New York, November 06, 2012 -- Moody's Investors Service affirmed Town Sports International Holdings, Inc.'s B1 corporate family rating and B2 probability of default rating. Moody's also affirmed the Ba3 rating on Town Sports International, LLC's (wholly-owned subsidiary of Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. - collectively referred to as "Town Sports") amended/expanded senior secured credit facility . The speculative grade liquidity rating was affirmed at SGL-1. The ratings outlook remains stable.
The rating action was prompted by the company's plan to pay an approximately $92 million special dividend to shareholders that will be funded with a $75 million incremental term loan and cash. The company is seeking an amendment to the credit agreement that will allow the transaction to occur.
Although the dividend is a credit negative, Moody's still expects credit metrics to remain appropriate for the ratings. Pro forma for the transaction, debt to EBITDA increases to 4.7 times from an actual level of 4.4 times through the twelve months ended September 30, 2012 (Moody's adjusted). In the press release dated April 2, 2012, Moody's stated that the rating could be pressured if leverage exceeded 5.0 times. The affirmation also reflects our expectation that modest earnings growth combined with debt reduction will result in debt to EBITDA declining to 4.5 times over the next 12 to 18 months. Moody's expects, however, some short-term pressure on operating results owing to soft membership trends and temporary operational disruptions at Town Sports'Downtown Manhattan clubs stemming from the storm Sandy. We expect growth in personal training and price increases to offset these pressures longer-term.
Ratings affirmed (LGD assessments and point estimates revised as noted):Town Sports International Holdings, Inc.
Corporate family rating at B1
Probability of default rating at B2
Speculative grade liquidity rating at SGL-1
Town Sports International, LLC
$50 million senior secured revolving credit facility due 2016 at Ba3 (to LGD2, 25% from LGD2, 23%)
$330.7 million (upsized from $255.7 million) senior secured term loan B due 2018 at Ba3 (to LGD2, 25% fromLGD2, 23%)
RATINGS RATIONALE
Town Sports' B1 corporate family rating is constrained by its high financial leverage, modest interest coverage with EBITDA less capex to interest below 2.0 times, modest scale, and exposure to discretionary consumer spending trends. In addition, operating performance is strongly tied to the economic health of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast markets it serves, more specifically the New York City metro. The rating is supported by the company's business position as a large-scale fitness club operator, a large and growing membership base, and favorable long-term fundamentals for the fitness industry.
The affirmation of the SGL-1 speculative grade liquidity rating reflects Moody's expectation that Town Sports will maintain a very good pro forma liquidity profile near-term, supported by positive free cash flow generation and ample room under the financial covenants governing the credit agreement.
The stable outlook reflects Moody's expectation that operating performance will modestly improve over the next 12 to 18 months and that free cash flow will remain positive due to limited discretionary capital spending.
A ratings upgrade is unlikely in the near term given Town Sports size and limited geographic diversification. Over the medium term, a substantial expansion of the revenue base and geographic diversification accompanied by significantly stronger credit metrics could lead to an upgrade.
The ratings could be downgraded if there is pressure on profitability such that debt to EBITDA is sustained above 5.0 times, EBITDA less capex coverage of interest expense falls to 1.5 times (excluding discretionary spending), and/or liquidity materially weakens.
The principal methodology used in rating Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. was the Global Business & Consumer Service Industry Rating Methodology published in October 2010. Other methodologies used include Loss Given Default for Speculative-Grade Non-Financial Companies in the U.S., Canada and EMEA published in June 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of these methodologies.
Town Sports International Holdings, Inc., through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary Town Sports International, LLC, is one of the leading owners and operators of fitness clubs in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Revenue for the twelve months ended September 30, 2012 was $481 million.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
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Daniel Marx Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody'sInvestors Service, Inc.250 Greenwich StreetNew York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653Alexandra S. Parker MD - Corporate Finance Corporate Finance Group JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc.250 Greenwich StreetNew York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376 SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653(C) 2012 Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and/or its licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.
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