TEXT-S&P cuts CORES to 'BBB-/A-3'

Overview
-- We lowered our long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings on Spain
to 'BBB-/A-3' from 'BBB+/A-2' and assigned a negative outlook to the long-term
rating on Oct. 10, 2012.
-- We equalize the ratings on Corporacion de Reservas Estrategicas de
Productos Petroliferos (CORES) with those on Spain, reflecting our opinion of
an almost certain likelihood CORES would receive timely and sufficient
extraordinary support from the Spanish government in the event of financial
stress.
-- Consequently, we are lowering our long and short-term ratings on CORES
to 'BBB-/A-3' from 'BBB+/A-2'.
-- The negative outlook on CORES primarily reflects that on Spain.

Rating Action
On Oct. 16, 2012, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered to 'BBB-/A-3'
from 'BBB+/A-2' its long- and short-term issuer credit ratings on Corporacion
de Reservas Estrategicas de Productos Petroliferos (CORES), the company
responsible for managing Spain's strategic oil reserves. The outlook is
negative.

Rationale
The downgrade of CORES reflects a similar action on the Kingdom of Spain
(BBB-/Negative/A-3), (see "Spain Ratings Lowered To 'BBB-/A-3' On Mounting
Economic And Political Risks; Outlook Negative," published on Oct. 10, 2012 on
RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal). We consider CORES to be a
government-related entity (GRE). In accordance with our criteria for rating
GREs we believe there is an "almost certain" likelihood that the Spanish
government would provide timely and sufficient extraordinary support to CORES
in the event of financial distress.

CORES is a corporation governed by public law, but with a distinct legal
status and acting under private law. It conducts its activities under the
tutelage of the central government, exercised through the Ministry of
Industry, Energy, and Tourism. We consider it to be a government-related
entity (GRE). Our opinion of an almost certain likelihood of support reflects
our view of CORES':

-- "Integral" link with the Spanish government. CORES is a public-law
entity, tightly controlled and supervised by the Spanish Ministry of Industry.
We see CORES as an extension of the government, specifically mandated to build
up, manage, and control the nation's strategic oil reserves in accordance with
EU and international legislation. CORES does not receive funds from the
government, nor does it benefit from any explicit guarantee on its
liabilities. However, the government provides CORES with what we see as strong
ongoing support in the form of a regulatory framework under which oil and gas
operators have the obligation to pay whatever fees are necessary to fully
cover all of CORES' costs--including debt service. We believe that this
framework would safeguard a smooth sovereign takeover of CORES' obligations if
needed.

-- "Critical" role as an entity specifically formed to provide a
strategic public service on behalf of the Spanish government. CORES has a
specific mandate to monitor the level of Spain's oil reserves--virtually all
of which come from imports--and ensure that they are sufficient to cover the
country's oil consumption needs. Only the government itself would, in our
opinion, be able to undertake CORES' mandate.

CORES borrows from local and international financial markets to finance the
purchase of oil stocks. Its total debt was EUR1.9 billion on Dec. 31, 2011.

Liquidity
CORES' liquidity is adequate, in our view given that CORES takes into
consideration all of its expenses, including debt service, when determining
the annual fees applicable to its members. These fees are typically set with
very conservative assumptions about expected expenditures. As a result CORES
normally returns excess fees to operators at year end, although it could
retain excess fees as reserves if necessary. Fees are cashed in monthly,
ensuring regular access to liquidity inflows.

CORES' long-term debt accounts for 86% of the total. As of Oct. 5, 2012, CORES
had credit lines of EUR305 million, of which EUR51 million were available. CORES
faces debt repayments of EUR599 million in 2013--EUR350 million from long-term
debt, and EUR249.5 million from the renewal of credit lines.

We understand that CORES has already refinanced its credit lines, which expire
in February 2013, using a combination of sources including bank loans, new
credit lines, and the sale of excess oil reserves for an estimated EUR73
million. We expect that CORES will fund its EUR350 million long-term debt
maturity, which is due in June, by issuing debt in the capital markets, or
signing loans with the banking sector.

CORES may also choose to meet part of its remaining financing needs for the
year 2013 by selling additional excess reserves. A drop in petroleum product
consumption due to the economic crisis in Spain has left CORES' holding
reserves above the legally established limits. Based on current prices, CORES
estimates it could receive up to EUR520 million from the sale of these reserves,
for which there is a liquid market. CORES can choose how much of the excess to
sell and would be legally obliged to use any proceeds from sales to reduce its
indebtedness.

Finally, in our view CORES may also decide to set higher fees for its members
for the year 2013 to cover all or part of its long-term debt maturities,
although we consider it unlikely that CORES would have to resort to this
option.

Outlook
The negative outlook on CORES primarily reflects that on Spain. A downgrade of
the sovereign would also result in a downgrade of CORES.

We might also lower the rating if, contrary to our current expectation, CORES
was not be able to access funding smoothly through a combination of bank loans
or bonds, sale of oil reserves or higher fees to its members, or ultimately
the support of Spain's government.

We believe it is unlikely that the combination of all these alternative
sources of funding would prove insufficient to meet CORES' financing needs for
2013.

Related Criteria And Research
-- Rating Government-Related Entities: Methodology And Assumptions, Dec.
9, 2010
-- Government-Related Entities CORES, ICO, And SEPI Downgraded To
'BBB+/A-2' On Spain Downgrade; Outlooks Are Negative, April 30, 2012
-- Spain's Corporacion de Reservas Estrategicas de Productos Petroliferos
Downgraded To 'A/A-1' Following Action On Spain, Jan. 17, 2012
-- Spain Ratings Lowered To 'BBB-/A-3' On Mounting Economic And Political
Risks; Outlook Negative, Oct. 10, 2012

Ratings List
Downgraded
Corporacion de Reservas Estrategicas de Productos Petroliferos
To From
Issuer Credit Rating BBB-/Negative/A-3 BBB+/Negative/A-2
Senior Unsecured BBB- BBB+

Complete ratings information is available to subscribers of RatingsDirect on
the Global Credit Portal at www.globalcreditportal.com. All ratings affected
by this rating action can be found on Standard & Poor's public Web site at
www.standardandpoors.com. Use the Ratings search box located in the left
column.