PRESS RELEASE
Scope places 4iG’s debt rating under review
Depending on the outcome and impact of the Vodafone acquisition, the international rating agency may upgrade the Company by up to two notches
- In its annual ratings report published on Wednesday, Scope Ratings announced that it has placed the ‘B+’ issuer and ‘B+’ debt (NKP bond) ratings of 4iG Plc under review.
- The rating agency continues to closely monitor 4iG’s acquisition activity. Depending on the outcome and the impact on the capital markets company’s risk profile and credit metrics, Scope may upgrade the issuer and debt ratings of the info-communications Group.
- In addition to the positive expectation, Scope has placed 4iG’s rating under review, subject to the outcome and terms of the acquisition of Vodafone Hungary and other acquisition activity of the Group.
Scope Ratings GmbH (Scope) has
issued its annual rating report on the issuer and debt ratings of 4iG Plc
(4iG), which the Berlin-based company has published on its website. The rating
agency reviews and analyses the financial situation of the Group every year and
has kept this year’s rating on hold with a note “under review”. The current B+
Issuer and B+ Unsecured Debt (NKP bond) ratings remain open until the closing
of the previously announced Vodafone Hungary transaction, as its completion
could further improve the Group’s credit metrics and business risk profile.
According to the rating agency’s
report, 4iG’s credit rating, business and financial risk profile may improve
depending on the ongoing transaction process. The Hungarian info-communications
Group is expected to close the acquisition of Vodafone Hungary at the end of
this year, and the significant mobile and fixed broadband market share and the
potential for high EBITDA margin could have a positive impact on the Budapest Stock
Exchange-listed capital market company’s risk profile. Scope’s analysis added
that the structure of the prospective Vodafone deal could have a major impact
on 4iG’s issuer and debt ratings.
In addition to positive
expectations, Scope has placed 4iG’s current issuer and debt ratings under
review. The rating agency will continue to closely monitor developments in the
Vodafone acquisition and other acquisition activity of 4iG in the coming
months. Depending on the outcome, Scope could upgrade the info-communications Group
by up to two notches.
Budapest, 9th November 2022
Background information
Scope Group
Scope
Group, founded in Berlin in 2002, provides independent rating, research and
risk analysis of bonds. Scope Ratings is a leading European credit rating
agency providing credit risk analysis, with a distinctly European approach to
credit research and assessment. Scope Ratings is registered under the EU Rating
Regulation and operates in the European Union with ECAI status. In their
activities, credit rating agencies assess the creditworthiness and willingness
to repay of the rated entity. They aggregate information and produce indicators
for borrowers, lenders, and capital market participants.
4iG Plc
The
Budapest-based 4iG Plc is Hungary’s leading IT systems integrator with
significant interests in the domestic and regional info-communications markets.
The Company has been present in the market for innovative industry-independent
IT technologies for more than 27 years. The Company is continuously expanding
its services and portfolio to meet the changing needs and demands of the info-communications
market. The Group employs nearly 6,000 people. 4iG is a broad-spectrum
solutions provider with significant interests in IT, telecommunications,
satellite telecommunications and telecommunications infrastructure development.
Listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange, the Company aims to build a dominant
market position in a wide range of info-communication services in Hungary,
Central Eastern Europe, and the Western Balkans. www.4ig.hu
More
information:
4iG Plc
Péter Elkán
Group
Head of Corporate Affairs and
Communications
peter.elkan
(@) 4ig.hu