Fitch Ratings on Friday said HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited's credit metrics over 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years would worsen by more than previously expected due to near-term weakness in refining margins and a faster pace of its petrochemical (petchem) capex.
Earlier this week, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the corporate family rating of HMEL to Ba2 from Ba1 due to weak refining margins arising from a slump in fuel demand.
In a statement, Fitch Ratings said while credit metrics will worsen in the current and the next financial year, "an accelerated earnings contribution from petchem will lead to faster deleveraging, resulting in net leverage (as defined by adjusted net debt/operating EBITDAR) coming down to below 5-times by FY23."
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