Moody's confirmed the ratings of all six companies, namely: 1) Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS); 2) Pertamina (Persero) (P.T.); 3) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC); 4) Oil India (OIL); 5) PTT Exploration & Production Public Co. (PTTEP); and 6) PTT Public Company (PTT). A list of each company's rating actions is included below.
These actions conclude the rating reviews started on 22 January 2016.
Oil prices have dropped substantially, reflecting continued oversupply in the global oil markets, very high inventory levels and additional Iranian oil exports coming on line. Moody's lowered its oil price estimates on 21 January 2016 and expects a slow recovery for oil prices over the next several years.
The drop in oil prices and weak natural gas prices has caused a fundamental change in the energy industry, and the sector's ability to generate cash flow has fallen substantially. Moody's believes this situation will persist over several years. As a result, Moody's is recalibrating the ratings of many energy companies to reflect this industry shift.
The drop in energy prices and corresponding capital market concerns will also raise financing costs and increase refinancing risks for exploration and production companies.
However, the impact of the drop in oil prices and low natural gas prices will vary substantially from issuer to issuer depending on their production mix between oil and natural gas, the extent of contractual protection in the selling price of natural gas, the ability to reduce lifting cost and operating expenditure, the flexibility to reduce capital expenditure without affecting production levels, reserve replenishment needs and the expected deterioration of the companies' financial profiles relative to its ratings.
The NOCs in South and Southeast Asia went into the downturn with relatively low leverage and continue to maintain strong liquidity levels and access to the capital markets. Despite Moody's expectation of a weakening in the credit metrics for these companies, they will remain appropriately positioned for their ratings. Consequently, Moody's confirmed the ratings for all six companies.
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However, despite the conclusion of Moody's reviews, the NOCs' ratings could come under pressure if oil prices fall more sharply than Moody's expects and the companies cannot reduce their capex and dividends correspondingly. The ratings could also come under further pressure if the companies pursue a more aggressive either organic or inorganic growth strategy, and/or higher shareholder returns.
Outlooks on all six national oil companies are stable
RATINGS RATIONALE
PETRONAS
The confirmation of PETRONAS' A1 issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings reflect the company's strong net cash position at end-2015, and the fact that Moody's expects PETRONAS to maintain such a strong position at least until end-2016.
Moody's expects that PETRONAS' credit metrics during 2017 and 2018 will continue to support its A1 ratings.
Moody's says PETRONAS' retained cash flow to net debt will likely stay in excess of 55%-60%, and EBITDA/interest expense will be maintained in excess of 10x over the next three years (2016-18).
The company's cash flow from operations over the next three years under Moody's price assumptions for oil will remain lower than its capex and dividends, resulting in large negative free cash flows of about MYR100-MYR120 billion between 2016 and 2018. This situation is despite the company's efforts to reduce capex and dividends.
Nonetheless, the negative free cash flow can be funded largely with cash and liquid investments, which totaled MYR136 billion at end-2015.
PERTAMINA
The confirmation of Pertamina's Baa3 issuer and senior unsecured ratings, as well as its (P)Baa3 senior unsecured MTN rating reflects the relatively lower impact of low oil prices on its cash flows, and the improving contribution of the company's downstream business.
Natural gas accounted for in excess of 55% of Pertamina's total production in 2015. The company's natural gas production volumes will increase by at least 50% in 2018, when it is entitled to receive production from the Mahakam block awarded to it by the Indonesian government (Baa3 stable) in December 2015.
In addition, nearly one-third of the company's EBITDA for 2015 came from its downstream business, which will support the company's earnings in a low oil price environment.
Pertamina's sales volumes for its petroleum products were nearly three times its net entitlement of crude oil and natural gas in its upstream segment in 2015.
The company benefits from recent fuel price reforms in Indonesia, where the selling prices of petroleum products are now more closely linked to market prices and fuel subsidies are being eliminated.
However, Pertamina's cash flows from operations will be insufficient to cover its capex and dividends; resulting in increases in borrowings and weak credits metrics.
Overall, the company's credit metrics will stay within the tolerance levels for its Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of ba1. Moody's expects that Pertamina's retained cash flow/ net debt will remain in excess of 13%-15%, and its EBITDA/interest will likely stay in excess of 4x-6x over the next three years (2016-18).
