Rating Rationale
TRIS Rating affirms the company rating of Don Muang Tollway PLC (DMT) and
the ratings of its existing senior debentures at “A-”. At the same time, TRIS Rating
assigns the rating of “A-” to DMT’s proposed issue of up to Bt400 million in senior
debentures. The proceeds from the proposed debentures will be used to refinance
DMT’s maturing debentures in December 2013. The ratings reflect the strategic
location of DMT’s tollway, low operating risk, the lengthy amount of time
remaining in concession, and the future predetermined toll rate according to
concession agreement. These strengths are partially offset by the historic volatility
of traffic on DMT’s tollway, the fact that it owns a single toll road and competition
with free roads, plus uncertainties over the government’s policies of future plans
for Thailand’s transportation network.
Founded in 1988, DMT constructed and now operates a 21-kilometer (km.)
elevated tollway running from Din Daeng to the National Memorial Monument.
The tollway was constructed under a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) concession
granted by the Department of Highways (DOH). In 2007, the latest amendment was
concluded to resolve all pending issues including the toll fee adjustment. For the
remaining life of the concession, the toll rates have been pre-approved, and the
fixed toll amounts have been planned to increase every five years. In addition, the
concession period was extended from the initial maturity date in 2014 to 2034.
DMT's route is a part of the Uttaraphimuk Elevated Tollway (UET) which is the
gateway to the Northern and Northeastern regions. The UET was constructed as a
six-lane elevated road situated above the Vibhavadi-Rangsit (V-R) highway.
Elevated tollway is one alternate transportation mode used to mitigate the
traffic congestion on the free road. Traffic volume on the elevated expressway
generally grows as demand for transportation increases, especially when the
nearby communities are growing. However, since the tollway charges a toll fee, the
traffic volume has shown some sensitivity to price risk and event risk.
In 2012, DMT's total traffic volume increased by 16% compared with the
previous year. The rise was due to the expanding economy and the post-flood
recovery. For the first nine months of 2013, the total traffic volume grew by 19%
year-on-year (y-o-y). The growth was driven by the transfer of low cost airlines to
Don Mueang airport and more new cars on the road, stemming from the
government’s first car tax rebate policy. As a result, during the same period, DMT’s
revenue grew at a pace equal to the increase in traffic volume, because there were
no changes in the toll fees.
DMT’s financial profile is considered stable. During the past five years, the
operating profit margin has been over 70%. The earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) interest coverage ratio improved from 3.5
times in 2011, to 4.1 times in 2012, and to 4.8 times in the first six months of 2013.
The ratio of funds from operations (FFO) to total debt has improved, rising from
9.0% in 2011, to 11.8% in 2012, and to 13.9% (annualized from the trailing 12
months) at the end of June 2013. DMT’s total debt to capitalization ratio was
approximately 54% during the past three years. The leverage is not expected to
decline significantly in the medium term as the company plans to maintain high
dividend payout ratio.
In the medium term, TRIS Rating expects that DMT’s operating performance
will continue to improve as traffic volume grows. However, in the past, the traffic
volume was affected by changes in the toll rates. The toll increase will be in late