Intanto, il commento al downgrade di Toyota da parte di S&P sulle notizie dell'atteso calo del fatturato nonché delle perdite (operativa e netta) preventivate per l'esercizio di bilancio 2009-2010.
Peraltro c'è il cambio al vertice di Toyota, con l'incarico di CEO preso in carico da un esponente della famiglia Toyoda, un esponente della quale ha fondato la società.
Toyota Downgraded To 'AA' On Prolonged Profitability And Cash Flow Pressure; Outlook Negative
TOKYO (Standard & Poor's) May 8, 2009--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today lowered to 'AA' from 'AA+' its long-term corporate credit ratings on Japan-based automaker Toyota Motor Corp. (Toyota) and a number of related entities, including Toyota Financial Services Corp. (TFS), Toyota Finance Corp., and Toyota Motor Credit Corp. (TMCC).
At the same time, Standard & Poor's affirmed its 'A-1+' short-term corporate credit ratings on Toyota and the related entities, and its 'A-1+' short-term debt ratings (including CP programs) on the related entities. The outlooks on the long-term ratings on the companies are negative.
The rating actions on Toyota and the related entities follow the announcement by Toyota on May 8, 2009, of weak earnings guidance for fiscal 2009 (ending March 31, 2010).
The rating actions also reflect Standard & Poor's view that the deterioration in global auto markets will continue to pressure Toyota's profitability and cash flow through at least the current fiscal year, and may delay a recovery in Toyota's operating and financial performance.
On May 8, 2009, Toyota announced its financial results for fiscal 2008 (ended March 31, 2009) and its earnings forecast for fiscal 2009 (ending March 31, 2010). A large decline in sales and the appreciation of the yen against foreign currencies severely impacted fiscal 2008 results, and led to the company's first operating loss since the fiscal year ended March 1938.
The company projects global sales of 6.5 million units for the current fiscal year, down 14.1% from the 7.56 million units sold in fiscal 2008. The company also projects continuous operating losses of ¥850 billion and a net loss of ¥550 billion for this fiscal year.
Toyota's automotive debt increased to ¥1.79 trillion at the end of March 2009 from ¥1.30 trillion a year earlier, reflecting significantly reduced operating cash flow. Standard & Poor's believes that Toyota's capital structure and overall net liquidity position, including cash equivalents and high-quality debt investment securities classified as non-current investments, will remain weaker in fiscal 2009 and possibly in fiscal 2010 than in the past few years. Nevertheless, we also believe that Toyota maintains a minimal financial risk profile, characterized by a strong capital structure with massive liquidity.
We currently expect Toyota to significantly reduce negative free cash flow in fiscal 2009, excluding proceeds from sales of and maturity of marketable securities and security investments. Toyota plans to substantially reduce its capital expenditure this fiscal year to meet weakened demand and cash flow in the challenging environment. Standard & Poor's is also of the opinion that Toyota now has adequate control of its overall inventory and that working capital pressures will likely ease in fiscal 2009.
The negative outlooks reflect Standard & Poor's view that Toyota's depressed profitability and cash flows have led to deterioration of the company's financial profile to a certain extent, and that recovery in the company's financial profile may be delayed due to the challenging operating environment.
We also believe that global auto demand will almost certainly remain depressed throughout calendar 2009, a situation that is likely to continue into 2010, although "scrap incentives" or similar stimulus measures introduced or being planned in major markets, such as Germany, the U.S., and Japan, could support short-term demand to a certain extent.
The ratings on Toyota could come under further downward pressure if prolonged deterioration in the global auto markets were to lead to sustained substantial losses and negative free cash flow, even if the company were to take more rigorous measures in response to the challenging operating environment.
The outlook could see upward movement if measures taken by Toyota generate signs of a recovery in profitability and cash flow over the next two years. However, Standard & Poor's believes this scenario is relatively
unlikely, at least in the short term. While Toyota is a leader among global auto manufacturers with a formidable degree of competitiveness and particular strengths in terms of its robust product line-ups, technological leadership, geographic diversity, cost efficiency, and financial strength, recovery in the global auto markets is key for Toyota to fully demonstrate these strengths.