Approximately $300 million of rated debt securities affected
New York, May 10, 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service downgraded API Heat Transfer ThermaSys Corporation's
("API") ratings, including the company's Corporate Family Rating
(to Caa2 from Caa1) and Probability of Default Rating (to Caa2-PD
from Caa1-PD), and the ratings for its first lien senior
secured credit facilities (to B3 from B2), consisting of a $265
million ($240 million outstanding) term loan due 2019 and a $35
million revolver expiring in 2018. The ratings outlook is negative.
The rating actions reflect a weak and eroding liquidity profile given
upcoming debt maturities and limited free cash flow generation,
as expected over the forward period. At present, revolver
availability remains constrained at only $7 million given that
the net leverage springing covenant continues to exceed the maximum permitted
level. Operating results remain weak with significant revenue and
bookings declines given persistently challenging end market conditions
(notwithstanding some signs of stabilization) and a heightened competitive
environment. Credit metrics have weakened further over the course
of the last year. Financial leverage, as measured by Moody's-adjusted
debt to EBITDA, has increased to approximately 11x at March 31,
2017, from mid 9x one year ago, and adjusted EBITA to interest
is just 0.8x. Moody's believes that the difficult operating
environment will continue to pressure API's revenue, earnings and
liquidity over the next 12 months. The rating agency recognizes,
however, that recent increases in backlog and improving traction
in certain end markets (including process/industrial, hydraulic
power and engine cooling), supplemented by ongoing strategic growth
and cost saving initiatives, should somewhat mitigate the negative
impact.
The negative ratings outlook reflects the upcoming maturity of the company's
$35 million revolving credit facility (which expires in May 2018)
and the increased refinancing risk associated with the company's weakening
liquidity profile and over-leveraged capital structure.
The following rating actions have been taken:
Corporate Family Rating, downgraded to Caa2 from Caa1;
Probability of Default Rating, downgraded to Caa2-PD from
Caa1-PD;
$265 million ($240 million outstanding) first lien senior
secured term loan due 2019, downgraded to B3 (LGD2) from B2 (LGD2);
$35 million first lien senior secured revolving credit facility
expiring in 2018, downgraded to B3 (LGD2) from B2 (LGD2);
Rating outlook, changed to negative from stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The Caa2 Corporate Family Rating broadly reflects API's very high debt
leverage, the cyclicality of its end markets and the associated
volatility of revenue and earnings, and a weak liquidity position.
The rating also reflects the company's small size relative to other rated
manufacturer peers, risks related to ongoing integration and business
restructuring initiatives, and long-term risks associated
with potential shareholder friendly actions given API's ownership by private
equity sponsors. API's rating is supported by its broad product
portfolio of heat exchanger offerings, global geographic footprint
and production capabilities, and the diversity of its served end
markets. Additionally, the company benefits from its solid
market position in the highly fragmented global heat exchanger market,
and barriers to entry such as product capabilities, long-standing
customer relationships and required capital investments.
The ratings outlook could be stabilized if the company addresses its upcoming
debt maturities and strengthens its liquidity profile. Over a longer
time horizon, the ratings could be upgraded if the company's end
markets experience recovering trends and this results in improved earnings
and free cash flow generation at levels sufficient to allow Moody's-adjusted
leverage to decline below 8.0x and EBITA to interest coverage to
improve above 1.0x, both on a sustainable basis.
The ratings could be downgraded if the company fails to extend its debt
maturities and improve its liquidity, or if operating performance
continues to deteriorate.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Manufacturing
Companies published in July 2014. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
API Heat Transfer ThermaSys Corporation, headquartered in Buffalo,
New York, is a designer and manufacturer of industrial heat exchangers.
The company was formed following the combination of two legacy entities:
API Group Holdings, LLC and ThermaSys Group Holding in April 2012.
API offers a broad range of heat transfer products through its business
segments of Compressor & Dryer, Engine Cooling, Hydraulic
Fluid Power, Process & Industrial, Sanitary Systems,
and Thermasys Tubing. The company is majority owned by private
equity sponsor Wellspring Capital Partners. In the last twelve
months ended March 31, 2017, API generated approximately $292
million in revenues.
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.
Natalia Gluschuk
Asst Vice President - Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Russell Solomon
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653