S&P and Moody's cut Noble's rating, warn of risk of default

London

NOBLE Group Ltd may default on its debt in as soon as the next six months, said S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service, which again cut their scores on the commodity trader and warned that planned asset sales may be insufficient to cover obligations.

The ratings were cut two notches by S&P and Moody's late on Monday, pulling them deeper into junk territory and closer to the likelihood of default.

S&P predicts non-repayment risk in the next six months; Moody's believes that the prospect of a full recovery of principal and interest will be low for unsecured bondholders in the event of a default, according to statements.

Noble Group is fighting for its life more than two years into a crisis marked by accounting criticisms and a collapse in its securities. The Hong Kong-based company posted a US$1.75 billion loss for the second quarter and a surge in net debt; it is selling its gas-and-power and oil-liquids operations to shore up its finances.

Moody's said the latest result was driven in part by a loss of confidence, and warned that planned sales may not be enough: "The increased losses reflect in part a loss of confidence among Noble's lenders, suppliers, customers and other counter-parties." It is uncertain whether the planned sales will raise sufficient proceeds to meet its debt maturities and cash outflow over the next 12 months, it added.

Noble Group's shares initially fell as much as 4.7 per cent to 41 Singapore cents on Tuesday after the twin downgrades, and then closed 1.2 per cent higher at 43.5 cents. The stock has plunged 74 per cent this year after double-digit losses in the previous two years.

Noble Group has US$2.6 billion in bank debt and bonds due in the next 12 months, said Moody's. It has two months to restore confidence among its banks, counter-parties and investors after securing a covenant waiver until Oct 20 from lenders on its US$1.1 billion revolving credit facility due in May.

The company has agreed to sell its gas-and-power unit to rival Mercuria Energy Group Ltd for US$248 million and is seeking buyers for its oil-liquids business. It has unsuccessfully searched for more than a year for a "white-knight" investor to inject fresh capital.

In the results presentation last week, Noble Group chief financial officer Paul Jackaman said a first-quarter loss had triggered significant challenges, and there had been a reaction from lenders, suppliers, customers and counter-parties. There's now a need to restore the confidence, he said.

Separately, Noble Group's chairman Paul Brough, who took up his post in May and is now heading up a strategic review, said: "We need to press on with the sale of our businesses in North America. Time is a factor in maximising proceeds because of the high fixed-cost base." BLOOMBERG