DBRS Assigns Provisional Rating of Pfd-2 (low) to Valener

DBRS has today assigned a provisional rating of Pfd-2 (low), with a Stable trend, to Valener Inc.’s (Valener) proposed Cumulative Rate Reset Preferred Shares, Series A. The rating is based on the credit quality of Valener’s 29%-owned Gaz Métro Limited Partnership (GMLP), which guarantees the First Mortgage Bonds (rated “A” by DBRS) of Gaz Métro inc. (GMi). GMi owns the remaining 71% of GMLP. GMLP’s core business is regulated natural gas distribution in Québec, which generates strong cash flow due to a supportive and stable regulatory environment. GMLP also benefits from cash flow diversification from its investments in energy distribution in Vermont and the pipeline business (see press release on Gaz Métro inc. dated March 27, 2012). Valener’s rating is one notch lower than the rating of GMi, reflecting its structural subordination to GMLP.

The assigned provisional rating is based on the following factors: (1) Strong and predicable cash flow from GMLP to Valener. GMLP has made cash distributions to its partners in an amount of over 90% of its net income, excluding non-recurring items, each year over the last 20 years. (2) GMLP is expected to continue to maintain its distributions of at least 85% of its net income (excluding non-recurring items), as set out under the Partnership Agreement between Valener and GMLP. In the event that GMi, as general partner of GMLP, intends to distribute less than 85% of its net income (excluding non-recurring items), it would require the approval of at least 90% of GMi’s directors. (3) Valener’s non-consolidated debt-to-capital structure is expected to remain below 20%. If its non-consolidated debt leverage ratio is above 20%, Valener is expected to issue equity to bring the ratio back under the 20% threshold in a timely manner. (4) DBRS’s expectation that the majority of Valener’s cash flow will be derived from GMLP. Any material investment carried out by Valener and not through GMLP could have a negative rating impact. (5) DBRS’s expectation that Valener will maintain its 29% interest in GMLP and its pro rata representation on GMi’s Board of Directors.

The assigned rating incorporates the limited control of Valener over GMLP due to its limited partnership status. However, this limited control is mitigated by the distribution protection clause in the Partnership Agreement, as mentioned above.

Notes:

The applicable methodology is Rating Companies in the North American Energy Utilities (Electric and Natural Gas) Industry, which can be found on our website under Methodologies.