Moody’s downgraded all ratings related to Sadia S.A. (“Sadia”) to Ba3 from Ba2
following the announcement of some BRL 760 million in cash losses from
positions in currency forward contracts and counterparty losses in its offshore
investment portfolio.
The ratings remain under review for possible further downgrade. Ratings affected
are as follows:
-- Local currency corporate family rating: to Ba3 from Ba2
-- USD 250 million in guaranteed senior unsecured notes due 2017 issued by
Sadia Overseas Ltd. with an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee from Sadia:
to Ba3 from Ba2.
All ratings remain under review for possible further downgrade.
The rating action reflects the expected increase in Sadia’s adjusted total debt to
EBITDA ratio to well above 4.0x as a result of new short term bank debt that has
been raised over the past weeks to cover the derivatives and counterparty losses.
Moody's also expects interest coverage to weaken as a result of the additional
debt, with adjusted EBITA to Gross Interest Expenses below 2.0x in the near
term. On July 18, 2008, Moody's changed its outlook on Sadia's ratings from
positive to stable and stated that the rating could be downgraded if adjusted total
debt to EBITDA were to be above 4.0 times or adjusted EBITA to interest
expense were to drop below 2.0 times.
The review of Sadia’s ratings will focus primarily on its overall exposure to
derivatives instruments and counterparty risk and the degree of potential impact
on the company's leverage and liquidity. If Sadia's leverage and liquidity profile
remains in line with the pro-forma position after yesterday's announcement and
today's conference call, Moody’s would likely stabilize the rating at Ba3, one
notch lower than its previous rating, to reflect the increased leverage and weaker
than expected risk controls and board supervision. The rating could come under
further downward pressure if Sadia's adjusted LTM total debt to EBITDA exceeds
5.0x for two consecutive quarters or if Sadia’s liquidity is pressured by weaker
access to bank export trade finance lines.
66. On October 6, 2008, the Company