Stockholm, October 12, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) has today affirmed the B2 corporate
family rating (CFR) and the B2-PD probability of default rating
(PDR) of CMA CGM S.A. ("CMA"), as well
as the Caa1 senior unsecured rating. The outlook on all ratings
changed to positive from negative.
Moody's also assigned a Caa1 rating on the proposed new €525
million senior unsecured bonds that will be used to refinance the senior
unsecured bonds maturing in January 2021.
A full list of debt can be found in the end of the press release.
Today's rating action reflects a strong operating performance and
an improvement in credit metrics as well as an improvement of CMA's
liquidity profile with a reduction of refinancing risks. The container
shipping market has performed very strongly amidst the pandemic,
where all carriers have exhibited discipline in terms of adjusting capacity
to decreased demand during the first half of 2020. Moody's
understands volumes during the third quarter have been strong, sending
up freight rates higher than at the start of the year. Coupled
with low bunker prices, carriers have recorded double digit growth
rates in EBITDA during this time period compared to the first half of
2019. Further positive rating pressure requires sustained performance
of CMA as well as its key subsidiary CEVA Logistics AG ("CEVA"),
and leverage improvements as well as the preservation of a sufficient
liquidity profile.
RATINGS RATIONALE
During the first half of 2020, CMA has strengthened its liquidity
profile significantly with the help of good market fundamentals translating
into very high profitability and positive free cash flow generation.
Furthermore, the liquidity profile benefitted from raising debt
guaranteed by the French state, which clearly shows its support
to the company. As of June 30 this year, available liquidity
on a group level stood at $2.6 billion, which is around
$1.0 billion higher than what was available as of December
31, 2019. Thus, the short-term liquidity risk
that was one of the main drivers of the previously assigned negative outlook,
has now abated.
In light of how the industry has behaved during the first half of the
year, coupled with continued low bunker prices and relatively high
freight rates and strong volumes during Q3, Moody's believes
the second half will be even better in terms of operating performance.
Adding a high likelihood that 2021 will at least be a stable year for
container shipping, Moody's foresee an intact or even improving
liquidity profile for CMA going forward, supported by continued
positive free cash flow generation. That being said, downside
risks remain present, such as a larger second wave of virus outbreaks
or increased tension between US and China on international trade.
CMA's credit profile is still constrained by the operating performance
of CEVA and the need of support by CMA. Since Q4 2019, CMA
has injected a total of USD730 million in equity into CEVA, of which
$521 has been in the form of cash; cash that instead could
have been used to improve its own liquidity further. Nevertheless,
we expect CEVA's performance to slowly improve its operations and
ultimately be free cash flow positive.
RATIONALE FOR THE POSITIVE OUTLOOK
The positive outlook balances the risk of a global second wave in COVID-19
infections, jeopardizing the anticipated recovery of the global
economy, with CMA's significantly improved liquidity profile
as well as our expectations of continued capacity discipline by the large
container carriers. Incorporating our projections of CEVA Logistics,
Moody's now expects RCF / Net debt in the 20% area and a
debt / EBITDA level of 3.5x -- 4.0x within the next
12-18 months.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
A prerequisite for positive ratings pressure would first and foremost
a sustained or improved liquidity profile. Furthermore, this
would have to be accompanied by sustaining a debt / EBITDA ratio below
5x as well as FFO Interest Coverage above 3.0x.
Negative ratings pressure could arise if the company's debt/EBITDA
ratio increased above 5.5 and FFO interest coverage decreased below
2.0x and stayed at such levels for a prolonged period. Additionally,
sustained negative free cash flow and a weakened liquidity profile would
cause negative pressure on ratings.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Shipping Industry
published in December 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1100802.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
COMPANY PROFILE
CMA CGM is the fourth-largest provider of global container shipping
services. The company operates primarily in the international containerized
maritime transportation of goods, but its activities also include
container terminal operations, intermodal, inland transport
and logistics. For the last twelve months ending June 2020,
the company reported revenue of $29.3 billion and EBITDA
of $4.2 billion.
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS
Assignments:
..Issuer: CMA CGM S.A.
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Assigned Caa1
Affirmations:
..Issuer: CMA CGM S.A.
....Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed
B2
....Probability of Default Rating, Affirmed
B2-PD
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Affirmed Caa1
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: CMA CGM S.A.
....Outlook, Changed To Positive From
Negative
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and
sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and
Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's
Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures
in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the
same series, category/class of debt, security 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.
The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated
agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy
for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on
its website www.moodys.com.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social
and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.
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.
Daniel Harlid
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service (Nordics) AB
Norrlandsgatan 20
Stockholm 111 43
Sweden
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Christian Hendker, CFA
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service (Nordics) AB
Norrlandsgatan 20
Stockholm 111 43
Sweden
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454