Omantel Gets High Rating from Moody’s

Omantel Gets Good Rating

Omantel Gets Good Rating

Oman’s leading telecom provider, Omantel, is continuing to get high ratings from Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s rating system. Just as in 2013 Omantel received a BBB+/A-2 rating from S&P, and an A3 rating from Moody’s.
Moody’s explained:

“The A3 rating combines Omantel’s fundamental credit quality, strong financial profile, which is reflected by the company’s solid free cash flow generation despite its high capital expenditures for network upgrades. The rating is also driven by our expectation that the company will maintain a conservative leverage profile, with debt/Ebitda not exceeding 1.5 times. In addition, the rating reflects the high barriers of entry to the Omani telecom market given the country’s large territory relative to its population, which acts as a deterrent to potential entrants into the market.”

“We are pleased that both Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s continue their high ratings for Omantel. Their rating speaks volumes and affirms Omantel’s strong financial performance and its leadership position in the domestic market. Omantel’s strategy remains focused on customer experience, growth and market leadership with an aim to enhance shareholder value,” said Talal Said Al Mamari, the chief executive officer of Omantel.

S&P Hopes GCC Aid Package Can Be Enlarged

Standard and Poor’s (S&P) announced yesterday that the $20 billion package pledged to the embattled countries of Bahrain and Oman by the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) may need to be augmented in order to achieve the desired result.

Creating Jobs Can Relieve the Tension

The aid package, which was promised earlier this month, will be distributed evenly between the two nations and will be used to create new infrastructure and develop housing projects, which will in turn create jobs and help bolster the economy, with the result ultimately being to calm the tensions these two countries are experiencing at the moment.

The concern of S&P is that the demonstrations and unrest will lead to a depression in the progress of the economies of those two countries.

“Protests and political instability are in our view likely to negatively affect economic performance and depress future growth prospects, particularly for Bahrain, in its role as an important financial center,” S&P said. “Oman will also likely be affected in this way. At this point, there remain questions as to whether or not GCC economic aid will be able to offset these political and reputational risks.”

Despite their doubts, S&P, which rates the credit risk of investments, still believes that the aid can improve those countries’ credit rating over the long haul.

Bahrain Risk Rating Reduced

Bahrain was already downgraded by three notches since the mass protests began there during February. Oman, which has had a less disruptive time, has not yet been downgraded, but S&P has Oman on watch. This is in line with the other major ratings agencies, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings.

“We are of the view that the economic aid package, which we understand will be comprised of donations by GCC members, will not immediately affect Bahrain’s and Oman’s ratings or ratings outlooks,” S&P added.

“That said, we believe the package could contribute positively to the sovereigns’ creditworthiness over the medium to longer term.”