Moody's Investors Service has today upgraded to Baa3 from Ba1 the long-term foreign and domestic currency ratings of DP WorldLimited ("DP World" or "the company") and the rating on the USD 1.5 billion sukuk issued by DP World Sukuk Limited and due 2017. All ratings have a stable outlook.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"Today's one-notch upgrade of DP World into investment grade reflects Moody's view that the company has achieved credit metrics that are commensurate with a higher rating category and are likely to be maintained over the medium term," says Franck Nowak, Associate Analyst at Moody's in Dubai. Specifically, Moody's notes (1) the company's rapid recovery in terms of operating performance over 2010 and continuing into 2011; (2) the sound industry fundamentals for the port operators; and (3) material, credit-positive actions taken by DP World to adhere to self-assigned financial targets. These factors incorporate the prospect of this performance being maintained in the medium term. More specifically, gross throughput for the group rose by 14% in 2010 compared to the previous year while DP World reported strong EBITDA margins -- above 46% for 2010 as adjusted by Moody's -- which have helped cash generation. Moreover, the disposal of the company's Australian assets, with USD 1.5 billon of proceeds earmarked for debt reduction, is also credit-positive and reflects DP World's commitment to reducing and maintaining its leverage (expressed as net debt to EBITDA as reported by the company) to below 4.0x.
Moody's says that the current Baa3 ratings are sustained by the company's diversified global operations, the expected growth in international container traffic as well as solid profitability and a strong liquidity profile. The Baa3 ratings also rest on the expected improvements in DP World's financial profile through the adherence to its leverage target, as well as the built-in flexible approach to future growth spending so as to ensure anticipated improvements in the capital structure. The ratings remain constrained by the inherent volatility of the industry and risks that are linked to its strong correlation to global trade volumes. Event risk is also a constraint, although Moody's expects DP World to refrain from large-scale acquisitions.
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