CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings expects to assign a rating of 'BBB+(exp)' with a Stable Rating Outlook to CIC Central American Card Receivables Limited's proposed issuance of up $500 million of series A notes. Fitch's rating addresses the timely payment of interest and principal on a quarterly basis.
The proposed issuance is backed by future flows related to the payment of international AmEx merchant vouchers originating in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
The final rating is contingent upon the receipt of final documents conforming to information already received.
KEY RATING DRIVERS
The expected rating reflects (i) the credit quality of Credomatic International Corporation (CIC) and its going concern assessment score of 'GC2'; (ii) the relatively large level of future flow debt to CIC's overall funding; (iii) the synergies between the credit card and the banking businesses; (iv) low diversion risk as payments are processed through one international credit card company, American Express (AmEx); (v) CIC's independent operator agreement (IOA) with AmEx which allows it to become the exclusive issuer and acquirer of AmEx cards in the region; (vi) the transaction structure which adequately mitigates potential sovereign and/or redirection risks; and (vii) renewal risk as the IOA ends on Dec. 31, 2020.
The above mentioned characteristics allow the transaction to benefit from a one-notch uplift from CIC's IDR of 'BBB'.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
The rating is sensitive to changes in the credit quality of CIC. A downgrade of CIC's 'BBB' local currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) could lead to a downgrade on the notes. In addition, severe reductions in coverage levels could also result in rating downgrades. To a lesser extent, the rating is also sensitive to American Express Limited as the counterparty to the IOA; AmEx Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Travel Related Services ('A+'/Outlook Stable).
Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further described in the accompanying pre-sale report.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY
The notes are backed by flows related to international USD-denominated American Express (AmEx) merchant voucher receivables originating in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras by CIC. These receivables are generated when an AmEx cardholder in the Central American region pays for goods or services in any of the above mentioned countries in a currency different from their own local currency. The receivables are submitted to AmEx for clearing. AmEx has signed a Notice and Consent Agreement which obligates it to make all payments related to the USD international merchant vouchers into an account controlled by the trustee for the benefit of the noteholders.
CIC is an exempt company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and is a wholly owned subsidiary of BAC International Bank Inc. (BIB), which is incorporated in Panama. BIB is an indirect subsidiary of Grupo Aval Acciones y Valores, S.A., a Colombian operation, as of December 2010.
CIC is the holding company of the group's credit card business and banking operations in each Central American country with the exception of Panama. Through its subsidiaries, CIC provides a variety of financial services to individuals and institutions primarily in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
CIC is a leader in the credit card business with dominant market shares in the acquiring and in the issuing businesses.
For more details on the transaction see Fitch's presale report 'CIC Central American Card Receivables Trust' dated April 15, 2013.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Future Flow Securitization Rating Criteria' (June 19, 2012);
--'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' (June 6, 2012);
--'Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance Transactions' (May 30, 2012).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research CIC Central American Card Receivables Limited
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=705995
Future Flow Securitization Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=681832
Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=679923
Counterparty Criteria for Structured Finance Transactions
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=678938
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=788627
ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.