London, 05 September 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has
today changed the outlook on the ratings of eDreams ODIGEO S.A.
(eDreams or the company) to positive from stable. Concurrently
Moody's has affirmed the company's B2 corporate family rating
(CFR), B2-PD probability of default rating (PDR) and the
B3 rating on the company's EUR435 million backed senior secured
notes due 2021.
The change in outlook reflects:
- Strong trading, cash generation and deleveraging in the
fiscal year ended 31 March 2017
- Further deleveraging to below 4.0x Moody's-adjusted
debt / EBITDA expected through voluntary prepayments of the senior secured
bonds and earnings growth
- eDreams leading position in the European online travel agency
(OTA) flights segment
- Risks of disruption from price transparency strategy, although
the effects are expected to be limited
RATINGS RATIONALE
In fiscal 2017 eDreams grew its bookings by 9%, revenue margin
by 5% and EBITDA by 12%, as the OTA segment continues
to grow at a faster pace than the wider travel industry. As a result
Moody's-adjusted leverage reduced to 4.3x, compared
to 4.7x at June 2016 (pro forma for the refinancing carried out
in October 2016).
The company has signaled its intention to make a voluntary prepayment
of up to 10% of the senior secured notes by October 2017,
utilising efficient call protection terms within the bond documentation.
Whilst a final decision on prepayment has not been made, eDreams
retains a conservative financial policy focused on deleveraging which
may lead to further debt prepayments in the future. As a result
and due to further anticipated earnings growth, Moody's-adjusted
leverage is expected to reduce to below 4x over the next 12-18
months.
eDreams is currently implementing a strategy to present a more transparent
display of prices on its websites, intended to improve customer
loyalty and reduce customer acquisition costs. In the near term
this is affecting results through reduced booking growth and lower revenue
margin per booking, and the strategy is currently being rolled out
across the business. Moody's expects the company to continue
growing its revenue margin and EBITDA in fiscal 2018, but considers
that potential execution risks remain whilst the transparency strategy
is fully implemented.
The B2 CFR reflects (1) relatively high leverage; (2) a geographic
concentration in Southern Europe and France; and (3) industry risks,
including value chain disintermediation from airlines or other intermediaries,
exposure to paid search costs and risks of exogenous shocks.
More positively, the ratings are supported by: (1) eDream's
strong competitive positioning within the OTA industry in Europe,
particularly within the flight segment and in its key markets of France,
Spain, UK, Italy, Germany, and Scandinavia;
(2) Moody's expectation that the online travel market will continue to
benefit from migration from high-street travel agencies,
although at a slower rate than in the past; (3) Moody's expectation
of general growth in the airline passenger market; and (4) conservative
financial policies expected to drive further deleveraging.
LIQUIDITY
eDreams' liquidity is adequate. As at 30 June 2017 the company
had a cash balance of EUR97 million, which may be reduced by up
to EUR45 million from the proposed debt prepayment in October 2017.
Further cushion is provided by the EUR127 million super-senior
revolving credit facility (RCF) available until 2021, subject to
a leverage test financial covenant against which there is significant
headroom.
STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
The company's capital structure consists of (1) a super-senior
revolving credit facility of EUR127 million maturing in 2021; (2)
a super-senior guarantee facility of EUR30 million maturing in
2021; and (3) EUR435 million of senior secured notes maturing in
2021. The senior secured notes are rated B3 which reflects their
ranking behind the super-senior facilities and their limited security
package.
RATING OUTLOOK
The positive outlook reflects Moody's expectation that the company
will make a substantial debt repayment in October 2017, with conservative
financial policies and earnings growth supporting further deleveraging
thereafter. It assumes that the company will continue to generate
solid single digit growth in revenue margin, with a stable cost
environment, and that there will no material debt funded acquisitions
or dividends in the near to medium term, with liquidity remaining
satisfactory.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING - UP
Upward pressure on the rating could occur if Moody's-adjusted debt/EBITDA
were to trend substantially below 4.0x on a sustainable basis,
with Moody's-adjusted free cash flow (FCF) to debt above 10%.
Moody's would in such a scenario also expect eDreams to display solid
growth in revenue margin and stable EBITDA margins, with liquidity
remaining satisfactory.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING - DOWN
Negative rating pressure could develop if Moody's-adjusted debt/EBITDA
were to exceed 5.0x, if Moody's-adjusted FCF to debt
were to trend towards zero, or if the company's liquidity profile
were to weaken. Negative pressure could also develop if there is
significant disruption to the market or distribution chain resulting in
reducing revenue margin or profitability.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Business and Consumer
Service Industry published in October 2016. Please see the Rating
Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this
methodology.
COMPANY PROFILE
eDreams is the largest OTA in Europe in the flights segment. It
was formed in 2011 when Axa (now Ardian) and Permira acquired Opodo and
merged it with their existing portfolio travel companies to create a European
rival to Expedia. It is listed in Spain with an equity market value
of approximately EUR300 million in August 2017.
The company is present in 44 countries, with a particularly strong
penetration in France, Spain, Italy, Germany,
the UK and Scandinavia. The company's brands include Opodo,
eDreams, Go Voyages, Travellink and Liligo.
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.
Martin Robert Hallmark
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate 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
Richard Etheridge
Associate Managing Director
Corporate 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