Approximately US$10 billion of rated debt affected
Toronto, March 11, 2016 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") confirmed the senior unsecured ratings
of Barrick Gold Corporation and all guaranteed rated subsidiaries at Baa3.
The rating outlook is negative. This concludes the review for possible
downgrade initiated on January 21, 2016.
"The confirmation of Barrick's Baa3 rating is based upon the commitment
of management to continue reducing debt and leverage" said Jamie
Koutsoukis, Moody's Vice President, Senior Analyst.
"They have good assets and excellent liquidity, but leverage
is high and they need to continue executing on plans to address it in
a meaningful way" she added.
This rating action resolves a rating placed under review pursuant to Moody's
review of the global mining sector, parts of which have undergone
a fundamental downward shift. While gold has not experienced the
same magnitude of recent price reductions seen in base metals, it
is nevertheless a volatile commodity, the price of which is very
hard to predict as it is not driven by normal industrial supply and demand
factors. Moody's expects this price risk to be tempered with
a focus on cost efficiency, prudent project development and low
financial risk, in terms of leverage, coverage and robust
liquidity.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Barrick's Baa3 rating is underpinned by its large scale, diverse
and low-cost gold assets, sizeable copper operations,
favorable geopolitical risks and excellent liquidity. Moody's expects
Barrick will achieve its debt reduction target of $2 billion in
2016, following a $3 billion reduction in 2015, and
that the company will continue to take actions to further reduce its costs
and capital requirements. Moody's expects Barrick's adjusted financial
leverage will be under 3.0x at the end of 2016 (3.2x at
Dec15), assuming a gold price of $1100/oz.
Barrick's credit metrics are challenged relative to its similarly-rated
peers, and the rating incorporates our view that the company will
execute its 2016 debt reduction plans. Barrick continues to limit
capital expenditures and it has sold mines as it focuses on leverage reduction.
The company expects production will drop to 4.6 million-5.1
million ounces by 2018 from 6.1 million attributable ounces in
2015. As existing mines age, and absent the development of
new mines, we expect Barrick's production to decrease further,
resulting in a reduction of cash flow and an increase in leverage unless
debt is commensurately reduced.
Barrick's liquidity is excellent, which provides significant flexibility
to maneuver through a low gold price environment. Cash of $2.5
billion and an undrawn $4 billion revolver ($3.66
billion expires in January 2021 with the remaining amount expiring in
January 2020) will be supplemented by an expected positive free cash flow
generation of about $500 million at US$1100/oz. Maturities
are minimal before 2018 with less than $250 million in debt due
that time. The key financial covenant in its credit facility requires
Barrick to maintain a net debt to total capitalization ratio of less than
60%. Barrick's net debt to total capitalization was
44% as at December 31, 2015 and we expect ample headroom
over the next year.
The negative ratings outlook incorporates the risk in Barrick's
ability to execute on its planned debt and leverage reduction in 2016.
An upgrade to Baa2 could occur should Barrick's operating cash flows be
able to fund the necessary investments to achieve at least stable production
over time as well as sustain Debt/ EBITDA below 2.5x and cash from
operations less dividends/ debt around 30%.
Barrick's rating could be downgraded to Ba1 if Debt/ EBITDA appeared likely
to be sustained above 3.0x and cash from operations less dividends/
debt sustained below 20%.
Affirmations:
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Corporation
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Confirmed at Baa3
..Issuer: Barrick (PD) Australia Finance Pty Ltd
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Confirmed at Baa3
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Finance Company
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Confirmed at Baa3
..Issuer: Barrick International Bank Corp.
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Confirmed at Baa3
..Issuer: Barrick North America Finance LLC
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Confirmed at Baa3
..Issuer: Placer Dome Inc.
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Confirmed at Baa3
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Corporation
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Rating Under Review
..Issuer: Barrick (PD) Australia Finance Pty Ltd
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Rating Under Review
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Finance Company
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Rating Under Review
..Issuer: Barrick International Bank Corp.
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Rating Under Review
..Issuer: Barrick North America Finance LLC
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Rating Under Review
..Issuer: Placer Dome Inc.
....Outlook, Changed To Negative From
Rating Under Review
Barrick Gold Corporation is one of the world's largest gold producers,
with mines in the US, Canada, Peru, Argentina,
Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Africa,
and copper mines in Chile, and Zambia. Barrick is headquartered
in Toronto, Canada.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Mining Industry
published in August 2014. Please see the Ratings Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
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.
The rating has been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s)
and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
Moody's has not provided advisory services but may have provided
Ancillary or Other Permissible Service(s) to the rated entity, its
related third parties and/or the party that requested the rating within
the past two years (including during the most recently ended fiscal year).
Please see the special report "Ancillary or other permissible services
provided to entities rated by MIS's credit rating agency in Canada"
on the ratings disclosure page www.moodys.com/disclosures
on our website for further information.
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.
Jamie Koutsoukis
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Canada Inc.
70 York Street
Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M5J 1S9
Canada
(416) 214-1635
Donald S. Carter, CFA
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
(416) 214-1635
Releasing Office:
Moody's Canada Inc.
70 York Street
Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M5J 1S9
Canada
(416) 214-1635
Moody's confirms Barrick's Baa3 rating; outlook negative