London, 21 August 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has today upgraded to Ba2 from Ba3
the corporate family rating and to Ba2-PD from Ba3-PD the
probability of default rating of Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port,
PJSC (NCSP) the largest operator of marine port terminals in Russia.
The outlook on all ratings is stable. Concurrently, Moody's
has upgraded NCSP's baseline credit assessment (BCA) to ba2 from ba3.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Today's upgrade of NCSP's ratings results from Moody's decision to upgrade
the company's BCA, which is a measure of the company's standalone
credit strength under Moody's Government-Related Issuers (GRI)
rating methodology, to ba2 from ba3.
As the Russian government owns a 20% stake in NCSP and a "golden
share", Moody's applies its GRI rating methodology.
The Ba2 CFR reflects a combination of (1) a BCA of ba2; (2) the Russia's
Ba1 foreign currency rating with positive outlook; (3) the moderate
default dependence between NCSP and the government; and (4) the low
probability of government support in the event of financial distress.
NCSP's BCA has been upgraded reflecting the company's established
track record of fairly stable financial performance through the cycle,
underpinned by its position as Russia's largest multi-cargo seaport
operator with a strong geographical position.
NCSP's credit metrics and liquidity should remain strong in the
next 12-18 months with FFO/debt remaining well above 30%,
as the company continue to generate positive free cash flow, underpinned
by its healthy operating results and moderate capital spending programme.
Moody's notes that the company is now considering a range of large-scale
development projects, which may potentially drive a material step-up
in investments, although the exact size and timing of the projects
are yet to be defined. Moody's, however, expects
NCSP to maintain its solid financial profile, supported by the comfortable
capacity under the current rating and its fairly conservative financial
policy, with an internal target reported net debt/EBITDA of below
3.0x. Overall, Moody's forecasts NCSP to sustain
FFO/interest above 5.0x and FFO/debt above 20%.
The rating remains constrained by NCSP's exposure to Russia's volatile
operating environment, which is mitigated by the company's focus
on export commodities, while some diversification into growing oil
products and more profitable dry bulk cargoes helps partly offset the
risks related to its high product concentration in oil, in which
cargo volumes are declining.
Moody's also acknowledges the remaining uncertainty related to a
potential change in NCSP's ownership structure, further exacerbated
by the criminal investigation against one of its major shareholders,
Ziyavudin Magomedov (the owner of Summa Group, which effectively
holds 27.75% stake in the company). Any material
negative consequences for NCSP's business are, however,
somewhat limited because of the strengthened position and support from
its largest strategic shareholder, the state-owned Transneft,
PJSC (Transneft, Baa3 positive), which recently reiterated
its intention to increase its stake in the company to a controlling level
from its current 35.57%. NCSP's credit profile
may benefit further if Transneft becomes the majority shareholder because
this will (1) remove the long-lived uncertainty related to the
existing shareholding structure, (2) facilitate decisions on future
strategic development, and (3) allow to consider a certain level
of support to the company's credit profile from the higher-rated
state-owned entity.
In addition, while NCSP is exposed to the evolving regulatory and
legal environment in Russia, the recently introduced law on port
tariffs should, however, have no material impact on the company's
credit profile. Moreover, Moody's positively acknowledges
the resolution of the large tax claim in favour of the company,
while also expects NCSP to be able to successfully resolve its ongoing
disputes with Federal Antimonopoly Service.
RATIONALE FOR STABLE OUTLOOK
The outlook on NCSP's rating is stable, which reflects Moody's
expectation that the company will maintain its strong market position
in Russia and healthy operating performance. Moody's also
expects NCSP's financial metrics and liquidity to remain commensurate
with the current Ba2 rating on a sustained basis.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATINGS UP/DOWN
Positive pressure on NCSP's rating could build if the company (1) maintains
its strong financial and operating performance, in conjunction with
positive cargo volume dynamics; (2) maintains funds from operations
(FFO)/debt above 25%, as well as healthy liquidity at all
times, including during an active investment phase; and (3)
establishes a track record of stable ownership, with effective and
transparent corporate governance.
NCSP's rating could be downgraded if its liquidity and financial
profiles deteriorate materially, with FFO/debt declining below 15%
on a sustained basis as a result of (1) weakening of the company's
market position and deterioration in its operating performance,
and (2) an aggressive investment programme or shareholder distributions
resulting in a breach of NCSP's current financial policy guidance.
Increasing concerns over any transformational change in NCSP's ownership
or business structure with uncertain or negative consequences on its credit
profile may also strain the rating.
PRINCIPAL METHODOLOGY
The methodologies used in these ratings was Privately Managed Port Companies
published in September 2016, and Government-Related Issuers
published in June 2018. Please see the Rating Methodologies page
on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port, PJSC is the largest operator of
marine port terminals in Russia and the third largest in Europe by volume.
The company generates most of its cargo volumes and revenue by providing
stevedoring services and operates two key ports: (1) the port of
Novorossiysk, located in the Black Sea basin; and (2) the Primorsk
Trade Port, in the Baltic Sea basin. These ports accounted
for 59% and 41%, respectively, of the group's
2017 cargo volumes of 143.5 million tons.
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 Lipatova
VP-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
Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454
Victoria Maisuradze
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