CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has assigned Samarco Mineracao S.A.'s (Samarco) proposed senior unsecured notes up to USD500 million due 2024 an expected rating of 'BBB(EXP)'. The notes will be issued directly through Samarco and the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. A full list of ratings follows at the end of this release.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
Highly Profitable Operations
Samarco has a long track record of consistent high profitability. The company's latest 12 months (LTM) to June 30, 2014 EBITDA margin was 52.2%, and has consistently remained above 50% over the last decade except during the global credit crisis of 2009, when it was 42% and 2007 when it was 45%. The more recent strong profitability was due to surging demand for pellets as steel mills sought more energy-efficient raw material inputs to offset higher energy costs, which began during the second half of 2009 and continued through to the first half of 2014. Samarco regularly commits its entire production up to a year in advance through its long-term contracts with customers. For the LTM ended June 30, 2014, Samarco generated net revenue of BRL7.4 billion and LTM EBITDA of BRL3.9 billion.
Low-Cost Producer of Iron Ore Pellets
Samarco's credit profile benefits from its position as a low-cost producer of iron ore pellets and geographical revenue diversification. The company continues to be competitive during difficult trading conditions because of its low-cost iron ore transportation through its slurry pipelines. The P4P project started its operations in March 2014, following a total capex of approximately BRL6.4 billion. The project will allow the company's low-cost position to improve further and remain profitable even during periods of low prices and lower pellet demand. Samarco ships 97% of its production to steelmakers in 20 countries. In 2013, the company had 41 customers distributed across Africa/Middle East (29%), Europe (20%), China (15%), Americas (14%) and other Asian markets (22%). Unusual for producers of seaborne iron ore products, Samarco's sales exposure to China is modest.
Positive BRL Devaluation Effect
Samarco's revenues reached a high of BRL7.2 billion in 2013 from BRL6.5 billion in 2012. This increase was mainly attributable to the depreciation of the Brazilian Real versus the U.S. Dollar with the average exchange rate at 2.16 BRL/USD in 2013 compared to 2.04 BRL/USD in 2012. Both years exhibited similar average pellet prices of USD154 per dry metric ton (DMT) and the company sold similar iron pellet and fines volumes of around 22 million DMT. Samarco is well placed to benefit from the expected continued devaluation of the BRL with 98.7% of its 2013 revenues generated in USD, while its costs were 67.5% in BRL (32.5% in USD). The company's debt profile closely reflects this currency split, with USD denominated debt comprising 98% of total debt and BRL local debt comprising 2%.
Lower Pellet Prices Expected
Fitch's pellet price assumptions for Samarco in 2014 have a starting point of USD100 per metric ton (MT) (China import iron ore fines 62% on a CFR basis), as indicated by the Fitch's recently updated mid-cycle commodity price assumptions, taking into account expectations for pricing vis-a-vis the iron ore surplus expected over the next few years. This price is then adjusted for 65% iron ore content and the mix of Blast Furnace (BF) and Direct Reduction (DR) pellets (higher iron [Fe] content of 67.5%), adding a conservative pellet premium of USD35 per DMT, and deductions relating to freight to reach USD122 per DMT for the year. Fitch's longer term pellet price assumptions decrease to USD111 per MT using the same approach with a USD90 per MT mid-cycle commodity price assumption for iron ore from 2015 onwards.
Sufficient Liquidity Profile
Compared to other investment-grade Brazilian corporates, Samarco holds relatively modest cash and marketable securities on its balance sheet. This position is dictated by Samarco's dividend payout ratio target, under normal operating conditions, of 100% of free cash flow (FCF) to Vale and BHP Billiton. Cash and marketable securities as of June 30, 2014 were BRL1.3 billion compared with short-term debt of BRL884 million. The company uses a combination of ACC/ACE financing alongside uncommitted bank lines as an additional source of liquidity when required. Liquidity is also strong when measured by cash plus cash flow from operations (CFFO)/short-term debt which indicates a ratio of 3.9x coverage for the LTM ended June 30, 2014. Fitch would expect Vale and BHP Billiton to reduce dividends paid by Samarco should the company require further liquidity, as was seen during 2012.
Leverage Increase Due to Investments
Samarco has exhibited low leverage ratios during the past five years, but debt has increased every year since 2010 as a result of the P4P and third pelletizing plant project, as expected. For the LTM to June 30, 2014, the company had a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.1x. In 2013 and 2012, Samarco had net debt-to-EBITDA ratios of 2.2x and 1.5x, respectively.
