# S&P Credit Trend Analysis for ENGIE (2021-2022) ## Step 1: Industry Classification ENGIE is a diversified energy company operating across multiple business segments including: - Regulated utilities (electricity, gas distribution) - Unregulated power and gas (renewable and traditional generation) - Transportation infrastructure (not primary) The company is best characterized as a **multi-utilities company with mixed regulated and unregulated operations**. The appropriate S&P methodology combines: - **Regulated Utilities** framework (for regulated operations) - **Unregulated Power and Gas** framework (for merchant/unregulated operations) Given ENGIE's diversified portfolio spanning both regulated and unregulated segments, I'll apply a hybrid approach primarily grounded in the **Regulated Utilities and Unregulated Power & Gas** methodologies with corporate baseline adjustments. --- ## Step 2: 2021 Adjusted EBITDA **Reconstruction of EBITDA from available data:** From the income statement for 2021 (2021-01-01 to 2022-01-01): | Item | Amount (EUR m) | |------|----------------:| | Revenue | 57,866 | | Purchases and Operating Derivatives | (38,861) | | Employee Benefits Expense | (7,692) | | Depreciation, Amortization & Provisions | (4,840) | | Tax Expense (Other Than Income Tax) | (1,479) | | Other Income | 1,122 | | **Operating Result (before DA&P)** | | EBITDA (reported) calculation: - Current Operating Income Including Operating MTM: 6,116 - Add back: Depreciation, Amortization & Provisions: 4,840 - **Operating EBITDA: 10,956** **Adjustments for 2021:** Per S&P methodology for utilities and integrated energy companies: 1. **Impairment losses/reversals**: 1,028 (non-recurring gain) - deduct as non-recurring 2. **Restructuring costs**: 204 (non-recurring loss) - add back 3. **Other income/expense from associates**: 1,107 (non-recurring, treatment as pass-through) 4. **Share of profit of associates (equity method)**: 800 (already in operating income) **Adjusted EBITDA 2021:** - Operating EBITDA: 10,956 - Add: Restructuring costs: 204 - Less: Impairment reversals (non-recurring gains): (1,028) - Normalized adjustment for other items: 0 **Adjusted EBITDA 2021 = 10,132 EUR million** --- ## Step 3: 2021 FFO Calculation **FFO = Adjusted_EBITDA - cash_interest - cash_taxes** From the cash flow statement for 2021: | Item | Amount (EUR m) | |------|----------------:| | Adjusted EBITDA | 10,132 | | Interest Paid (Financing) | 719 | | Income Taxes Paid/Refunded | 603 | | **FFO** | | **FFO 2021 = 10,132 - 719 - 603 = 8,810 EUR million** --- ## Step 4: 2021 Adjusted Debt **Components of Adjusted Debt:** From balance sheet as of 2022-01-01 (end of 2021): | Item | Amount (EUR m) | |------|----------------:| | Long-term Borrowings | 30,458 | | Current Borrowings & Current Portion of Non-current | 10,590 | | **Total Reported Debt** | **41,048** | | Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents | (13,890) | | **Net Debt** | **27,158** | Adjustments for S&P methodology: - Lease obligations: Not explicitly separated in the data; assume immaterial or included in provisions - Pension deficit: Not explicitly detailed; assume immaterial - Guarantees: Not material adjustments visible - Hybrid instruments: Deeply Subordinated Perpetual Notes (3,767 EUR m as of end-2021) - treatment depends on classification; conservative approach includes ~50% as debt = 1,884 **Adjusted Debt 2021:** - Total Reported Debt: 41,048 - Plus: Hybrid securities (50% of 3,767): +1,884 - **Gross Adjusted Debt: 42,932** - Less: Cash: (13,890) - **Adjusted Debt 2021 = 29,042 EUR million** (net of cash) For leverage calculation, we use **Gross Adjusted Debt = 42,932 EUR million** --- ## Step 5: 2021 Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA Ratio **Leverage Ratio 2021:** $$\text{Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA} = \frac{42,932}{10,132} = 4.24x$$ --- ## Step 6: 2021 FFO / Adjusted Debt Ratio **FFO Coverage 2021:** $$\text{FFO / Adjusted Debt} = \frac{8,810}{42,932} = 0.205 \text{ or } 20.5\%$$ --- ## Step 7: 2022 Adjusted EBITDA **Reconstruction of EBITDA from available data (2022-01-01 to 2023-01-01):** | Item | Amount (EUR m) | |------|----------------:| | Current Operating Income Including Operating MTM | 4,309 | | Depreciation, Amortization & Provisions | 5,187 | | **Operating EBITDA** | **9,496** | **Adjustments for 2022:** 1. **Impairment losses/reversals**: 2,774 (non-recurring gain) - deduct 2. **Restructuring costs**: 230 (non-recurring loss) - add back 3. **Other non-recurring items**: (1,328) (non-recurring loss) - add back 4. **Share of profit of associates**: 1,059 (already reflected in operating income, marginal) **Adjusted EBITDA 2022:** - Operating EBITDA: 9,496 - Add: Restructuring costs: 230 - Add: Other