$600 million of rated debt securities
New York, December 22, 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") changed
the ratings outlook of International Seaways, Inc. ("INSW")
to negative from stable. Concurrently, Moody's affirmed
the company's B3 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) and B3-PD
Probability of Default Rating (PDR) and the debt ratings on the senior
secured bank facilities it guarantees, including the revolving credit
facility (due 2021) at Ba3 and the first-lien term loan (due 2022)
at B3. Moody's also lowered the Speculative Grade Liquidity
rating to SGL-3 (adequate) from SGL-2 (good).
The rating action follows the company's announcement of its intention
to acquire six very large crude carriers (VLCCs) for $434 million,
including the anticipated assumption of their existing debt of $311
million. The transaction is subject to a number of closing conditions,
including an amendment the INSW's credit agreement as required,
third party consents and regulatory approvals, and is expected to
close in the second quarter of 2018.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The negative outlook reflects Moody's expectation of diminished
liquidity and constrained credit metrics, including a substantial
rise in financial leverage to at least 6x pro forma (after Moody's
standard adjustments) compared to the post spinoff level in the mid-2x
range, and the likelihood that freight rate pressures will continue
to weigh on earnings and cash flow over the next year amidst tanker oversupply.
The B3 rating continues to reflect the highly cyclical nature of demand
in the company's end markets and its vulnerability to spot rate
volatility (about 80% of revenue), as well as its small size
and limited history as an independent company. Moreover,
the company's higher debt burden following an active pace of fleet
purchases is likely to maintain leverage at elevated levels absent a material
improvement in the freight rate environment, which Moody's
anticipates will continue to exert downward pressure on the free cash
flow profile over 2018. The ratings also consider the company's
position as a leading player in its transportation markets.
The SGL-3 rating anticipates the company will maintain adequate
liquidity at least over the near term, supported by cash balances
(reported at about $70 million as of September 2017) and availability
under the $50 million revolving credit facility, of which
about $20 million remains undrawn. Free cash flow is anticipated
to be negative, given the higher capex spend for fleet growth.
The credit agreement has a covenant floor of $300 million,
of which the fair market value of the collateral of vessels was approximately
$1.2 billion as of September 30, 2017.
The ratings could be downgraded with a material deterioration in the cash
flow or liquidity profile. A capital structure or end markets that
remain under pressure leading to weaker credit metrics, including
FFO + Interest to Interest approximating 2.0 times or lower,
could also drive downwards rating pressure as could shareholder-friendly
initiatives that compromise creditor interests.
Upward ratings momentum could occur with improving market conditions that
drive sustained growth in revenues and earnings with a financial profile
that results in sustained FFO + Interest to Interest above 3.0
times, stronger liquidity and a supportive capital structure.
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: International Seaways, Inc.
....Outlook changed to Negative from Stable
Affirmations:
..Issuer: International Seaways, Inc.
.... Probability of Default Rating,
at B3-PD
.... Corporate Family Rating, at B3
..Issuer: International Seaways Operating Corporation
....Senior Secured 1st lien Term Loan,
at B3
....Senior Secured First Lien Revolving Credit
Facility, at Ba3
Downgrades:
Issuer: International Seaways, Inc.
.... Speculative Grade Liquidity Rating,
to SGL-3 from SGL-2
International Seaways, Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation,
is a leading provider of ocean-based transportation of crude oil
and refined petroleum in the international market. It operates
its business under two segments: international crude tankers and
international product carriers. The company has a fleet of 62 vessels
of varying classes (pro forma for the acquisition), including ownership
interests in 4 LNG carriers and 2 FSO vessels through joint partnerships.
Total revenues were $306 million for the last twelve months ended
September 30, 2017.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Shipping Industry
published in December 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
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.
Yvonne Njogu
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Robert Jankowitz
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653