Leverage Ratios Expected to Remain Stable
Samarco's net debt-to-EBITDA ratio is expected to be around 2.2x in 2014 and to remain at similar levels through 2017 under Fitch's Base Case. Fitch previously expected to see a decrease in leverage from 2014 as a result of the higher pellet volumes following the launch of P4P project and resulting lower capex.
Fitch's revised view is based upon the lower average iron ore prices expected in 2014 and the next few years, notwithstanding higher volumes and lower capex. Funding for P4P has been achieved through cash freed-up by lower dividend payments to Vale and BHP Billiton during the investment period and a USD1 billion senior unsecured notes issuance in October 2012 followed by an additional USD700 million in October 2013. These investments will see Samarco's production capacity increase from 22 million DMT in 2013 to around 27 million DMT in 2014, rising to 30 million DMT per year by 2015. Samarco's total debt as of June 30, 2014 was BRL9.3 billion, an increase from BRL6 billion at the end of 2012.
Strong Cash Flow Generation
Fitch views Samarco's cash flow generation as robust due to its low cost structure, with the company's annual FCF position dictated by the amount of dividends paid to its parent companies. Fitch would expect BHP Billiton and Vale to continue to scale down dividends if operating conditions required additional liquidity, as seen both recently and historically. In 2013, the company's FCF was negative BRL1.9 billion after large capex of BRL2.7 billion and high dividends of BRL2.6 billion. Funds from operations (FFO) was BRL3.5 billion and after a small working capital outflow, CFFO reached BRL3.3 billion. This performance compares to FFO of BRL3 billion and CFFO of BRL3.1 billion in 2012. Fitch expects FFO of approximately BRL3 billion during 2014 in its Base Case projections, remaining at around BRL2.7 billion thereafter reflecting a lower pricing scenario.
Significant Contingent Liabilities
Samarco is subject to a large number of pending judicial and administrative proceedings in various courts and with government agencies. They have arisen as a result of the company's normal course of operations and include tax, civil, labor and environmental issues. Management has made a provision for these contingencies in an amount considered sufficient to cover cases considered as probable losses. They amounted to BRL177 million in 2013 and are not considered material in the context of the rating. Samarco also has other contingent liabilities that amount to BRL4.5 billion related to tax, civil, labor, environmental and social contributions on net income (CSLL) for which no provisions have been made. This is due to the company's legal assessment that losing is not probable, but that it is possible. The company only makes provisions for probable loss.
Should Samarco lose some or all of these cases, the expected outcome would be a payment scheme similar to REFIS that would take place over a long time period, hence mitigating any rating impact. Possible penalties arising from an unsuccessful outcome could be paid should Vale and BHP Billiton choose not to take dividends for one to two years. Fitch considers these contingent liabilities as an event risk.
Strong Parental Ownership
Samarco benefits from its ownership under two industry leaders, Vale S.A. (Vale: Long-term IDR 'BBB+' by Fitch) and BHP Billiton Limited/Plc (BHP Billiton: Long-term IDR 'A+'), with each company owning 50% of Samarco. Fitch believes Samarco's two strong shareholders, with combined operating EBITDA in 2013 of over USD50 billion, would support Samarco in the event of a sovereign-related liquidity crisis due to reputational risk.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
Dependency on Iron Ore Pellet Demand
Samarco is a one-product company, a policy dictated by its parent companies. Demand dynamics for iron ore pellets are improving, although they currently remain vulnerable to substitutes during troughs in the industry cycle. A prolonged period of low demand for iron ore pellets could lead to a negative action. Ratings could also be downgraded if Samarco's credit ratios weaken significantly, in particular if its total debt-to-EBITDA ratio exceeds 2.5x on a sustained basis.
Rating upgrades are currently unlikely given the single-product nature of the company.
Samarco's ratings are as follows:
--Local currency long term IDR 'BBB';
--Foreign currency long term IDR 'BBB';
--National long term rating 'AAA(bra)';
--Senior unsecured debt rating 'BBB'.
The Rating Outlook is Stable.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Corporate Rating Methodology' (May 28, 2014);
--'National Ratings - Methodology Update' (Jan. 19, 2011).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
Corporate Rating Methodology - Including Short-Term Ratings and Parent and Subsidiary Linkage
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=749393
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=879374
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