S&Р пересмотрело прогноз рейтинга ПетроКазахстана на позитивный

/REUTERS, Лондон, 18.10.04/ - Международное рейтинговое агентство Standard & Poor's пересмотрело прогноз изменения рейтинга компании ПетроКазахстан (PetroKazakhstan Inc.) на "позитивный" со "стабильного" благодаря хорошим финансовым показателям, говорится в сообщении S&P. Одновременно с этим Standard & Poor's подтвердило долгосрочный кредитный рейтинг ПетроКазахстана и основной необеспеченный долговой рейтинг компании PetroKazakhstan Finance B.V. на уровне "B+". Ниже приводится оригинальный текст сообщения S&P на английском языке. S&P REVISES PETROKAZAKHSTAN'S OUTLOOK Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today it revised its outlook on PetroKazakhstan Inc. (PKZ), an integrated oil company operating solely in the Republic of Kazakhstan, to positive from stable due to the company's strong financial performance. At the same time, Standard & Poor's affirmed its 'B+' long- term corporate credit rating on PKZ, and its 'B+' senior unsecured debt rating on related entity PetroKazakhstan Finance B.V. "The outlook revision reflects our view that PKZ's strong financial profile might support an upgrade in the future if the company uses free cash flow, generated in a period of high oil prices, to strengthen its reserves base," said Standard & Poor's credit analyst Elena Anankina. "The ratings on PKZ could be raised if the company succeeds in improving its reserve replacement rate, curbing operating and transportation costs, and further diversifying its export routes," added Ms. Elena Anankina. The company's financial profile allows for additional investments in exploration or acquisitions, assuming only moderate amounts being returned to shareholders. The ratings and outlook do not assume that existing litigation, including the company's anti-monopoly case, will materially affect the company's business and financial profile. [2004-10-18]