A full list of affected ratings is provided towards the end of this press release.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The downgrade was prompted by continued weak operating performance and cash flow generation of the Italcementi group. Revenues declined by 5.7% and recurring EBITDA by 11.7% on a like-for-like basis year-to-date September 2012 mainly as a result of volume pressures (Italcementi Group's cement & clinker volumes were down 7.3% like-for-like year-to-date). The deterioration in operating performance was mainly concentrated on Western Europe, Egypt and Morocco. Italcementi posted stronger results in Italy mainly supported by continued stronger pricing y-o-y notwithstanding that prices softened somewhat in Q3. Volumes in Italy were very weak with a 25% decline in cement & clinker during the first nine months of the year, which will make it challenging to maintain the positive price dynamic.
As a result, Italcementi's credit metrics as measured by RCF/net debt per last twelve months June 2012 deteriorated to 11.4% from 13.4% at fiscal year-end 2011. Moody's expects RCF/Net debt to range between 12% and 13% at fiscal year-end 2012 as a result of seasonal working capital inflows in Q4 and a very favorable price basis in Egypt in October and November. Moody's does not anticipate any short term recovery in credit metrics to levels commensurate for the Ba1 rating category, namely RCF/Net debt above 15% and Debt/EBITDA below 4.0x (stood at 5.1x on an LTM June 2012 basis), which largely explains today's downgrade to Ba2.
Moody's remains also somewhat concerned by Italcementi's current earnings concentration on three main markets: France (38% of year-to-date (YTD) group EBITDA), Egypt (19% of YTD EBITDA) and Morocco (21% of YTD EBITDA). These were markets where we have seen volume pressures during the course of the first nine months of 2012.
The short term outlook will remain challenging in our view especially for Italcementi's key markets, France, Egypt and Morocco. We also expect market conditions to remain challenging in Italy, which could put the positive price trend we have seen over the last few quarters at risk. Trading performance should remain stronger in Asia and in the US notwithstanding that comparatives will become more challenging in the US during 2013. On a more positive note, cost inflation has abated somewhat recently reducing the margin pressure faced by the entire industry.
In this context we expect that it will be challenging for Italcementi to improve its credit profile over the next twelve months despite the group's efforts to slash costs and adjust investment levels to depressed market conditions. We see risks that metrics might deteriorate modestly in 2013 leading to further negative pressure hence the negative outlook assigned to the ratings.
The alignment of the instrument rating on the EUR750 million senior unsecured guaranteed notes issued by Italcementi Finance SA with the corporate family rating of Italcementi S.p.A reflects the partial on lending of the bond proceeds to Ciments Francais through an-intra group loan, which gives Italcementi Finance a pari passu claim with external creditors of Ciments Francais on approximately EUR540 million of the bond proceeds. The alignment also reflects the group's strategy to centralize the financing of the group at Italcementi SpA level over time.
The Corporate Family rating of Ciments Francais and the instrument rating on the EUR500 million senior unsecured notes issued by this entity reflects the stronger credit profile of Ciments Francais on a standalone basis and the higher recovery prospects of external creditors of this entity upon default.
Italcementi has an adequate liquidity profile over the next twelve months. Italcementi has a well spread maturity profile with manageable maturities over the next five years and a liquidity headroom of 3.0 years. The liquidity of the group is mainly supported by EUR470 million of cash and cash equivalent and current financial assets as well as EUR1.7 billion of availabilities under revolving credit facilities at 30th September 2012. Alongside the group's funds from operations this should be sufficient to fund short term needs of cash mainly consisting of working cash, modest WC requirements, capex, debt repayments and dividends. We note that Italcementi has limited flexibility in adjusting dividend levels as most of the dividends paid are dividends to minority shareholders of Ciments Français and emerging markets affiliates. We also note that Italcementi has financial covenants in some of its principal credit facilities with leverage covenant levels of 3.75x versus current leverage of 3.5x, which leaves limited covenant headroom. Italcementi expects leverage to drop to 3.2x-3.3x by fiscal year end 2012.
Positive rating pressure is currently not anticipated. A recovery in the group's credit metrics with Debt/EBITDA dropping sustainably below 4.0x and RCF/Net debt increasing sustainably above 15% could lead to positive rating pressure over time.
Negative pressure on the ratings would increase if RCF/Net debt would be trending towards 10% and Debt/EBITDA would exceed 5.0x. Moody's would consider stabilizing the outlook if RCF/Net debt would increase sustainably above the low teens and Debt /EBITDA would drop sustainably below 4.5x.
