Morningstar DBRS Places Senior Unsecured Notes Credit Rating of Wolf Midstream Canada LP Under Review With Positive Implications

DBRS Limited (Morningstar DBRS) placed the Senior Unsecured Notes (Senior Notes) credit rating of BB on Wolf Midstream Canada LP (Wolf) Under Review with Positive Implications. The Senior Notes currently have a recovery rating of RR5. Wolf intends to issue an additional Senior Note of up to $400 million and use the proceeds (up to $340.0 million) to repay outstanding balances under its secured term loan (Term Loan). Morningstar DBRS estimates that because of reduction of secured debt (at least $200 million), the recovery rating for the Senior Notes will improve to RR4 at close of the issuance. Subject to successful completion of the issuance and repayment of the Term Loan, Morningstar DBRS expects to upgrade the credit rating on the Senior Notes by one-notch to BB (high) when resolved. Conversely, if the proposed issuance does not materialize the credit rating on the Senior Notes will be confirmed at the current level when resolved.

The Senior Notes are unsecured, ranking equal in right of payment to all existing and future unsecured indebtedness, junior to Wolf's secured indebtedness and senior to any subordinated indebtedness of Wolf.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
There were no Environmental/Social/Governance factor(s) that had a significant or relevant effect on the credit analysis.

A description of how Morningstar DBRS considers ESG factors within the Morningstar DBRS analytical framework can be found in the Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Credit Ratings (August 13, 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/437781.

BUSINESS RISK ASSESSMENT (BRA) AND FINANCIAL RISK ASSESSMENT (FRA)
(A) Weighting of BRA Factors 
In the analysis of Wolf, the BRA factors were considered in the order of importance contemplated in the methodology.

(B) Weighting of FRA Factors 
In the analysis of Wolf, the following FRA factors were considered in the order of importance contemplated in the methodology.
 
(C) Weighting of the BRA and the FRA 
In the analysis of Wolf, the BRA carries greater weight than the FRA.

Notes:
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Morningstar DBRS applied the following principal methodology:
-- Global Methodology for Rating Companies in the Oil & Gas, Oilfield Services, Pipeline, and Midstream Energy Industries (August 12, 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/437739

Morningstar DBRS credit ratings may use one or more sections of the Morningstar DBRS Global Corporate Criteria (April 15, 2024; https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/431186), which covers, for example, topics such as holding companies and parent/subsidiary relationships, guarantees, recovery, and common adjustments to financial ratios.

The following methodologies have also been applied:
-- Morningstar DBRS Global Corporate Criteria (April 15, 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/431186
-- Morningstar DBRS Criteria: Approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance Factors in Credit Ratings (August 13, 2024), https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/437781

The credit rating methodologies used in the analysis of this transaction can be found at: https://dbrs.morningstar.com/about/methodologies.

A description of how Morningstar DBRS analyzes corporate finance transactions and how the methodologies are collectively applied can be found at: https://dbrs.morningstar.com/research/431153.

The related regulatory disclosures pursuant to the National Instrument 25-101 Designated Rating Organizations are hereby incorporated by reference and can be found by clicking on the link under Related Documents or by contacting us at info-DBRS@morningstar.com.

The credit rating was initiated at the request of the rated entity.

The rated entity or its related entities did participate in the credit rating process for this credit rating action.

Morningstar DBRS had access to the accounts, management and other relevant internal documents of the rated entity or its related entities in connection with this credit rating action.

This is a solicited credit rating.

The conditions that lead to the assignment of a Negative or Positive trend are generally resolved within a 12-month period. Morningstar DBRS trends and credit ratings are under regular surveillance.

Information regarding Morningstar DBRS credit ratings, including definitions, policies, and methodologies, is available on https://dbrs.morningstar.com or contact us at info-DBRS@morningstar.com.

DBRS Limited
DBRS Tower, 181 University Avenue, Suite 700
Toronto, ON M5H 3M7 Canada
Tel. +1 416 593-5577