Fitch Rates Corporacion Durango S.A.B. de C.V.'s Notes 'CCC/RR4'
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CHICAGO--(Business Wire)-- Fitch Ratings has upgraded the foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of Corporacion Durango S.A.B. de C.V. (Durango) to 'CCC' from 'D'. In conjunction with this rating action, Fitch has rated the company's notes due in 2016 'CCC/RR4'. Simultaneously, Fitch has affirmed and withdrawn the 'CC/RR4' rating of the company's 2017 notes. Debt Restructuring Concluded: Fitch's rating actions follow today's announcement by Durango that its debt restructuring proposal has formally been concluded. As a result of this process, holders of USD 357 million of the company's USD 508.5 million outstanding 2017 notes have exchanged their notes for USD 250 million of senior notes due 2016. These investors also received a one-time payment of USD 10 million and have received a 6% equity stake in the company. A company related to Durango's controlling shareholders, exchanged its ownership of USD 151 million of the 2017 notes for 35% of the company's common shares. On a pro forma basis, these two transactions will reduce Durango's total debt to USD 263 million from USD 522 million. Leverage Will Remain High: The 'CCC' rating of Durango continues to reflect substantial credit risk due to high leverage, weak domestic demand for the company's packaging products and intense competition. Durango generated USD 21 million of EBITDA during 2008, a sharp decline from USD 95 million in 2007 and USD 114 million in 2006. The decline was primarily driven by higher costs for energy and recycled fiber, while prices remained relatively stagnant. As a result, the margin between Durango's per ton revenues and unit cost decreased to USD 38 per ton during 2008 from USD 83 per ton in 2007 and USD 93 per ton in 2006. Medium and Long-Term Credit Concerns Include Volatile Cost Structure, Need to Supply Financing to Customers, and Global Competitiveness: The ratings of Durango reflect its inability to control its cost structure as of result of volatile energy and recycled fiber prices. A catalyst for rising recycled paper prices in Mexico and the U.S. was strong demand from China. Until Durango collects more recycled fiber through its collection networks in the U.S. and Mexico, it will remain vulnerable to Chinese purchases in these markets. The weakness in the U.S. market has increased exports to Mexico and heightened competition for Durango. Many of these competitors have greater financial resources than Durango; this will present challenges to Durango as it seeks to improve financing terms with its clients. The company's tight liquidity will also limit capital expenditures, thereby diminishing Durango's ability to improve its global competitiveness. Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's public site, 'www.fitchratings.com'. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site. Fitch Ratings Joe Bormann, CFA, 312-368-3349 (Chicago) Albert Moreno, 818-335-7239 (Monterrey) Media Relations, New York Brian Bertsch, 212-908-0549 brian.bertsch@fitchratings.com; Cindy Stoller, 212-908-0526 cindy.stoller@fitchratings.com Copyright Business Wire 2009
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