Wed, Sep 11, 2013, 6:00 PM EDT - U.S. Markets closed
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA+' rating to the following series of general
revenue bonds (GRBs) in the approximate aggregate amount of $2.6 billion
to be issued by the Regents of the University of California (UC, or the
university):
--GRBs 2013 series AI;
--GRBs 2013 series AJ (taxable);
--GRBs 2013 series AK (put structure);
--GRBs 2013 series AL (variable-rate demand bonds).
Fitch also assigns a short-term 'F1+' rating to the 2013 series AL
variable-rate demand bonds based on UC's internal liquidity. The bonds
are expected to sell via negotiation the week of September 23. Bond
proceeds will be used to refund and restructure approximately $2.4
billion of presently outstanding California State Public Works Board
(SPWB) lease revenue bonds (currently rated 'AA' by Fitch) issued by the
state on UC's behalf into GRBs, and to pay costs of issuance.
At the same time, Fitch affirms UC's long and short-term ratings as
detailed at the end of this release.
The Rating Outlook is Stable.
SECURITY
GRBs are secured primarily by a broad pledge of UC's unencumbered
revenues, namely gross tuition and fees, indirect cost recovery
revenues, and auxiliary receipts. Presently, the state separately
appropriates funds to pay UC's SPWB bond-related debt service directly
to bondholders on the university's behalf. While state appropriations
are specifically excluded from UC's general revenue pledge, recently
enacted legislation allows UC to pledge as general revenues its annual
general fund support appropriation, less amounts that are (1) required
to fund GO debt service for the portion of state GO bonds funded for
university projects, and (2) required to fund rental payments for SPWB
lease revenue bonds issued on UC's behalf (to the extent any SPWB bonds
remain outstanding).
KEY RATING DRIVERS
EXCEPTIONAL REPUTATION: The 'AA+' rating is primarily supported by UC's
strong reputation for academics, research and medical care that
continues to promote consistently strong student demand and selective
admissions, despite considerable increases in student charges over the
past several years.
SOUND, BUT PRESSURED, FINANCIAL POSITION: Substantial balance sheet
resources; diverse revenues; and a manageable debt burden, despite an
increase in financial leverage over the past few years, partially
mitigate concern over UC's negative and fluctuating operating results
and sizable capital needs. Strategic initiatives undertaken by
management as well as the state's stabilizing fiscal position and
additional appropriation funding to UC are expected to yield positive
results going forward, though slow progress is anticipated.
STABILIZING STATE FUNDING: Following years of cuts, implemented and
proposed appropriation increases in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 should
provide a level of stability to UC's operating budget over the
near-term. Partially offsetting the steep decline in funding over the
past few years is the university's limited reliance on the state for
operating support and the timely measures consistently taken by UC's
board of regents and seasoned management team during times of state
fiscal stress.
RESOURCE SUFFICIENCY: The 'F1+' rating is based on UC's ability to cover
the maximum potential liquidity demands presented by its variable-rate
debt programs by at least 1.25x from internal resources, including cash
and highly liquid, highly rated investments.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
FURTHER MARGIN DETERIORATION: An inability to stem operating losses and
return to a near-breakeven level of performance over the near-term may
result in negative rating pressure. The rating and outlook assume that
management's ability to improve operations began to be evidenced in
fiscal 2013 (audited results are not yet available and interim financial
information is not prepared on a university-wide basis).
CREDIT PROFILE
Chartered in 1868, UC is a comprehensive graduate research university
with 10 campuses located in Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles,
Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz, with a
graduate and research institute in San Francisco for health sciences. It
also operates five academic medical centers, three law schools, and a
135,000-acre statewide agricultural and natural resources division. UC's
exceptional reputation is the basis for its exceedingly strong demand
and selective admissions. Fiscal 2013 enrollment totaled 238,156
students. Applications continue to grow, with nearly 175,000 applicants
applying to UC campuses for the fall 2013 term, and an overall
acceptance rate of approximately 59% - fairly selective for a public
institution.
Financial Cushion Augments Weakened Operating Performance
While UC's operating deficit narrowed in fiscal years 2010 and 2011, its
operating margin fell to negative 8.4% in fiscal 2012 (the most recent
audited data available), partly attributed to continued state cuts and
rising employee health care related costs. After discussions with
management, Fitch expects marginal operating improvement for fiscal
2013, based on a roughly 4.7% increase in state general funds, primarily
to augment the state's share of retirement contributions; modest
enrollment growth, coupled with past tuition increases; and positive
fiscal impact being realized through various cost-saving initiatives.
While Fitch anticipates fiscal 2013 and 2014 operating performance to
demonstrate gradual improvement, reversion to the fiscal 2012 level will
put downward pressure on the rating and/or outlook.
Fitch believes UC's financial cushion continues to support the 'AA+'
rating. Available funds, defined as cash and investments less
nonexpendable restricted net assets, grew to an impressive $17.32
billion as of June 30, 2012. Available funds covered fiscal 2012
operating expenses ($26.05 billion) and pro forma debt (about $17.12
billion) by a solid 66.5% and 101.2%, respectively. Pro forma debt
includes revenue bonds, commercial paper (CP), various bank loans and
capital leases, and non-cancellable operating leases. Also included are
the $2.4 billion of presently outstanding SPWB lease revenue bonds
issued by the state on UC's behalf, and which are being refunded and
restructured under the university's GRB indenture.
The available funds balance is expected to have improved in fiscal 2013,
with UC's short-term investment pool and total return investment pool
having grown to $10.6 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively as of June
30, 2013 (from $9.8 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively as of June
30, 2012). UC's general endowment pool improved to $7 billion from $6.4
billion over the same period.
