Stockholm, March 31, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has
today change the outlook on the B1 corporate family rating ("CFR")
of Hapag-Lloyd AG (Hapag-Lloyd) to negative from stable.
Concurrently, Moody's affirmed the B1 CFR, its B1-PD
probability of default rating (PDR) its B3 senior unsecured bond ratings.
A full list of debt can be found in the end of the press release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating
global economic outlook, falling oil prices, and asset price
declines are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many
sectors, regions and markets. The combined credit effects
of these developments are unprecedented. The shipping sector in
general and container shipping sector in particular are dependent on world
trade and activity demand for goods from industrial companies as well
as consumers. Given the rapid development in terms of countries
shutting down production and putting populations in quarantine,
it is inevitable that the demand for container shipping will see contracting
volumes from end of April/beginning of May. Ultimately, the
effect on the credit ratios of European Container Liners will be dependent
on (1) The ability of the container shipping industry to meet lower volume
with cancelled (blanked) sailings, thus saving around 50%-70%
in operating costs per blanked sailing; (2) time until demand picks
up again, and least but most importantly (3) the impact on contracted
as well as spot freight rates.
The rating affirmation also reflects that Hapag Lloyd is confronted to
this crisis, at its starting point, with very solid credit
metrics for the B1 category.
RATING OUTLOOK
The negative outlook balances Hapag Lloyd's solid business profile,
combined with a good track record of management through volatile industry
environments with an adequate liquidity -- $574 million in
cash and $585 million in unused credit lines -- with the challenges
the industry will face during at least Q2 and Q3 2020, when the
effects of the crisis are likely to impact operating performance and credit
metrics. The negative effects could be mitigated with very tight
capacity as a result of a high number of blanked sailings, thus
acting as a stabilizer for freight rates.
ESG CONSIDERATIONS
We regard the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under our ESG framework,
given the substantial implications for public health and safety.
Today's action reflects the impact on the companies of the breadth
and severity of the shock, and the broad deterioration in credit
quality it has triggered.
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.
Factors that would lead to an upgrade or downgrade of the ratings:
At this point in time, a stabilization of the outlook requires higher
visibility regarding the impact on credit ratios from the
coronavirus outbreak, such as forward booking, freight rates
and realized volumes combined with offsetting operational and financial
measures implemented by the company.
Nevertheless, further positive ratings pressure could start to build
if:
- Moody's-adjusted debt/EBITDA declining below 4x
on a sustained basis
- Achievement of greater profitability, as measured by its
consistently positive EBIT margin
- Funds from operations (FFO) + interest expense/interest
expense rising above 4x on a sustained basis
- Good liquidity at all times
Negative ratings pressure could arise if:
- Leverage remaining above 5x debt/EBITDA for a prolonged period
- FFO + interest expense/interest expense falling below 3x
- Deterioration in the business environment for container shipping
and in particular a longer impact of the coronavirus crisis than currently
considered in our base case scenarios
- Negative free cash flow generation and pressure on the company's
liquidity profile
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS:
Affirmations:
..Issuer: Hapag-Lloyd AG
.... LT Corporate Family Rating, Affirmed
B1
.... Probability of Default Rating,
Affirmed B1-PD
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
, Affirmed B3
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: Hapag-Lloyd AG
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Stable
Hapag-Lloyd AG (Hapag-Lloyd), headquartered in Hamburg,
Germany, is the fifth-largest container liner globally based
on market share by volume. As of December 2019, it operated
a fleet comprising 239 ships, including 112 owned/leased and 127
chartered-in vessels. For 2019, the company reported
revenue of USD14.1 billion and EBIT of USD908 million. Hapag-Lloyd
was established in 1970 as a result of the merger of Hapag (1847) and
North German Lloyd (1857).
On 2 December 2014, Hapag-Lloyd merged with the Chilean shipping
company Compania Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV). On 24 May 2017,
HapagLloyd completed a business combination with United Arab Shipping
Company (UASC), whereby the merger of the two entities was accomplished
via an in-kind contribution.
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.
At least one ESG consideration was material to the credit rating outcome
announced and described above.
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
Asst Vice President - 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