ONGC
The confirmation of ONGC's Baa1 domestic currency issuer rating and Baa2 foreign currency issuer rating reflect the low impact of declining oil prices on the company's cash flows, because ONGC benefits from a lowering of fuel subsidies, a reduction in taxes, and improved contributions from its downstream business.
While the company's cash flow from operations will fall and its credit metrics will weaken, ONGC's financial metrics will remain within the tolerance levels for its current ratings.
Moody's expects that ONGC's retained cash flow to debt will remain in excess of 40%, and its EBITDA/interest will stay in excess of 10x over the next three years (fiscal 2016- fiscal 2018).
Moody's notes that ONGC's liquidity position is strong, with cash and cash equivalents of INR160 billion as of 31 March 2015 against debt of INR63 billion maturing over the next 12 months.
In addition, the company has access to other sources of liquidity on its balance sheet. For instance, investments in listed entities are valued at approximately INR230 billion, of which, the company can realize at least INR80-INR100 billion without any disruption to its ongoing business.
OIL
The confirmation of Oil India's Baa2 issuer and senior unsecured ratings reflects the low impact of falling oil prices on the company's cash flows, because OIL benefits from lower fuel subsidies and a fall in costs linked to crude oil prices.
While the company's cash flow from operations will fall and its credit metrics will weaken, its financial metrics will remain within the tolerance levels for its current ratings.
Moody's expects the company's retained cash flow to debt to remain in excess of 25% and its EBITDA/interest will stay in excess of 10x over the next three years (fiscal 2016- fiscal 2018).
The company's liquidity position is strong, with cash and cash equivalents of INR88 billion as of 31 March 2015 with no debt maturing over the next 3 years and INR 38 billion of negative free cash flows.
Moody's notes that OIL can tap into other sources of liquidity on its balance sheet. For example, its investments in listed entities are currently valued at INR80 billion.
PTTEP
The confirmation of PTTEP's Baa1 issuer and senior unsecured ratings, as well as its Baa3 subordinated rating reflects the company's relatively lower exposure to oil prices, strong liquidity buffer and pro-active capital management strategy.
With natural gas accounting for around 70% of its production volumes, the company's average selling price of oil and natural gas will fall by 45% in 2016 compared to 2014, despite oil prices falling by 65% over the same period per Moody's crude price assumption.
The company also benefits from its large cash balance of $3 billion and short-term investments of $0.3 billion at 31 December 2015, its lower level of borrowings following proactive debt repayment of over $1 billion in 2015, and no debt maturities in 2016-17. Moody's expects PTTEP will generate negative free cash flows of around $1.8-1.9 billion over 2016-18. Moody's expectations take into account capex of $6.4 billion in 2016-18, which the company has reduced from $10.4 billion in its original plans, acquisition costs of $1.0-1.2 billion to augment its declining reserves, as well as some flexibility in dividend reductions.
Moody's expects the company's credit metrics will stay within the tolerance levels for its Baa1 ratings which incorporate a one-notch uplift from parental support. The company's retained cash flow to debt will stay at 35%-40% and EBITDA interest coverage will remain over 9.0x for 2016-18.
PTT
The confirmation of PTT's Baa1 issuer, senior unsecured bond and senior unsecured bank credit facility ratings reflects the relatively lower exposure of the company's operating cash flows to oil prices, its stable mid-stream natural gas pipeline business, and the improving profitability of its downstream refining and petrochemical operations.
For the next three years (2016-18), PTT's reliance on its upstream business will reduce such that it generates around one-third of EBITDA from its upstream, midstream and downstream businesses.
Moody's expects PTT's EBITDA will improve from 2017, given that its higher downstream earnings -- across its refining and petrochemical operations -- and the increase in earnings from its natural gas pipeline and expanded LNG terminal will more than offset the decline in upstream earnings.
PTT also benefits from its strong liquidity profile with THB240 billion of cash balance and THB107 billion in short-term investments at end-2015, compared to THB77 billion of debt coming due over the next 12 months.
Moody's expects PTT's credit metrics to remain healthy for its BCA of baa2, with retained cash flow to net debt at 25%-30% and EBITDA/interest at 6.5x-8.0x over the next three years.
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