Assigns B3 rating to new tranche of bank facility
Madrid, May 29, 2015 -- Moody's Investors Service has today affirmed the B3 corporate family rating
(CFR) of eircom Holdings (Ireland) Limited (eircom), its B3-PD
probability of default rating (PDR), the B3 rating on the EUR2.0
billion senior secured credit facility raised by eircom Finco S.à.r.l.
and the B3 rating on the EUR350 million senior secured notes due 2020
issued by eircom Finance Limited. The rating outlook for eircom
and its rated subsidiaries has been changed to positive from stable.
Concurrently, Moody's has also assigned a B3 rating to Term Loan
B3 borrowed by eircom Finco S.à.r.l.,
a new tranche of the existing term loan facility.
"Our decision to change the outlook on eircom's B3 ratings
to positive primarily reflects our view that the company's operating
performance will improve over the next 12-18 months, mainly
driven by price increases, while it will start generating positive
free cash flows that will allow it to slowly reduce debt,"
says Iván Palacios, a Moody's Vice President --
Senior Credit Officer and lead analyst for eircom. "As a
result, eircom's metrics are reaching levels that could soon
support upward pressure on the rating."
RATINGS RATIONALE
Today's outlook change reflects Moody's expectations that
eircom's operating performance is nearing an inflection point, helped
by management's solid execution of the business plan, an improving
economy and a more rational competitive environment. The trend
towards revenue stabilisation was visible in March 2015, when eircom
achieved year-on-year revenue growth for the first time
in the last six years.
A stronger operating performance will be further supported by price increases
implemented in April 2015, which will allow the company to stabilise
revenues and improve EBITDA and cash flow generation. Moody's
expects that eircom will start generating positive free cash flows over
the next 12 months on the back of improved top line and EBITDA trends,
the lack of any further significant voluntary leaver costs, and
somewhat lower capex going forward.
As a result of this improved performance, eircom's credit
ratios are reaching levels that could support upward pressure on the rating
over the next 12 to 18 months, such as adjusted debt/EBITDA trending
towards 5.5x. While adjusted leverage remains high --
partly owing to the unfavourable evolution of the pension deficit --
the company's deleveraging trajectory is on the right path.
The change in outlook also reflects the benefits for eircom of the recent
amend and extend process, such as the extension of its debt maturity
profile by almost three years and the increased operational flexibility
(more headroom under covenants, lower administrative burden) at
no incremental financial cost.
Finally, the change in outlook also reflects eircom's increasing
enterprise value, consistent with rising valuations in the European
telecom sector. In fact, the company has recently rejected
a takeover offer for EUR3.2-EUR3.3 billion that would
imply a significant enterprise value in relation to eircom's still
high levels of debt.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING UP/DOWN
Upward pressure on the rating would be supported by continued positive
pricing environment, which translates into growth in revenues and
EBITDA such that adjusted debt/EBITDA trends towards 5.5x on a
sustained basis and allows the company to generate positive free cash
flows. Upward rating pressure would also require the group to maintain
a sound liquidity profile, with comfortable headroom under financial
covenants.
Downward pressure on the rating could materialise if the group fails to
execute its business plan or if pricing dynamics deteriorate, leading
to weaker-than-expected credit metrics, including
adjusted debt/EBITDA trending sustainably above 6.5x, and
persistently negative free cash flow generation. Given the size
and volatility of eircom's pension deficit, the B3 rating with a
positive outlook incorporates the potential for moderate deviations from
these ranges on a temporary basis.
Moody's would also be concerned if eircom's liquidity came under
stress as a result of a weaker-than-expected operating performance
or larger cash outflows for capex in the absence of alternative external
sources, such as a revolving credit facility or vendor financing.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGIES
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Telecommunications
Industry published in December 2010. 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.
eircom Holdings (Ireland) Limited is the holding company of the eircom
group, the principal provider of fixed-line telecommunications
services in Ireland, with a revenue share of the fixed-line
market of approximately 52% (according to ComReg). The group
is also the third-largest mobile operator in Ireland, with
a subscriber market share of approximately 21% (excluding mobile
broadband and Machine to Machine, according to ComReg). eircom
reported revenue of EUR1.3 billion and adjusted EBITDA of EUR467
million for the last twelve months ended March 2015.
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.
Ivan Palacios
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Espana, S.A.
Calle Principe de Vergara, 131, 6 Planta
Madrid 28002
Spain
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Michael J. Mulvaney
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Espana, S.A.
Calle Principe de Vergara, 131, 6 Planta
Madrid 28002
Spain
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
Moody's changes outlook on eircom's B3 ratings to positive