Moody’s Ratings slashed Travelodge Hotels Ltd ’s credit rating deeper into junk, citing the company’s weaker financial performance and deteriorating debt metrics. The budget UK hotel chain faces cost pressures that will continue constraining earnings growth, Moody’s said in a report late Wednesday. The ratings firm also raised concerns about the sustainability of Travelodge’s capital structure, po...
Moody’s Ratings slashed Travelodge Hotels Ltd ’s credit rating deeper into junk, citing the company’s weaker financial performance and deteriorating debt metrics. The budget UK hotel chain faces cost pressures that will continue constraining earnings growth, Moody’s said in a report late Wednesday. The ratings firm also raised concerns about the sustainability of Travelodge’s capital structure, pointing to upcoming debt maturities and “persistently” negative free cash flow. Travelodge has around £623 million ($834 million) equivalent of notes outstanding, with £415 million of senior secured notes maturing in April 2028 and €250 million ($289 million) of floating rate notes due in June 2030, according to the Moody’s report. A £50 million revolving credit facility, which remains undrawn, matures in October 2027, the report said. The downgrade follows a selloff in the company’s bonds this year. Travelodge’s 2028 notes were indicated at around 94 pence, according to pricing on Bloomberg. That’s down from over 102 pence in January and close to a record low of 93.3 pence hit last month. Travelodge is majority owned by funds managed by GoldenTree Asset Management , according to its latest annual accounts.