JPY 500 billion of New Debt Securities Rated
Tokyo, March 03, 2011 -- Moody's Japan K.K. has assigned A1 ratings to the Series
9, JPY 150 billion bonds due 2013, Series 10, JPY 200
billion bonds due 2016 and Series 11, JPY 150 billion bonds due
2018 issued by Panasonic Corporation. The outlook for all the ratings
is stable.
These bonds are a takedown from the company's JPY500 billion domestic
shelf registration (effective February 10, 2011), which is
rated (P)A1.
RATING RATIONALE
Panasonic's rating reflects Moody's view that the company's diversified
business portfolio, solid market positions, and effective
cost and cash management practices contribute to Panasonic's stable
profitability and cash flow, as well as its healthy finances.
The rating also incorporates Moody's expectation that the company's financial
position will weaken because of the rise in debt following the full acquisition
of two of its major consolidated subsidiaries -- Panasonic
Electric Works Co., Ltd. (A1/stable) and Sanyo Electric
Co., Ltd. (not rated) in April 2011 --
and that restoring its balance sheet will take some time.
Panasonic's stable relationships with its major banks are an important
rating consideration, one that has lifted the company's rating by
two notches from its fundamental creditworthiness (as with other leading
Japanese companies).
Panasonic's rating could be pressured upwards if Panasonic can raise
its profitability and cash flow by strengthening its core businesses:
digital AVC networks, home appliances, and energy, which
will strengthen its finances further.
An upgrade is possible if Panasonic can raise its operating margin to
5% or more and lower its adjusted debt to capitalization to significantly
less than 30%, while attaining a net cash position of around
JPY500 billion by FYE03/2013.
The rating could be pressured downward if the competitive strength of
Panasonic's core businesses weakens and Panasonic seems unlikely to improve
its sales and operating profit over the medium term. Failure to
achieve sufficient group synergies could also result in downward pressure.
A downgrade is also possible if Panasonic cannot raise its operating margin
to 3% or higher, or attain a net cash position by FYE03/2013,
which would decrease adjusted debt to capitalization to the low 30%
range.
The rating will also be affected negatively if the company's balance
sheet weakens further due to changes in the company's investment
and financial policies.
The last rating action on Panasonic took place on October 26, 2010,
when Moody's downgraded the company's long-term senior unsecured
debt and issuer ratings to A1 from Aa3 and assigned a stable outlook.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Moody's "Asian
Consumer Electronics," published on January 6, 2011,
and available on www.moodys.co.jp.
Panasonic Corporation, headquartered in Osaka, is one of the
world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics products.
Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd., headquartered
in Osaka, is a leading manufacturer of lighting products,
information equipment and wiring products, home appliances,
building products, electronic materials, and automation controls.
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., headquartered in Osaka,
is one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics products
and devices.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
Information sources used to prepare the credit rating are the following:
parties involved in the ratings, parties not involved in the ratings,
public information, confidential and proprietary Moody's information.
Measures taken to ensure the quality of this information include use of
public information, reviews by a third party and verification by
the lead analyst.
Moody's considers the quality of information available on the issuer or
obligations satisfactory for the purposes of assigning a credit rating.
Moody's adopts all necessary measures to ensure that the information it
uses in assigning a credit rating is of sufficient quality and from sources
Moody's considers to be reliable including, when appropriate,
independent third parties. However, Moody's is not an auditor
and cannot in every instance independently verify or validate information
received in the rating process.
Credit ratings are Moody's current opinions of the relative future credit
risk of entities, credit commitments, or debt or debt-like
securities. Moody's defines credit risk as the risk that an entity
may not meet its contractual, financial obligations as they come
due and any estimated financial loss in the event of default. Credit
ratings do not address any other risk, including but not limited
to: liquidity risk, market value risk, or price volatility.
Credit ratings do not constitute investment or financial advice,
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as to the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability
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received from the issuer or from public sources. Moody's may change
the rating when it deems necessary. Moody's may also withdraw the
rating due to insufficient information, or for other reasons.
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with the Japan Financial Services Agency and its registration number is
FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2. The Financial Services
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for the last rating action and the rating history.
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Tokyo
Yoshio Takahashi
Asst Vice President - Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Japan K.K.
JOURNALISTS: (03) 5408-4110
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Tokyo
Shinsuke Tanimoto
Senior Vice President - Team Leader
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Japan K.K.
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Moody's assigns A1 to Panasonic's bonds