London, 26 April 2016 -- Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded to B1 from Ba3 the corporate
family rating (CFR) and to B1-PD from Ba3-PD the probability
of default rating (PDR) of KAMAZ PTC (Kamaz), a government-controlled
leading Russian truck producer. The outlook on the ratings is negative.
The downgrade factors in the following drivers:
-- deterioration in Kamaz's standalone credit profile
-- Its reliance on government support
-- The company's exposure to further weakness of the
Russian economy and domestic truck market
Today's action concludes the rating review initiated by Moody's
on 10 March 2016 and follows Moody's confirmation of Russia's Ba1 government
bond with a negative outlook on 22 April 2016. For additional information,
please refer to the related announcement: https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-confirms-Russias-Ba1-sovereign-rating-outlook-negative--PR_347453
RATINGS RATIONALE
Today's downgrade of Kamaz's rating to B1 from Ba3 was triggered by deterioration
in Kamaz's standalone creditworthiness, as measured by the company's
baseline credit assessment (BCA), to caa1 from b3 under Moody's
government-related issuer (GRI) methodology. That said,
Kamaz's B1 rating continues to factor in sizeable uplift to its caa1 BCA,
given Moody's assumption of the strong probability of state support in
the event of financial distress.
The deterioration of Kamaz's standalone creditworthiness has been driven
by the severe and rapid deterioration of the domestic truck market on
the back of Russia's weakening economy, as captured by the negative
outlook on the sovereign rating. According to different industry
sources, the market further contracted by approximately 42%
in 2015 after a 25% contraction in 2014.
In addition to market weakness and contracted sales volumes, Kamaz's
profitability and cash generation were also negatively affected by a significant
depreciation of the Russian rouble in 2014-15. This increased
costs as some truck components are priced in hard currency, while
the bulk of the company's revenue is generated in roubles. As a
result, in 2015, Kamaz's EBITDA and EBITA turned negative,
despite the company's focus on cost savings, efforts to pass higher
costs onto customers through price increases, and some growth in
exports.
Accordingly, Kamaz's end-2015 leverage, measured as
adjusted debt/EBITDA, rose to double-digit negative levels.
This follows its placement of two 15-year domestic bonds of RUB5
billion each in August and December 2015, under the state guarantee,
to finance its modernisation programme. The risk of elevated leverage
is somewhat mitigated by Kamaz's long-term debt maturity profile
and in particular by the government's support, with the company's
debt being predominantly guaranteed by the government or issued by the
government and government-controlled banks.
Given the continued economic weakness in Russia, we expect only
a marginal recovery, if any, in the company's financial profile
in the next 12-18 months, with EBITDA margins to return to
low single digits. The government's day-to-day support
to Kamaz, ranging from demand-supportive measures to investment
and liquidity funding, is the key factor driving the expected improvements,
even if these improvements would be limited.
We assume that the Russian government's guarantee of RUB35 billion,
of which RUB10 billion covered Kamaz's domestic bonds issued in 2015,
will cover any new debt that Kamaz takes on to fund capex, and that
this debt will be fully incurred during 2016-17. As such,
we expect the company's total leverage to remain elevated in the medium
term. However, we consider that government-related
and/or government-guaranteed debt will continue to dominate Kamaz's
debt portfolio.
RATIONALE FOR THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOK
The negative outlook on Kamaz's rating reflects the pressured standalone
credit quality and the negative outlook on the Russian sovereign rating.
A further weakening of Russia's operating environment and hence of the
Russian truck market may result in further deterioration of the company's
very weak financial profile and liquidity position.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING DOWN/UP
Kamaz's rating could be downgraded if (1) Russia's sovereign rating were
downgraded; (2) the company's key market were to show no material
recovery and its financial and/or liquidity profile were to deteriorate,
further challenging its business operations and debt service capacity;
or (3) the probability were to fall of government extraordinary support
being extended to Russian GRIs and/or Kamaz, in particular in the
event of financial distress.
Given the negative outlook and operational weakness Moody's does
not envisage positive pressure on Kamaz's rating in the next 12-18
months.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Manufacturing
Companies published in July 2014. Other methodologies used include
the Government-Related Issuers methodology published in October
2014. Please see the Ratings Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of these methodologies.
KAMAZ PTC (Kamaz) is a leading player in the Russia market producing a
wide range of commercial vehicles, including trucks, trailers,
tow tractors and buses. Russia's 100% state-owned
investment holding State Corporation Rosstechnologii (RosTec, not
rated) holds a 49.9% stake in Kamaz. In 2015,
Kamaz generated revenue of RUB97.5 billion ($1.6
billion).
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.
Ekaterina Botvinova
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Limited, Russian Branch
7th floor, Four Winds Plaza
21 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya St.
Moscow 125047
Russia
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
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Victoria Maisuradze
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456
SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454
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Moody's downgrades Kamaz's ratings to B1; negative outlook