London, 29 July 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has today downgraded Aston
Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc's (Aston Martin Lagonda,
company or AML) corporate family rating (CFR) to B3 from B2 and its probability
of default rating (PDR) to B3-PD from B2-PD. Concurrently,
Moody's has also downgraded the instrument ratings on the existing
senior secured bonds issued by Aston Martin Capital Holdings Limited to
B3 from B2. The outlook on both entities remains stable.
"The downgrade of Aston Martin Lagonda's ratings reflects
the lack of progress in terms of volume growth and profitability for 2019,
following the company's trading statement, and hence continued
high negative free cash flow and high leverage", says Tobias
Wagner, VP - Senior Analyst at Moody's. "AML's
weaker performance in 2019 raises the stakes for a successful execution
of the upcoming SUV DBX launch. Also given the ongoing weak and
competitive market environment, Moody's now considers it unlikely
that leverage and free cash flow will be in line with a B2 rating by 2020."
RATINGS RATIONALE
The downgrades follow AML's release of a trading statement on 24
July 2019, highlighting a weak second quarter 2019 performance and
meaningfully revising down its guidance for volume growth and profitability
in 2019. The company also mentioned that it is anticipating that
the weakness will continue for the remainder of the year and that it is
planning prudently for 2020. Given the lack of progress in growing
volumes, improving profitability and cash flows in 2019 and given
greater execution risks to AML's growth plans into 2020 and beyond,
Moody's expects Moody's-adjusted debt/EBITDA and free
cash flow for at least 2019 and 2020 to be more commensurate with a B3
rating.
Aston Martin Lagonda's 2019 guidance revisions include wholesale
volumes (-11% mid-point), now expected at around
similar levels to 2018, a company-adjusted EBITDA margin
of 20% instead of 24% and a slightly revised capex and R&D
expectation of GBP300 million instead of GBP320-340 million for
the year. While the company also highlighted that it remains on
track regarding important launches and drivers of volume growth over the
next 12-18 months, such as its first SUV DBX or the high-end
Aston Martin Valkyrie, the significant changes to wholesale volume
expectations and efforts to manage inventory ahead of those launches alongside
a weak and competitive market environment, raise the execution risks
for the significant planned step up in performance in 2020.
Moody's considers the company's liquidity profile currently
as adequate, but the company's large negative free cash flow
(after capex, interest) for 2019 and likely continued negative free
cash flow in 2020 mean cash balances will fall fast from current levels.
As of March 2019 and pro-forma for the $190 million notes
issuance in April 2019, the company carried GBP280 million of cash.
The committed GBP80 million revolving credit facility due January 2022
is essentially fully drawn. As of December 2018, the company
had GBP 29 million of short-term debt (aside from the revolver)
and the next larger maturity would be the notes in April 2022.
Given the continued need to invest into its future model line-up
and lack of growth, the company's liquidity profile has weakened
in Moody's view.
Rating Outlook
The stable outlook reflects Moody's expectation that despite the
weakened performance in 2019, the company will return to visible
growth in 2020 on the back of the SUV DBX launch and its currently adequate
liquidity profile. We note that the rating and outlook do not incorporate
the impact of a potential "no-deal Brexit" or future
trade barriers such as tariffs, which could lead to negative implications
for outlook or rating.
What Could Change The Rating Up/Down
Successful execution of the DBX launch alongside visible growth in scale,
profitability and free cash flow improvements would create upward pressure
on the rating. This would include Moody's-adjusted debt/EBITDA
improving to below 6.0x on a sustained basis, Moody's-adjusted
EBITA margin above 7% on a sustainable basis and Moody's-adjusted
FCF/debt becoming positive. Conversely, negative pressure
on the rating could come from a lack of sufficient volume and profitability
improvements, for example from weaker than expected DBX sales,
and a resulting ongoing negative free cash flow and high leverage levels.
A significant deterioration in Aston Martin's liquidity profile shown
in very little to no headroom to cover cash needs over a period of at
least 12 months would also pressure the ratings.
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS
..Issuer: Aston Martin Capital Holdings Limited
Downgrades:
....BACKED Senior Secured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Downgraded to B3 from B2
Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Remains Stable
..Issuer: Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc
Downgrades:
.... LT Corporate Family Rating, Downgraded
to B3 from B2
.... Probability of Default Rating,
Downgraded to B3-PD from B2-PD
Outlook Actions:
....Outlook, Remains Stable
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Automobile Manufacturer
Industry published in June 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
COMPANY PROFILE
Based in Gaydon, UK, Aston Martin Lagonda is a car manufacturer
focused on the high luxury sports car segment. Aston Martin generated
revenue of GBP1.1 billion in 2018 from the sale of 6,441
cars. AML is a UK-listed business with a market capitalization
of ca. GBP2.4 billion as of 28 March 2019. As of
December 2018, its major shareholders include the Adeem/Primewagon
Controlling Shareholder Group, including a subsidiary of EFAD Group
and companies controlled by Mr. Najeeb Al Humaidhi and Mr.
Razam Al-Roumi, with 36.05% and the Investindustrial
Controlling Shareholder Group, an Italian private equity firm,
with 30.97%. Daimler AG has also a 4.18%
stake.
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 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.
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.
Tobias Wagner, CFA
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Peter Firth
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Ltd.
One Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5FA
United Kingdom
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454