London, 15 December 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service had today changed the outlook to negative
from stable on the Baa3 senior unsecured ratings of Redexis Gas S.A
(Redexis) and its guaranteed finance vehicle, Redexis Gas Finance
B.V. At the same time Moody's has affirmed the existing
ratings and assigned a Baa3 senior unsecured rating to the EUR250 million
1.875% eurobond due 2027, a tap of the existing EUR250
million 2027 bonds, issued by Redexis Gas Finance B.V.
and guaranteed by Redexis.
A list of affected ratings is provided at the end of this press release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
RATIONALE FOR NEGATIVE OUTLOOK
The rating action follows the recent EUR250 million bond issuance by Redexis
and the company's statement that it will use some of the proceeds
to fund a special dividend. In the context of an already highly-leveraged
capital structure, increasing gearing to make additional dividend
payments evidences a financial policy that favours shareholders over creditors.
Moreover, and to the extent bond proceeds are distributed,
the additional debt will erode financial flexibility and increase the
risk that key credit metrics will fall below Moody's guidance for
the current rating category of Funds from Operations (FFO)/net debt of
solidly in the low double digits, in percentage terms. Moody's
expects that the Board of Redexis will also take account of the EUR41.6
million proceeds from the recent securitisation of the 2014 tariff deficit
when determining the final dividend payment for 2017, which could
result in a substantial payout.
A decision by Redexis' shareholders is likely to be taken in forthcoming
months. Financial metrics of FFO/net debt, in the region
of 11-12% over the 2015-17 period, could deteriorate
towards 10%, depending on the size of the dividend payout
and the evolution of the company's business performance.
Redexis, however, has also indicated that the debt proceeds
would be used for investments as well as for debt refinancing, and
Moody's understand that outstanding borrowings under its capex facility
will be repaid. The company has additionally extended its revolving
credit and capex facilities, amounting to EUR300 million,
until 2022.
Low gas penetration in Spain and Redexis' well diversified presence
is supportive of the company's strategy which is focused on entering
new municipalities and those with limited access to gas. Redexis
continues to have ambitious capex plans, and the rating agency expects
the company to target around EUR130-140 million of investments
annually, generating limited or negative free cash flow and maintaining
high leverage levels. At the same time, both capex and dividends
are flexible, giving management and shareholders scope to modify
plans in the event of operating or financial challenges. The rating
takes into account that the company's infrastructure and pension
fund shareholders continue to target an investment grade rating.
AFFIRMATION OF RATINGS
The affirmation of the Baa3 ratings reflects the generally low business
risk profile of Redexis' regulated businesses which contribute over
90% of revenues, as well as its young asset base and diversified
network operations, balanced between both urban and rural areas
and domestic and industrial customers. The company has made solid
progress in growing its asset base, partly through complementary
acquisitions and maintained solid EBITDA margins, at well over 70%,
although these weakened slightly on recent LPG acquisitions.
The rating additionally factors the generally transparent regulatory framework
in Spain following the July 2014 reforms of the gas sector, which
is unlikely to be updated in the regulatory period which currently runs
to 2020. The gas tariff deficit could stabilise in 2017/18 before
slowly reducing against a background of gradually increasing gas demand,
although this can be variable year on year.
At the same time the rating is constrained by (1) Redexis' small
scale although the company continues to build a solid operational track
record; (2) significant leverage and the likelihood that growth investments
and dividends will limit improvement in financial metrics; and (3)
exposure to inflation and volume risk under current regulation.
The Baa3 rating assigned to the EUR250 million of new debt reflects the
terms of the bonds, in particular the guarantee provided by Redexis.
FACTORS THAT COULD MOVE THE RATING UP/DOWN
Upward pressure on the rating is not currently foreseen given the expected
deterioration in financial ratios and aggressive financial policy of its
shareholders. The outlook could stabilise if the company maintains
a sufficiently balanced financial policy and a steady track record of
business and financial growth such that it can achieve and maintain a
financial profile of FFO/net debt solidly in the low double digits in
percentage terms. This growth is likely to presuppose a stable
regulatory environment in Spain for gas networks.
Conversely, downward pressure on the rating could result from the
company's failure, on a consistent basis, to maintain
a financial profile in line with the Baa3 rating, in particular
if it appeared that financial metrics were likely to fall persistently
below Moody's guidance for the current rating. This could
be the result of ongoing large dividend payments, negative regulatory
developments, a more difficult operating environment or an increased
level of investment without commensurate growth in earnings.
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS
New assignments:
Issuer: Redexis Gas Finance B.V.
EUR250m GTD EUR MTNS, Assigned Baa3
Affirmations:
Issuer: Redexis Gas Finance B.V.
EUR2000M GTD EUR MTN Program, Affirmed (P)Baa3
EUR650m GTD EUR MTNS, Affirmed Baa3
EUR250m GTD EUR MTNS, Affirmed Baa3
Issuer: Redexis Gas, S.A.
LT Issuer Rating Dom and For Curr, Affirmed Baa3
Outlook actions:
Issuer: Redexis Gas, S.A.
Outlook changed to Negative from Stable
Issuer: Redexis Gas Finance B.V.
Outlook changed to Negative from Stable
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Regulated Electric
and Gas Networks published in March 2017. Please see the Rating
Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this
methodology.
Redexis Gas S.A., based in Madrid, Spain is
the country's second largest gas transmission and fourth largest
gas distribution company. As at FYE 2016 it had revenues of EUR211
million.
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.
Helen Francis
VP-Sr Credit Officer
Infrastructure Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Neil Griffiths-Lambeth
Associate Managing Director
Infrastructure Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454