Mensajepor Pocoyo » Mié Feb 12, 2014 11:36 am
Announcement:
Moody's Comments on TGS's successful debt exchange
Global Credit Research - 11 Feb 2014
Buenos Aires City, February 11, 2014 -- Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A. ("TGS" B3, Stable) announced on Monday the results of the exchange offer in relation to the USD 374 million principal amount of its 7.875% guaranteed senior unsecured notes due 2017 (the "old notes"). The offer reached a 67% acceptance level resulting in approximately USD 250 million of debt exchanged out of the USD 374 million of old notes outstanding.
"We view this exchange as a modest credit positive for TGS as it will extend its debt maturity profile, which more than offsets the increased cost of the new notes" said Daniela Cuan, VP Senior Analyst at Moody's.
TGS's debt now has a more comfortable maturity profile, with annual payments of roughly $ 30 million from 2015 to 2017 (corresponding to the old notes that were not exchanged) and of $60 million from 2018 to 2020 (new notes resulting from the exchange), which clearly gives the company greater financial flexibility. The new notes will pay interest semi-annually the same as the old notes but at a higher coupon rate of 9,625% (old notes interest rate was 7,875%).
This extension in TGS's debt maturity is important because although TGS generates strong cash flows in relation to its debt and had historically access to the capital markets, current market conditions for Argentinean companies are less favorable than in the past and the recent turmoil around the peso devaluation make access to the international debt market less certain. Annual principal payments will be comfortably managed considering that TGS's funds from operations were approximately $ 134 million for the last twelve months ending September 2013 which represented a ratio of funds from operations to debt (FFO/Debt) of 34%. We expect TGS to continue generating strong internal cash flows and anticipate a ratio of FFO to Debt of no less of 20% going forward.
Please refer to Moody's issuer comment dated February 11, 2014 on Moodys.com for further commentary.
Headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, TGS is the largest transporter of natural gas within the country, delivering approximately 60% of the total gas transported in Argentina. TGS is also one of the largest natural gas processors and one of the largest marketers of natural gas liquid products in Argentina.