The master limited partnership (MLP) penchant for capital has found a
ready taker in US utilities, according to Fitch Ratings. Many of the
MLPs are looking to significantly increase their investments in the
natural gas infrastructure sector. Yesterday's announcement of Southern
Company's joint venture with a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc., which
comes on the heels of Consolidated Edison's JV announcement with
Crestwood Energy Partners, epitomizes this trend.
As commodity prices have rallied from their February lows and
counterparty exposure risks have abated somewhat, the equity and debt
investor sentiment for MLPs has improved. However, capital market access
for most MLPs remains constrained and, with balance sheet management a
key focus, many have been willing to explore asset monetization in
addition to equity issuances and distribution cuts.
To the extent the sell down proceeds are accretive to leverage metrics,
Fitch considers such monetization as credit positive. Additionally,
utilities as partners on natural gas pipeline systems should provide
strategic benefits for pipeline systems in terms of offering growth
opportunities and helping minimize recontracting risks associated with
any capacity that the utility owner may hold on the pipeline.
Attracted by the growth opportunities in both the downstream and the
midstream segments, utility companies have been keen to diversify in the
natural gas sector. So far, utility companies have shown a preference
for natural gas pipeline assets that strategically fit with their
service territories and where their distribution utilities can benefit
from being a shipper on the pipeline.
The announced transactions by both Southern Company and Consolidated
Edison are relatively modest in size and, given the balanced funding
mix, will have no bearing on their credit profile. In general, Fitch
views natural gas pipeline investments that generate revenues primarily
based on volume-insensitive, fixed-capacity payments via long-term
contracts with creditworthy offtakers, typically utilities, as
relatively low-risk investments.
Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com.
The above article originally appeared as a post on the Fitch Wire credit
market commentary page. The original article, which may include
hyperlinks to companies and current ratings, can be accessed at www.fitchratings.com.
All opinions expressed are those of Fitch Ratings.
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Copyright Business Wire 2016
Source: Business Wire
(July 11, 2016 - 9:31 AM EDT)
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