non-recurring items: 1,328 - Less: Impairment reversals: (2,774) **Adjusted EBITDA 2022 = 8,280 EUR million** --- ## Step 8: 2022 FFO Calculation From the cash flow statement for 2022: | Item | Amount (EUR m) | |------|----------------:| | Adjusted EBITDA | 8,280 | | Interest Paid (Financing) | 822 | | Income Taxes Paid (Refunded) | (1,504) | | **FFO** | | Note: Income tax refund in 2022 is positive (1,504), reflecting tax benefits on losses. **FFO 2022 = 8,280 - 822 - (−1,504) = 8,280 - 822 + 1,504 = 8,962 EUR million** --- ## Step 9: 2022 Adjusted Debt From balance sheet as of 2023-01-01 (end of 2022): | Item | Amount (EUR m) | |------|----------------:| | Long-term Borrowings | 28,083 | | Current Borrowings & Current Portion of Non-current | 12,508 | | **Total Reported Debt** | **40,591** | | Less: Cash and Cash Equivalents | (15,570) | | **Net Debt** | **25,021** | Adjustments for S&P methodology: - Deeply Subordinated Perpetual Notes (end-2022): 3,393 EUR m; conservative treatment: +50% = 1,697 **Adjusted Debt 2022:** - Total Reported Debt: 40,591 - Plus: Hybrid securities (50% of 3,393): +1,697 - **Gross Adjusted Debt: 42,288** - Less: Cash: (15,570) - **Adjusted Debt 2022 (net) = 26,718 EUR million** For leverage calculation, we use **Gross Adjusted Debt = 42,288 EUR million** --- ## Step 10: 2022 Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA Ratio **Leverage Ratio 2022:** $$\text{Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA} = \frac{42,288}{8,280} = 5.11x$$ --- ## Step 11: 2022 FFO / Adjusted Debt Ratio **FFO Coverage 2022:** $$\text{FFO / Adjusted Debt} = \frac{8,962}{42,288} = 0.212 \text{ or } 21.2\%$$ --- ## Step 12: Credit Trend Classification ### Summary of Key Ratios: | Metric | 2021 | 2022 | Change | |--------|------:|------:|-------:| | Adjusted Debt / EBITDA | 4.24x | 5.11x | +0.87x | | FFO / Adjusted Debt | 0.205 | 0.212 | +0.007 | ### Signal 1: Leverage Change in leverage ratio: 5.11x − 4.24x = **+0.87x** Threshold assessment: - ≥ +0.2x is Deteriorating - **+0.87x is clearly ≥ +0.2x** **Signal 1: DETERIORATING** ### Signal 2: Cash-flow Coverage Change in FFO/Debt ratio: 0.212 − 0.205 = **+0.007** Threshold assessment: - Between −0.03 and +0.03 (exclusive) is Stable - **+0.007 falls within this range** **Signal 2: STABLE** ### Conflict Resolution The two signals conflict: one Deteriorating, one Stable. Per instructions, I must reason about which is more material: **Analysis:** 1. **Magnitude of leverage deterioration**: The leverage increased by 0.87x, representing a 20.5% increase in the leverage ratio (from 4.24x to 5.11x). This is a material deterioration, far exceeding the 0.2x threshold for "Deteriorating." 2. **Magnitude of FFO coverage change**: The FFO/Debt ratio improved marginally by +0.007, which is very close to the stable threshold of ±0.03. The improvement is modest (3.4% relative improvement), well within the tolerance band. 3. **Root cause analysis**: - **EBITDA declined significantly**: From €10,132m (2021) to €8,280m (2022), a 18.3% reduction. This was driven by: - Current operating income dropped from €6,116m to €4,309m (29.5% decline) - Large non-recurring impairment charges (€2,774m in 2022 vs. €1,028m in 2021) - **FFO actually improved slightly** from €8,810m to €8,962m (+1.7%), primarily due to a tax refund of €1,504m in 2022 (vs. €603m tax paid in 2021). Excluding this one-time benefit, normalized FFO would have deteriorated. - **Debt remained relatively stable**: Gross adjusted debt declined marginally (€42,932m to €42,288m), but the sharp EBITDA decline drove leverage up. 4. **Context**: - The 2022 EBITDA decline is substantial and concerning, driven both by operational underperformance and significant non-recurring losses. - The FFO improvement is largely artificial, supported by a tax refund that is unlikely to recur. - A leverage ratio above 5.0x is elevated and represents increased financial risk, especially for a regulated utility with expected stable cash generation. - The company continues to face operational challenges, as evidenced by lower current operating income. 5. **Conservative bias application**: Given the magnitude of leverage deterioration (+0.87x, well beyond the 0.2x threshold) and the artificiality of the FFO improvement (driven by non-recurring tax benefits), the more negative signal is clearly material. **Conclusion:** While FFO/Debt shows a marginal improvement (technically "Stable"), the substantial deterioration in leverage (0.87x increase) is the dominant signal. The leverage deterioration reflects genuine operational weakness (EBITDA decline), whereas the FFO improvement is underpinned by one-time tax benefits. The default conservative bias favors the more negative signal. **Credit Trend: DETERIORATING** --- Deteriorating