LIST OF AFFECTED RATINGS Downgrades: ..Issuer: Italcementi Finance S.A.
....EUR2000M Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note Program, Downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1
....EUR750M 5.375% Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture Mar 19, 2020, Downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1
....EUR750M 5.375% Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture Mar 19, 2020, Downgraded to a range of LGD4, 60 % from a range of LGD4, 56 %
..Issuer: Italcementi S.p.A.
.... Probability of Default Rating, Downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1
.... Corporate Family Rating, Downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1
....EUR2000M Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note Program, Downgraded to (P)Ba2 from (P)Ba1
Upgrades:
..Issuer: Ciments Francais SA
....EUR500M 4.75% Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture Apr 4, 2017, Upgraded to a range of LGD2, 23 % from a range of LGD3, 44 %
The principal methodology used in rating Italcementi Finance S.A., Ciments Francais SA and Italcementi S.p.A. was the Global Building Materials Industry Methodology published in July 2009. Other methodologies used include Loss Given Default for Speculative-Grade Non-Financial Companies in the U.S., Canada and EMEA published in June 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt, this announcement provides relevant 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 relevant regulatory disclosures in relation to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides relevant 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.
The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entities or their designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
Information sources used to prepare each of the ratings are the following: parties involved in the ratings, public information, and confidential and proprietary Moody's Investors Service information.
Moody's considers the quality of information available on the rated entities, obligations or credits satisfactory for the purposes of issuing these ratings.
Moody's adopts all necessary measures so that the information it uses in assigning the ratings is of sufficient quality and from sources Moody's considers to be reliable including, when appropriate, independent third-party sources. However, Moody's is not an auditor and cannot in every instance independently verify or validate information received in the rating process.
Moody's Investors Service may have provided Ancillary or Other Permissible Service(s) to the rated entities or their related third parties within the two years preceding the credit rating action. Please see the special report "Ancillary or other permissible services provided to entities rated by MIS's EU credit rating agencies" on the ratings disclosure page on our website www.moodys.com for further information.
Please see the ratings disclosure page on www.moodys.com for general disclosure on potential conflicts of interests.
Please see the ratings disclosure page on www.moodys.com for information on (A) MCO's major shareholders (above 5%) and for (B) further information regarding certain affiliations that may exist between directors of MCO and rated entities as well as (C) the names of entities that hold ratings from MIS that have also publicly reported to the SEC an ownership interest in MCO of more than 5%. A member of the board of directors of this rated entity may also be a member of the board of directors of a shareholder of Moody's Corporation; however, Moody's has not independently verified this matter.
Please see Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions on the Rating Process page on www.moodys.com for further information on the meaning of each rating category and the definition of default and recovery.
Please see ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the last rating action and the rating history.
The date on which some ratings were first released goes back to a time before Moody's ratings were fully digitized and accurate data may not be available. Consequently, Moody's provides a date that it believes is the most reliable and accurate based on the information that is available to it. Please see the ratings disclosure page on our website www.moodys.com for further information.
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.
Stanislas Duquesnoy VP - Senior Credit Officer Corporate Finance Group Moody'sDeutschland GmbH An der Welle 5 Frankfurt am Main 60322 Germany JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454 Matthias Hellstern Managing Director Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's Deutschland GmbH An der Welle 5 Frankfurt am Main 60322 Germany JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 SUBSCRIBERS: 44 20 7772 5454 (C) 2012 Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and/or its licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.
CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. ("MIS") AND ITS AFFILIATES ARE MOODY'S CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND CREDIT RATINGS AND RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS PUBLISHED BY MOODY'S ("MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS") MAY INCLUDE MOODY'S CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES. MOODY'S DEFINES CREDIT RISK AS THE RISK THAT AN ENTITY MAY NOT MEET ITS CONTRACTUAL, FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS THEY COME DUE AND ANY ESTIMATED FINANCIAL LOSS IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT. CREDIT RATINGS DO NOT ADDRESS ANY OTHER RISK, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LIQUIDITY RISK, MARKET VALUE RISK, OR PRICE VOLATILITY. CREDIT RATINGS AND MOODY'S OPINIONS INCLUDED IN MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF CURRENT OR HISTORICAL FACT. CREDIT RATINGS AND MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS DO NOT CONSTITUTE OR PROVIDE INVESTMENT OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, AND CREDIT RATINGS AND MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AND DO NOT PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PURCHASE, SELL, OR HOLD PARTICULAR SECURITIES. NEITHER CREDIT RATINGS NOR MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS COMMENT ON THE SUITABILITY OF AN INVESTMENT FOR ANY PARTICULAR INVESTOR. MOODY'S ISSUES ITS CREDIT RATINGS AND PUBLISHES MOODY'S PUBLICATIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH INVESTOR WILL MAKE ITS OWN STUDY AND EVALUATION OF EACH SECURITY THAT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PURCHASE, HOLDING, OR SALE.
ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROTECTED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COPYRIGHT LAW, AND NONE OF SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE COPIED OR OTHERWISE REPRODUCED, REPACKAGED, FURTHER TRANSMITTED, TRANSFERRED,DISSEMINATED, REDISTRIBUTED OR RESOLD, OR STORED FOR SUBSEQUENT USE FOR ANY SUCH PURPOSE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ANY FORM OR MANNER OR BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER, BY ANY PERSON WITHOUT MOODY'S PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT.
All information contained herein is obtained by MOODY'S from sources believed by it to be accurate and reliable. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error as well as other factors, however, all information contained herein is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. MOODY'S adopts all necessary measures so that the information it uses in assigning a credit rating is of sufficient quality and from sources MOODY'S considers to be reliable including, when appropriate, independent third-party sources. However, MOODY'S is not an auditor and cannot in every instance independently verify or validate information received in the rating process. Under no circumstances shall MOODY'S have any liability to any person or entity for (a) any loss or damage in whole or in part caused by, resulting from, or relating to, any error negligent or otherwise or other circumstance or contingency within or outside the control of MOODY'S or any of its directors, officers, employees or agents in connection with the procurement, collection, compilation, analysis, interpretation, communication, publication or delivery of any such information, or (b) any direct, indirect, special, consequential, compensatory or incidental damages whatsoever (including without limitation, lost profits), even if MOODY'S is advised in advance of the possibility of such damages, resulting from the use of or inability to use, any such information. The ratings, financial reporting analysis, projections, and other observations, if any, constituting part of the information contained herein are, and must be construed solely as, statements of opinion and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, sell or hold any securities. Each user of the information contained herein must make its own study and evaluation of each security it may consider purchasing, holding or selling.
NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH RATING OR OTHER OPINION OR INFORMATION IS GIVEN OR MADE BY MOODY'S IN ANY FORM OR MANNER WHATSOEVER.
MIS, a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moody's Corporation ("MCO"), hereby discloses that most issuers of debt securities (including corporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferred stock rated by MIS have, prior to assignment of any rating, agreed to pay to MIS for appraisal and rating services rendered by it fees ranging from $1,500 to approximately $2,500,000. MCO and MIS also maintain policies and procedures to address the independence of MIS's ratings and rating processes. Information regarding certain affiliations that may exist between directors of MCO and rated entities, and between entities who hold ratings from MIS and have also publicly reported to the SEC an ownership interest in MCO of more than 5%, is posted annually at www.moodys.com under the heading "Shareholder Relations -- Corporate Governance -- Director and Shareholder Affiliation Policy."
Any publication into Australia of this document is by MOODY'S affiliate, Moody's Investors Service Pty Limited ABN 61 003 399 657, which holds Australian Financial Services License no. 336969. This document is intended to be provided only to "wholesale clients" within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. By continuing to access this document from within Australia, you represent to MOODY'S that you are, or are accessing the document as a representative of, a "wholesale client" and that neither you nor the entity you represent will directly or indirectly disseminate this document or its contents to "retail clients" within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, credit ratings assigned on and after October 1, 2010 by Moody's Japan K.K. ("MJKK") are MJKK's current opinions of the relative future credit risk of entities, credit commitments, or debt or debt-like securities. In such a case, "MIS" in the foregoing statements shall be deemed to be replaced with "MJKK". MJKK is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moody's Group Japan G.K., which is wholly owned by Moody's Overseas Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCO.
This credit rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness or a debt obligation of the issuer, not on the equity securities of the issuer or any form of security that is available to retail investors. It would be dangerous for retail investors to make any investment decision based on this credit rating. If in doubt you should contact your financial or other professional adviser.
Nachrichten
ETF-Sparplan
Oskar ist der einfache und intelligente ETF-Sparplan. Er übernimmt die ETF-Auswahl, ist steuersmart, transparent und kostengünstig.