Traballa Orascom, la "provincia forte" dell'impero delle telecom dell'egiziano Sawiris, il proprietario della Wind: il fisco algerino rischia di mettere le mani su una parte consistente dei futuri dividendi da pagare ad Orascom da parte della controllata algerina, una importante fonte di cash...
Egypt-Headquartered Orascom Telecom Downgraded To 'CCC+' On Limited Liquidity Visibility; Outlook Negative
- Egypt-headquartered Orascom Telecom recently provided an update on the repatriation of dividends from its operation in Algeria.
- The telecommunications group also notified the market of a disputed final tax assessment from the Algerian authorities of about $597 million.
- We are lowering the long-term rating on Orascom Telecom to 'CCC+' from 'B' and removing it from CreditWatch negative.
- The negative outlook reflects our view of the limited visibility of liquidity at the parent company level.
LONDON (Standard & Poors) Nov. 20, 2009--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that it lowered its long-term corporate credit ratings on Egypt-headquartered emerging markets wireless telecommunications operator Orascom Telecom Holdings S.A.E. (Orascom Telecom) and Orascom Telecom Finance S.C.A. to 'CCC+' from 'B'. In addition, the issue rating on the $750 million senior unsecured notes issued by Orascom Telecom Finance was lowered to 'CCC-' from 'CCC+'. At the same time, the ratings were removed from CreditWatch with negative implications where they were placed on Sept. 7, 2009. The outlook is negative.
"The downgrade reflects our view that the liquidity position of Orascom Telecom at the parent company level has weakened compared with our earlier projections," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Michael O'Brien.
"As a consequence, we believe that additional funding may be necessary for the company to successfully execute its business plan and manage its liquidity profile."
Our opinion takes into account the ongoing lack of receipt of remaining dividends based on 2008 results from the company's largest and most important subsidiary, 96.8%-owned Orascom Telecom Algeria (OTA {not rated}; which operates under the brand name Djezzy).
In addition, the receipt of an Official Tax Assessment of about $597 million from the Direction Generale desEntreprises, the Algerian tax department responsible for large companies, in our view further obscures the timely receipt of dividends in 2010 from this asset, pitched against other cash requirements at the parent company level.
We recognize the progress that Orascom Telecom has made in extracting about $257 million (50%) of the 2008 dividends from Algeria in September 2009. We also recognize that Orascom Telecom may have a number of potential options to improve its liquidity profile in addition to actions that have been already taken this year at the operating companies. These actions include a reduction in capital expenditures and a reduction in cash dividends paid in 2009 to $93 million. The potential options may include the arrangement of additional loans, asset sales, or a reduction in dividends.
In our view, the ratings could be lowered further in the event that Orascom Telecom experiences difficulty in arranging funding in a timely manner to meet its liquidity needs at the parent company level. These needs include tax, interest, debt maturities and rollovers, and dividend payments to shareholders.
Given the number of options Orascom Telecom has to improve its liquidity profile, the outlook could be revised to stable or the rating raised if Orascom Telecom were to achieve demonstrable progress and obtain financing at the parent company level. Such financing could be sourced either externally or via dividends from the group's operating subsidiaries, particularly Algeria.