Toronto, March 25, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) upgraded Suncor Energy Ventures Corporation's
(SEV) senior unsecured notes rating to Baa3 from Ba1. The outlook
was changed to positive from stable. The Ba1 corporate family rating
(CFR) and Ba1-PD probability of default rating were withdrawn.
"The upgrade primarily reflects the improving leverage at Suncor
Energy Ventures through a combination of debt reduction and increasing
cash flow", said Paresh Chari, Moody's analyst.
"The upgrade also reflects the increased operational efficiency
and integration with Suncor Energy with the start-up of the bi-directional
pipelines and Suncor taking operatorship of Syncrude at the end of 2021."
Upgrades:
..Issuer: Athabasca Oil Sands Investments Inc.
....Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Upgraded to Baa3 from Ba1
..Issuer: Suncor Energy Ventures Corporation
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Upgraded to Baa3 from Ba1 (LGD4)
....Backed Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Upgraded to Baa3 from Ba1 (LGD4)
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: Athabasca Oil Sands Investments Inc.
....Outlook, Changed To Positive From
Stable
..Issuer: Suncor Energy Ventures Corporation
....Outlook, Changed To Positive From
Stable
Withdrawals:
..Issuer: Suncor Energy Ventures Corporation
.... Corporate Family Rating, Withdrawn
, previously rated Ba1
.... Probability of Default Rating,
Withdrawn , previously rated Ba1-PD
RATINGS RATIONALE
Suncor Energy Ventures Corporation's Baa3 rating benefits from 1)
significant improvement in credit metrics, with leverage declining
to 1x and 0.5x, in 2021 and 2022; 2) its ownership by
Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor, Baa1 stable); 3) long-lived
(about 12 years of proved developed reserves), low decline mining
oil sands reserves with no geologic or exploration risk; and 4) 100%
synthetic crude oil production, which trades near WTI pricing.
SEV is challenged by 1) its single asset concentration; 2) its existing
high cost structure which is expected to improve in 2022; and 3)
history of reliability issues with its ageing upgrader.
SEV will have adequate liquidity through 2021. At September 30,
2020, SEV had C$28 million in cash and no committed credit
facilities. Through 2021 we expect SEV to generate breakeven free
cash flow. We expect any SEV cash shortfalls would be funded by
Suncor. SEV's next maturity is a US$182 million note due
2022.
The positive outlook reflects our expectation that credit metrics will
significantly improve and that operational efficiency will improve through
closer integration with Suncor.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
The ratings could be upgraded when Suncor takes operatorship of Syncrude,
if SEV maintains debt/EBITDA below 1x (2.4x at 9/30/2020 LTM),
and if production remains above 100,000 boe/d.
The ratings could be downgraded if debt/EBITDA remains above 2x (2.4x
at 9/30/2020 LTM), there is an expectation of weaker integration
with Suncor, or if there is a sustained drop in production.
Suncor Energy Ventures Corporation is based in Calgary, Alberta,
and owns a 36.74% working interest in the Syncrude oil sands
mining and upgrading joint venture. It is wholly-owned by
Suncor Energy Inc., which owns an additional 22% of
Syncrude directly.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Independent Exploration
and Production Industry published in May 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1056808.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and
sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and
Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's
Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
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issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed
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am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
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Paresh Chari
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Canada Inc.
70 York Street
Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M5J 1S9
Canada
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Donald S. Carter, CFA
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Releasing Office:
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JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653