The Upgrade: Episode 30:Speculative Grade Issuers Face Rising Pressure as Revenue Growth Slows
Release Date: 09/06/2023
Colisee’s Credit Profile & Performance Trends
CLOs Uncovered
In this episode, Hina and Sandeep are joined by Remi Bringuier to take a closer look at Colisee’s credit profile. We break down the most recent performance data, walk through our rationale for CCC rating category, and spotlight the key credit factors and trends we’re monitoring closely. Our aim is to provide market participants with further advanced analytical insight into corporate credits, CLOs and Leveraged Finance deals, with S&P Global Ratings' regular podcast, based on key features we’re seeing in corporate credits and sectors that CLOs are exposed to. Related article:
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Examining Babilou’s Credit Profile
CLOs Uncovered
Hina and Sandeep are joined by Alphee Roumens to provide a granular view of Babilou’s credit Profile; the latest performance trends, discuss our rationale behind the CCC rating category, and highlight key areas we're monitoring closely. Our goal is to equip market participants with deeper, forward-looking insight into multi-asset class -Corporate Credits, CLOs, Leveraged Finance Deals through our regular podcast series. Each episode explores key credit features, sector-specific risks, and evolving trends we’re seeing across the deals we cover. Related Article:
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Infragroup
CLOs Uncovered
Leveraged Finance & CLOs Uncovered Podcast: The story behind Infragroup’s positive outlook. Hina and Sandeep are joined by Christopher Ewert to discuss Infragroup’s strong operating performance, our current outlook for the company, and the areas we are closely monitoring. Our aim is to provide market participants with further advanced analytical insight into corporate credits, CLOs and Leveraged Finance deals, with S&P Global Ratings regular podcast, based on key features we’re seeing in corporate credits and sectors that CLOs are exposed to. to view the related...
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Story Behind Cerba-Chrome Holdco SAS
CLOs Uncovered
Hina and Sandeep discuss Cerba with Remi Bringuier, discussing our current expectations for the company's performance and the areas we are closely monitoring. Our aim is to provide market participants with further advanced analytical insight into Corporate Credits, CLOs and Leveraged Finance deals, with S&P Global Ratings regular podcast, based on key features we’re seeing in corporate credits and sectors that CLOs are exposed to.
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What's New For CLOs?
CLOs Uncovered
After the summer break, Hina and Sandeep are joined by John Finn to discuss our recent Structured Finance conference, new features in CLO documentation, recent CLO performance, and future challenges faced by the market. Our aim is to provide market participants with further advanced analytical insight into Corporate Credits, CLOs and Leveraged Finance deals, with S&P Global Ratings regular podcast, based on key features we’re seeing in corporate credits and sectors that CLOs are exposed to.
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Story Behind Ardagh Group And Its Debt Restructuring Risk
CLOs Uncovered
Series 6, Episode 5: Before we all break for summer, Hina & Sandeep discuss Ardagh Group with Desiree Menjivar over an in-depth analysis of Ardagh’s recent rating action and insights into the key factors shaping the company's performance, and the areas we are closely monitoring.
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How Does ASDA, Bellis Finco PLC’s, Rating Stack Up
CLOs Uncovered
Leveraged Finance & CLOs Uncovered Podcast: How ASDA’s Parent, Bellis Finco PLC, compares with other food retailers in a highly competitive UK landscape. Hina & Sandeep have a discussion with Raquel on credit fundamentals of Asda and its recent refinancing and S&P’s expectation for a future trajectory. Our aim is to provide market participants with further advanced analytical insight into Corporate Credits, CLOs and Leveraged Finance deals, with S&P Global Ratings regular podcast, based on key features we’re seeing in corporate credits and sectors that CLOs are exposed...
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The Credit Fundamentals of Merlin
CLOs Uncovered
In our latest episode, Hina & Sandeep have a discussion with Alphee Roumens on how Merlin continued to access capital markets to finance further growth and focus on its evolution post covid era and the areas we closely monitor.
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Uncovering Our Insights On Altice France Following It’s Recent Rating Action
CLOs Uncovered
Hina & Sandeep discuss Altice France with Justine Miquee over an in-depth analysis of Altice France's recent rating action and insights into the key factors shaping the company's performance, and the areas we are closely monitoring.
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How NordAnglia (Bach Finance) Continues To Access Capital Markets
CLOs Uncovered
Series 6, Episode 1: Hina & Sandeep have a discussion with Raquel on credit fundamentals of Nord Anglia and despite raising $600 million term loan add-on, it is able to preserve its ratings, though reducing our recovery estimate for its senior secured debt.
info_outlineIn episode 30, Minesh Patel, the U.S. sector lead of leveraged finance at S&P Global Ratings, and Hanna Zhang, the director of U.S. leveraged finance and recovery, discuss Hanna’s article titled: Disparities Emerge By Sector, Rating, Company Size, And Debt Cushion.
Key takeaways from the article include:
- Earnings pressures were evident in the quarter as the momentum in revenue growth decelerated. However, the lower-rated 'B' category exhibited solid year-over-year EBITDA growth. To some extent, these entities even outperformed higher-rated 'BB' peers, particularly those operating in subsectors most susceptible to interest rates (homebuilders and real estate), navigating secular headwinds (TV and radio), or facing challenging comparisons (energy and commodity, retail discretionary).
- As the impact of cumulative monetary tightening takes hold, smaller and lower-rated companies face the highest ratings pressure. We found that borrowers with the smallest scale show much worse interest coverage, exacerbated by persistent free operating cash flow deficits. Their particularly weak credit measures differentiate them from larger counterparts.
- About 21% of 'B-' rated borrowers had EBITDA interest coverage of less than 1x in the 12 months ended on March 31, 2023.
- First-lien loans with a 30% or more debt cushion hold a significant advantage over those with a negligible or nonexistent cushion (i.e., a first-lien-only debt structure). We calculated an average gap of about 30% in our first-lien lender recovery estimate between the two. However, having a priority claim ahead of the first lien will result in an average reduction of another 2.5%.
Link to the article discussed in the podcast:
U.S. Leveraged Finance Q2 2023 Update: Disparities Emerge By Sector, Rating, Company Size, And Debt Cushion: https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/research/articles/230727-leveraged-finance-u-s-leveraged-finance-q2-2023-update-disparities-emerge-by-sector-rating-company-size-12802865