BP credit rating downgraded by Fitch

Fitch Ratings, one of the three big credit rating agencies, has downgraded BP following the disastrous Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The oil giant’s rating has been cut by six notches, from AA to BBB.

The move means Fitch is less confident of BP’s ability to repay its debts following the huge clean-up and legal costs the company is expected to rack up as a result of the spill.

Fitch expressed concerns about “BP’s fundamental financial flexibility”.

The incident has so far cost BP $1.6bn, the energy giant said on Monday.
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Fitch said it expected BP to face greater costs than previously thought in relation to the oil spill, and these liabilitie4s might have to be met immediately or soon, rather than spread over time.

BP bosses are due to meet President Barack Obama on Wednesday. Mr Obama wants BP to pay billions of dollars into a ring-fenced fund to compensate those with “legitimate” damages claims – which is expected to run into many billions of dollars.

“The scale of today’s rating action has been partly driven by the increased risk that the balance between long-term and near-term cost payments may now be skewed much more heavily toward the near-term than previously anticipated,” Fitch said in a statement.

Explaining its decision to downgrade, Fitch added that the volume of oil being lost was higher than had previously been reported, increasing the fines BP would have to pay to the US government.

Dividend calls

Moreover, the immediate clean-up costs were also higher than it had previously forecast – ranging between $3bn and $6bn.

Longer-term legal costs will be subject to lengthy court proceedings, Fitch said, with a large amount likely to be payable over many years.

The rating agency also said it would be “surprised” if BP did not suspend dividend payments to shareholders while the financial impact of the oil spill remained so unclear.

BP has so far sought to reassure major shareholders that dividends will be paid as normal.

From BBC News.