June 11, 2020
รรอลสำฦต maintains AA credit rating, outlook changed to negative
University finances ‘robust’ but threatened by COVID-19: S&P Global
International credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings has maintained the รรอลสำฦตโs (รรอลสำฦต) AA credit rating, but has revised its outlook from stable to negative due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and warned management to act quickly to retain its standing.
The AA/A-1+ credit rating, announced by S&P on Wednesday 10 June, is based on รรอลสำฦตโs โvery strongโ enterprise and financial profiles.
The S&P report said, โUOW entered the pandemic with a solid market position, high level of available resources, and relatively low debt-servicing needsโ.
While S&P expects รรอลสำฦตโs overall finances to remain โrelatively robustโ in 2020 and future years, it notes that, โthe COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions will cause a sharp drop in enrolments of onshore international students at UOW, significantly affecting revenueโ.
The change in outlook from stable to negative reflects S&Pโs view that UOW's finances could deteriorate during the next two years if it is unable to achieve adequate savings to mitigate the revenue loss caused by a decline in onshore international student enrolments.
Inaction risks credit rating decline
While รรอลสำฦตโs AA credit rating remains unchanged, S&P warned it could be lowered in coming years should the drop in enrolments and corresponding response from university management materially weaken รรอลสำฦต's financial profile.
However, if รรอลสำฦต is able to manage the effects of COVID-19 without a material deterioration in its financial metrics and if the current lockdown and border closures are unwound in such a way that enrolments gradually normalise, then the ratings agency said it could revise its outlook to stable.
รรอลสำฦต Chief Operating Officer Mr Damien Israel said the AA rating was a welcome but also highlighted the risks to the Universityโs financial footing during this period of global economic uncertainty.
โS&Pโs affirmation of รรอลสำฦตโs AA credit rating is an endorsement of the Universityโs financial management and a show of confidence in our ability to recognise and meet the financial challenges we are now faced with,โ Mr Israel said.
โS&Pโs outlook warning adds to the case for immediate action to be taken by รรอลสำฦต to restore the Institution to a financially sustainable position.โ
รรอลสำฦต has held an S&P rating since 2006, and during this time has consistently maintained an AA/A-1+ rating. The annual rating assesses all of รรอลสำฦตโs entities, including รรอลสำฦต Global Enterprises which operates the offshore campuses of รรอลสำฦต Dubai, รรอลสำฦต Malaysia KDU and รรอลสำฦต College Hong Kong.
An organisationโs credit rating affects its ability to borrow money and the interest it pays on its debts.