Singapore, April 20, 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service has today assigned a definitive Ba3 rating to
Star Energy Geothermal (Wayang Windu) Limited's USD580 million 6.75%
senior secured notes due 2033. The rating outlook is stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The Ba3 rating reflects Star Energy's predictable revenue profile,
underpinned by a solid operating track record and the strong take-or-pay
features of its energy sales contract with Perusahaan Listrik Negara (P.T.)
(PLN, Baa2 stable), its sole customer," says Spencer
Ng, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
At the same time, Star Energy's credit profile is constrained by
its dependence on a continuous supply of steam resources and by its high
financial leverage.
The Ba3 rating reflects Moody's expectation of a strong operational performance
during the term of the notes, supported by Star Energy's experienced
work force and robust track record since the start of operations,
with the exception of a 4-month delay in 2015 caused by a landslide.
Star Energy's credit profile also benefits from the robust tariff
structure under its contract with PLN, according to which PLN is
required to pay for at least 95% of the nameplate generation capacity
available, regardless of whether PLN actually dispatches the electricity.
The rating incorporates the possible need for Star Energy to renew the
supply arrangement with PLN for Unit 1 -- one of two units --
in December 2030.
At the same time, the company faces a degree of resource risk because
steam production from geothermal wells will naturally decline over time,
resulting in a need to periodically drill new make-up wells and
to undertake well-maintenance measures to maintain steam supply.
Notwithstanding Star Energy's sizable capital spending program over
the term of the notes and its extensive experience in the Wayang Windu
area, the company is exposed to residual resource risk given the
potential variability over how quickly production from existing wells
will decline and how much steam can be gained from the make-up
well drilling.
Star Energy's rating considers its high financial leverage and sizeable
drilling program, which reduce its financial flexibility.
Over the term of the notes, Moody's expects Star Energy to
achieve an average debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of 1.28x
under Moody's base case assumptions.
"We consider the changes made to the bond as credit neutral,"
Ng says, adding "The reduced issuance size and tightening
of metric-based thresholds for equity distribution is outweighed
by the negative impact arising from an increased coupon rate and slight
delay in the funding of its debt service reserve and major maintenance
reserve."
Moody's expects the shortfall in the company's reserve accounts
to be temporary, with restrictions on equity distributions being
in place until all reserve accounts are fully funded, expected to
be around June-2018. Nevertheless, Star Energy's liquidity
position will be weak in the meantime, absent any management countermeasures.
Cash reserving requirements under the notes will lessen the impact from
an increase in capital spending requirements, but Star Energy's
capacity to manage an unexpected shift in the timings of the drilling
program -- in response to actual well performance -- will remain
constrained.
The Ba3 rating has not factored in the potential credit impact of an expansion
at Unit 3, given uncertainty over its timing and funding structure.
Moody's will consider the financial impact and execution risk relating
to such an expansion when Star Energy proceeds with its expansion plans.
The stable rating outlook reflects Moody's expectation that Star Energy's
performance is unlikely to experience a material change over the next
12-18 months relative to Moody's base case expectations.
Upward momentum for the rating is not expected in the near term,
given the project's fixed revenue profile. Over time, the
rating could face upward rating pressure if there is a sustained improvement
in the company's DSCR levels to above 1.35x.
On the other hand, the rating could come under downward pressure
if the projected financial metrics drop to levels below Moody's base case
expectations, including average DSCR falling consistently below
1.15x during the amortization period. This development could
be due to a faster-than-expected decline in steam production
which could lead to increases in drilling costs.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Power Generation Projects
published in May 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies page
on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Star Energy Geothermal (Wayang Windu) Limited operates one of the largest
geothermal power stations in Indonesia by capacity. Its plant on
Java Island has an operational capacity of 227MW. Commercial operations
for the 110MW Unit 1 began in June 2000, followed by the 117MW Unit
2 in March 2009. All of the electricity produced is sold to PLN
under an energy sales contract.
Star Energy Geothermal (Wayang Windu) Limited is 100% owned by
Star Energy Geothermal Pte Ltd (SEG), which is in turn 60%
owned by Star Energy Group Holdings Pte Ltd (SEGH). SEGH and SEG
own a further 648MW of geothermal generation capacity in West Java (Darajat
and Salak) after acquiring these facilities from Chevron Corporation (Aa2
stable) in March 2017.
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.
Spencer Ng
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
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
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.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077