Fitch Ratings expects Southern Company's ('A-'/Outlook Stable) gas
pipeline joint venture with a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc. (KMI,
'BBB-'/Outlook Stable) to have no impact on its credit ratings. Fitch
expects that Southern Company will fund the acquisition and future
growth investments at the JV as well as at Southern Power Company in a
credit supportive manner.
In May 2016, Fitch downgraded Southern Company's Issuer Default Rating
(IDR) by one notch to 'A-'. The company's FFO adjusted leverage would
need to improve and sustain below the 4.5x level before Fitch would
consider any upward migration of the ratings.
Through the joint venture, Southern Company will acquire an equity
interest in KMI's Southern Natural Gas (SNG) pipeline system valued at
$1.47 billion. The transaction, which is expected to close in the third
quarter or early fourth quarter of 2016, values SNG at $4.15 billion,
which includes existing SNG debt. In association with the transaction,
SNG will be released from the cross guarantee that it provides to KMI
and KMI's other subsidiaries, which Fitch considers as credit positive
as SNG's standalone financial profile is stronger than KMI.
Following its recently completed merger with AGL Resources, Inc. (AGL,
'BBB+'/Outlook Stable), Southern Company has become one of the largest
natural gas consumers and distributors in the country. Fitch views the
joint venture with KMI as part of Southern Company's continued effort to
diversify its predominantly integrated electric utility operations into
natural gas infrastructure and expand its existing midstream natural gas
pipeline investments acquired through the AGL acquisition.
The SNG system fits strategically with Southern Company's gas
distribution service territories and the locations of its gas-fired
generating plants. Additionally, SNG's earnings and cash flow are
supported by long-term capacity reservation contracts with a majority of
investment grade offtakers providing the most of the revenue independent
of volumes shipped through the system or commodity prices.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
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View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160711006214/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2016
Source: Business Wire
(July 11, 2016 - 1:16 PM EDT)
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