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Agbar has the following ratings assigned by the international credit risk assessment agencies:
Agency long-term debt STANDARD & POOR'S A-/Credit Watch Negative MOODY'S A 2 - Under Review (*) (*) Under Review for Possible Downgrade Due to SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT taking control of AGBAR with an increase in its stake to 75.01% and to the acquisition by CRITERIA of the 54.8% of ADESLAS owned until then by AGBAR, on 3 June 2010 S&P revised AGBAR’s rating from A/CreditWatch negative to A-/CreditWatch negative, a rating that was already reduced from A/Outlook Stable on 22 October 2009, the date on which the agreement in principle was published for the execution of these movements. For its part, on 23 October 2009 Moody’s revised AGBAR’s rating from A2/Outlook stable to A2/Under Review for Possible Downgrade, for the same reasons.
S&P bases its action on the possible impact of the operation announced on the quality of AGBAR's debt and on the possible need to reconsider the focus of the analysis of AGBAR as an independent company.
The action by Moody’s reflects the uncertainty concerning AGBAR’s future capital structure and future strategy following the operation announced.
The rating scale of the above-mentioned ratings agencies for the Long-Term Debt is as follows:
Moody´s
STANDARD & POOR'S Upper Investment Grade Aaa AAA Aa1
AA+
Aa2
AA Aa3
AA-
A1 A+
A2
A A3 A-
Lower Investment Grade Baa1 BBB+
Baa2
BBB Baa3 BBB-
Non-Investment Grade Ba1
BB+
Ba2
BB Ba3
BB-
Lower Non-Investment Grade B1
B+
B2
B
B3 B-
Caa
CCC Ca CC C C Default SD D The role of rating in the financial markets is to provide a measure of the risk of non-compliance in payment of interest, dividends or principal, for a fixed income investment. The work involved in setting ratings by a ratings agency follows methodology, criteria and quality control which are identical for all issuers. These ratings can be revised, suspended or withdrawn by the rating agencies at any time.
To carry out the process of rating and monitoring, the ratings agencies generally trust in the accuracy and completeness of the information provided by the Issuing Company, its auditors and other experts.
Credit agencies constitute options and not recommendations for purchase or sale of securities on the market. Nor do they attempt to reflect general market conditions.
In any case, the credit ratings granted by the ratings agencies are no substitute for the analysis which should be made by any investor; they should be a complement to this analysis.