketing
companies to ba1 from ba2.
However, the companies will continue expanding their capacities
in line with the growth in demand for petroleum products in India.
Such investments have long gestation periods, thereby resulting
in negative free cash flows at certain points of their investment cycle.
Further, the oil refining and marketing companies plan to invest
in upstream assets through acquisitions. BPCL and IOC invested
$1 billion in 2016, buying upstream assets in Russia.
The continued need to expand capacity and investment in upstream assets
could result in increased borrowings and weaker credit metrics,
especially if refining or marketing margins decline.
The BCAs already incorporate a moderate deterioration in credit metrics.
Nevertheless, we expect their fundamental stand-alone credit
profile to remain well positioned at the current level.
The three oil refining and marketing companies are government-related
issuers (GRIs) and their ratings incorporate their BCAs plus a one-notch
uplift reflecting our expectation for government support. Their
Baa3 ratings and positive outlook are in line with India's sovereign
rating and outlook.
The BCAs could be upgraded further if the oil refining and marketing companies
continue to manage their capacity expansion plans in such a way that their
credit metrics continue to remain strong for their BCAs.
Specifically, RCF/debt staying above 20%-25%
and EBIT/interest staying above 5x-6x will be indicative of upward
pressure on the BCAs. An upgrade of the BCAs will not automatically
lead to an upgrade of the issuer ratings. The final ratings will
only be upgraded if the sovereign rating is upgraded.
The BCAs could be downgraded if the oil refining and marketing companies
engage in more aggressive debt-funded expansion or acquisitions,
such that their credit metrics weaken significantly. Specifically,
RCF/debt falling below 10%-15% and EBIT/interest
below 4x-5x will be indicative of downward pressure on the BCAs.
A downgrade of the BCAs will not automatically result in a downgrade of
the issuer ratings.
The issuer ratings may face downward pressure if (1) the rating of the
sovereign is lowered or (2) the government makes changes to the subsidy
framework that are negative for oil refining and marketing companies,
or (3) the oil refining and marketing companies' BCAs deteriorate
below ba3, or (4) the relationship between the oil refining and
marketing companies and the government changes, which would require
a reassessment of the level of support incorporated into the ratings.
The proposed foreign currency bonds are rated at the same level as BPCL's
foreign currency issuer rating because the bonds are unconditionally and
irrevocably guaranteed by BPCL and the guarantee is pari passu to all
senior unsecured obligations of BPCL.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Refining and Marketing
Industry published in November 2016. Other methodologies used include
the Government-Related Issuers methodology published in October
2014. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of these methodologies.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, headquartered in New Delhi, is
a leading downstream company, specializing in oil refining,
marketing, distribution, and the retailing of petroleum products,
petrochemicals and natural gas. It is listed on the Indian stock
exchanges and is 58.28%-owned by the Indian government.
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited is headquartered in Mumbai.
The company is a leading downstream company, specializing in oil
refining, marketing, distribution, and the retailing
of petroleum products. The company is listed on the Indian stock
exchanges and is 54.9%-owned by the Indian government.
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., headquartered in Mumbai
is one of the leading downstream companies in India, specializing
in oil refining, marketing, distribution, and the retailing
of petroleum products. It is listed on the Indian stock exchanges
and is 51.11% owned by the Indian government.
List of ratings affirmed
.Issuer: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd
..Foreign Currency Issuer Rating, Baa3
..Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Baa3
.Issuer: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
..Foreign Currency Issuer Rating, Baa3
.Issuer: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
..Foreign Currency Issuer Rating, Baa3
..Senior Unsecured MTN Program, (P) Baa3
..Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Baa3
List of ratings assigned
.Issuer: BPRL International Singapore Pte. Ltd.
..Backed Senior Unsecured MTN Program, (P) Baa3
..Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Baa3
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to
each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their
credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating.
For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory
disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and
in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to
the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction
structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive
rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further
information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the
respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action,
the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Vikas Halan
VP - Senior Credit Officer
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
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Laura Acres
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077