New York, May 03, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") upgraded
the corporate family rating of Albaugh, LLC to Ba3 from B1,
the probability of default rating to Ba3-PD from B1-PD and
senior secured ratings to Ba3 from B1. The outlook is stable.
"The upgrade reflects sales and earnings growth despite some headwinds
from raw material cost increases and trade disruptions," said
Anastasija Johnson, senior analyst at Moody's. "The
company's modest leverage and strong retained cash flow generation
support a higher rating despite the company's concentration in commodity
glyphosate herbicide."
Upgrades:
..Issuer: Albaugh, LLC
.... Probability of Default Rating,
Upgraded to Ba3-PD from B1-PD
.... Corporate Family Rating, Upgraded
to Ba3 from B1
....Senior Secured Bank Credit Facility,
Upgraded to Ba3 (LGD3) from B1 (LGD3)
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: Albaugh, LLC
....Outlook, Remains Stable
RATINGS RATIONALE
The Ba3 corporate family rating reflects Albaugh's position as one of
the smaller global off-patent crop protection producers with a
growing new product portfolio, but a high concentration in commodity
herbicides. The rating also reflects strong credit metrics such
as modest leverage (Moody's adjusted debt/EBITDA of 2.3 times
at the end of 2018) and strong retained cash flow generation. The
rating is constrained by the company's heavy concentration in generic
herbicides (76% of sales), particularly in glyphosate (42%
of sales), although the company continues expanding is geographic
presence and product portfolio. The company currently has a portfolio
of 88 active ingredients compared to 38 in 2014 and its growth portfolio
represents roughly one third of its sales.
The rating incorporates expectations that the company will continue to
expand its growth portfolio either through new product registrations or
acquisitions. Given high chemical industry multiples in recent
deals, potential acquisitions could lead to higher leverage,
although the company has, so far, maintained modest credit
metrics. Moody's expects the company to maintain sales and earnings
growth in 2019 driven by new formulations of core products in Argentina,
and new product sales in Brazil and Europe; however, North
American volumes most likely will be reduced due by severe winter weather
and flooding that negatively impacted first quarter sales. The
rating is constrained by exposure to seasonal and weather-dependent
agricultural segment, limited scale in a competitive industry and
narrow margins. Margins have been negatively impacted by raw material
increases, supply interruptions from China and tariffs on Chinese-produced
raw materials, as well as foreign currency fluctuations.
An escalation of the trade dispute with China, albeit unlikely,
would be temporary credit negative for the company. The rating
incorporates expectations that the trade dispute with China will be resolved
and that Nutrichem will continue to hold a 20% stake in the company.
Albaugh is expected to have good liquidity. The company had $100.9
million of cash on hand as of December 31, 2018, primarily
held in the US, but generated negative free cash flow in 2018 due
to a build-up of working capital ahead of expected tariffs on Chinese
raw materials. The company is expected to generate minimal free
cash flow in 2019. Moody's expects the company to draw on the revolver
to fund seasonal working capital needs during the year. The $125
million revolving facility is due in 2022. Annual amortization
payments on the $350 million term loan due 2024 are 1% of
the principal. The term loan has no financial covenants,
but the revolver has a total net leverage covenant of 4.25 times.
The company has sufficient headroom under the covenant and is expected
to remain in compliance over the next 12 months. The credit facility
allows for $125 million of incremental borrowing as long as first
lien net leverage ratio does not exceed 3.25 times. The
credit facility allows for increased dividend distribution for up to $12.5
million and for future growth of the restricted payment basket along with
EBITDA growth.
The stable outlook reflects our expectations that the company will continue
to growth sales and earnings and maintain strong credit metrics.
Moody's could upgrade the rating if the company increases revenues sustainably
above $2.5 billion and reduces reliance on core commodity
glyphosate to less than 25% of sales. The ratings could
be upgraded if the company generates positive free cash flow on a more
consistent basis, while maintaining Moody's adjusted leverage
below 3 times on a consistent basis and RCF/Debt above 20%.
Moody's could downgrade the rating if the there is a significant deterioration
in the company's operating conditions, if the company increases
its leverage above 4 times on a sustained basis, and retained cash
flow to debt declines below 10%.
Headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Albaugh, LLC is a global
manufacturer and seller of generic herbicides, fungicides,
insecticides, and seed treatments. Albaugh has operations
in the US and Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and
Europe. The company generated revenue of $1.4 billion
in the twelve months ended December 31, 2018. The company
is majority owned by founder Dennis Albaugh with a 20% stake owned
by the Chinese agrochemical developer and manufacturer and Albaugh's
supplier, Nutrichem.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Chemical Industry
methodology published in March 2019. Please see the Rating 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 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.
Anastasija Johnson
Vice President - Senior 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
Brian Oak
MD - Corporate Finance
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