London, 23 April 2015 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has
today changed to stable from positive the outlook on the B1 corporate
family rating (CFR) and B1-PD probability of default rating (PDR)
of Borets International Ltd (Borets), and on the B1 senior unsecured
rating of the notes issued by Borets Finance Limited, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Borets. At the same time, Moody's has
affirmed all ratings.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The rating action reflects increasing concerns over Borets' exposure
to foreign currency risks as a result of the sharp rouble devaluation
since 4Q 2014 and the continued volatility this year. The currency
mismatch between Borets' revenues, 70% of which are
in roubles, and its US dollar debt will likely result in a deterioration
of the company's leverage metrics, with adjusted debt/EBITDA
potentially exceeding 4.0x in 2015.
Moody's also cautions that the drop in oil prices, and the
challenging macroeconomic and political environment in Russia, could
affect the company's operating and financial results in 2015.
In particular, Moody's sees risk that oil companies could
revise their investment programmes, further tightening pricing and
payment terms of contracts with suppliers.
At the same time, Borets' ratings continue to reflect its
consistent focus on positive free cash flow generation, historically
healthy cash balances, and moderate debt service requirements until
the maturity of the bond in 2018. These positives to some extent
mitigate the weaker-than-expected leverage metrics.
Moody's also expects that Borets will be able to maintain an adequate
operating performance, supported by its (1) leading position in
the niche electric submersible pumps (ESP) market with long-standing
customer relationships; (2) favourable industry fundamentals,
supported by a globally increasing need for oil recovery enhancement technologies;
and (3) historically proven resistance to oil price volatility,
underpinned by its large installed base and high portion of revenues derived
from the replacement and servicing of existing ESPs.
Given Borets' high level of vertical integration with all key production
facilities located in Russia, the rouble devaluation should further
reinforce its already competitive cost position. The company should
also be able to maintain profitability at healthy levels, with its
adjusted EBITDA margin remaining above 17% in 2015. This,
together with the continuous development of its international operations,
should allow the company to resume deleveraging in line with Moody's
initial expectations of adjusted debt/EBITDA at around 3.5x in
2016.
Moody's also notes that Borets has upheld its sound corporate governance
standards following the buyback of shares held by Weatherford International
Ltd. (Bermuda) (Baa3, negative) in September 2013,
and the subsequent acquisition by the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD, Aaa stable) and International Finance Corporation
(IFC, Aaa stable) of 5% and 3% stakes in the company
respectively, with comfortable protection of creditors and minority
rights.
Borets' B1 rating remains constrained by (1) its small scale and
focus on a single product line (ESP); (2) limited (albeit gradually
increasing) geographic and customer diversification relative to global
peers; and (3) competition from larger-scale global players
in the higher-end segment and from Russian and Chinese producers
in the lower-end segment.
RATIONALE FOR STABLE OUTLOOK
The stable outlook on the ratings reflects Moody's expectation that
Borets will deliver on its operating targets, including sustainable
growth of its international business, while maintaining robust cash
flow generation and a strong liquidity profile. These factors should
compensate for a potential temporary deterioration in leverage metrics
in 2015 as a result of the sharp rouble devaluation, bringing metrics
back to within the guidance by 2016. Moody's also expects
that the company will continue to adhere to its sound corporate governance
standards.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATINGS UP/DOWN
Moody's would consider upgrading Borets' ratings if the company
continues to (1) adhere to sound corporate governance standards;
and (2) demonstrate robust operational performance, further increasing
the scale of its operations and geographical diversification. In
addition, to consider a rating upgrade, Moody's would
expect Borets to reduce its leverage (measured as adjusted debt/EBITDA)
comfortably below 3.5x on a gross basis or 3.0x on a net
basis, while maintaining a solid liquidity profile and positive
free cash flow generation. The consideration of net leverage reflects
that cash is expected to accumulate over time in view of the bullet debt
structure and positive free cash-flow.
Downward rating pressure could emerge in case of (1) material debt-financed
acquisitions or capital investments; (2) aggressive shareholder distributions;
or (3) a material deterioration in Borets' competitive position,
with leverage, as measured by adjusted debt/EBITDA, rising
above 4.0x on a sustained basis.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Oilfield Services
Industry Rating Methodology published in December 2014. Other methodologies
used include Loss Given Default for Speculative-Grade Non-Financial
Companies in the U.S., Canada and EMEA published in
June 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of these methodologies.
Borets International Limited is a leading vertically integrated manufacturer
of artificial lift products for the oil sector, specialising in
the design and manufacture of electric submersible pumps (ESP) and related
products and provision of related services. In 2014, Borets
generated $720 million in sales and $133 million of adjusted
EBITDA and reported $695 million in assets.
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 rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
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 rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this 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.
Ekaterina Lipatova
Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Limited, Russian Branch
7th floor, Four Winds Plaza
21 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya St.
Moscow 125047
Russia
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Victoria Maisuradze
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
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Moody's changes outlook on Borets' B1 rating to stable