Rating agencies divided over Aquila’s credit-worthiness
The two major rating agencies are divided over their assessment of troubled energy company Aquila, with Moody’s cutting its rating to junk and Standard & Poor’s (S&P) maintaining its investment-grade standing.
"We're extremely encouraged by Standard & Poor's decision to preserve our investment-grade credit rating," said Robert Green, Aquila president and chief executive. "Their action is confirmation that we're taking the right steps. We'll continue to focus on executing our asset sales programme and exiting the wholesale energy marketing and trading business as part of our continuing commitment to a stronger credit profile."
S&P placed Aquila on CreditWatch on April 30. Although Aquila has maintained investment-grade ratings with S&P, and so far Fitch’s, the outlook is still negative, S&P said.
This is based on the risk that Aquila may fall short of the amount of asset sales necessary to restore its balance sheet to appropriate levels of debt and equity, S&P said.
S&P analyst Todd Shipman was not immediately available for comment.
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