UC benefits from a very diverse revenue base, a credit factor Fitch
views favorably. Its largest funding sources include revenues derived
from the operation of its medical centers (28.4% of fiscal 2012
operating revenues), grants and contracts generated by its substantial
sponsored research activities (23.3%), and student-generated revenues,
including tuition, fees, and auxiliary receipts (18.6%). State
appropriations still represent a notable sum ($2.27 billion in fiscal
2012), though as a percent of revenues continued to decline, to 9% in
fiscal 2012 from 16% in fiscal 2008.
Federal monies received for research and interest subsidies associated
with Build America Bonds related debt service could be or already have
been affected by federal sequestration. Fitch anticipates that
management will be able to make necessary budgetary adjustments, with
any impact expected to be minimal relative to UC's total resource base.
Its significant pension and retiree health benefits liabilities present
additional operating pressures, although UC is expected to apply any
cash flow savings realized through the SPWB restructuring to its pension
costs.
Complex, Yet Manageable Capital Structure
Total pro forma maximum annual debt service (MADS) occurs in fiscal 2019
at roughly $1.2 billion, including UC's $286.5 million of outstanding
2013 series AH put bonds that the university intends to remarket come
fiscal 2019. While this figure has grown in recent years, UC's pro forma
debt burden remains manageable, with MADS consuming a moderate 5% of
fiscal 2012 operating revenues of $24 billion. MADS includes debt
service on UC's GRBs, limited project revenue bonds (LPRBs), medical
center pooled revenue bonds (MCPRBs), hospital revenue bonds, as well as
debt service associated with the SPWB bonds now being refunded into
GRBs. Going forward, SPWB-related debt service will no longer be a line
item appropriation; instead, UC expects to receive a like amount as part
of its overall state appropriation.. However, the additional
appropriations will not materially alter the pro forma debt burden as it
will have minimal effect on the UC's large operating budget.
Fitch notes that GRBs, LPRBs and MCPRBs are each secured by separate,
designated revenue streams. General revenues securing GRBs totaled a
substantial $9.67 billion in fiscal 2012 compared to GRB pro forma MADS
of roughly $878.3 million.. Adjusting for the 2013 series AH put bonds,
GRB average annual debt service is a more manageable $417.4 million.
Following issuance of the 2013 series AI-AL bonds, the expectation is
that the state will continue to appropriate the necessary funds to
adequately cover debt service on the refunded SPWB bonds. The funds will
be added to UC's annual general appropriation rather than distributed as
a separate line item. Fitch notes positively that despite an increasing
debt load and years of significant state funding cuts, UC's debt burden
remains manageable and partially mitigates concern over annual
appropriation risk. However, further growth in UC's debt burden absent
near-term financial performance improvement could negatively pressure
the rating.
State Environment Stabilizing but Pressures Remain
Following several years of significant cuts, state appropriations to UC
are beginning to stabilize and slightly increase. Fitch rates California
GOs 'A' with a Stable Outlook. Fitch viewed favorably voter passage of
the governor's tax increase initiative (Proposition 30) in November
2012, which eliminated further cuts to higher education in fiscal 2013.
The state's fiscal 2013 budget provided UC an $89.1 million increase for
its share of employer retirement contributions; a $5.2 million increase
for health benefits; and $11.6 million for lease revenue bond debt
service. In connection to passage of Proposition 30, UC will receive
$125 million in additional state funds in fiscal 2014 in return for
having not raised tuition for the 2012 - 2013 academic year.
In addition to the above, the state's adopted 2013-2014 budget includes
a further base budget adjustment of $125.1 million for UC, as well as
increased funding for health benefits ($6.4 million) and lease revenue
bond debt service ($10.2 million). UC's fiscal 2014 state general fund
budget for operating purposes totals $2.84 billion, up from $2.38
billion in fiscal 2013 and $2.27 billion in fiscal 2012. The fiscal 2014
figure also includes $200.4 million of state GO bond debt service. While
additional funding is positive, UC did not raise tuition for 2013-2014,
which is the second year of flat student charges, and the first year of
the governor's proposed four-year tuition freeze. This somewhat limits
UC's tuition raising flexibility, which Fitch has historically noted as
a credit positive.
Fitch affirms the following ratings:
--$6.31 billion GRBs at 'AA+';
--$3.3 million GRBs 2011 series W (taxable Clean Renewable Energy Bonds)
at 'AA+';
--$48.7 million California Statewide Communities Authority, Recovery
Zone Economic Development Bonds (UC Merced Student Housing Phase 4) 2010
series A at 'AA+';
--$500 million GRBs 2011 series Y (taxable floating-rate notes) at
'AA+/F1+';
--$150 million GRBs 2011 series Z (taxable variable-rate demand bonds)
at 'AA+/F1+';
--$286.5 million GRBs 2013 series AH (taxable fixed-rate notes, six-year
put structure) at 'AA+';
--$1.99 billion LPRBs at 'AA';
--$2.82 billion MCPRBs at 'AA';
--$2 billion taxable and tax-exempt CP program at 'F1+'.
Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'U.S. College and University Rating Criteria' (May 10, 2013);
--'Criteria for Assigning Short-Term Ratings Based on Internal
Liquidity' (June 13, 2013);
--'Fitch Affirms Ratings for California GOs at 'A'; Outlook Stable'
(August 19, 2013).
--'Fitch Rates University of California's Medical Center Pooled Rev
Bonds 'AA'; Outlook Stable' (July 23, 2013).
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
U.S. College and University Rating Criteria
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=708049
Criteria for Assigning Short-Term Ratings Based on Internal Liquidity
http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=708640
Additional Disclosure
Solicitation Status
http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=801779
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