RTL Rtl Group

RNS Number:5391E
RTL Group
1 June 2001

1 June 2001




Moody's and Standard & Poor's assign first ratings to RTL Group


Luxembourg, 1 June 2001. - RTL Group today announces its first credit ratings
from the two leading rating agencies, Moody's and Standard and Poor's. Moody's
has assigned to RTL Group a short-term rating of P2 and a long-term issuer
rating of A3, while Standard & Poor's has assigned a short-term rating of A-2
and a long-term rating of single-A-minus, with stable outlook. The short-term
ratings have been assigned in advance of the EUR 1 billion euro commercial
paper programme, to be launched by RTL Group in the next weeks.


The ratings reflect RTL Group's strong position in several European television
markets, its complementary radio activities, a well-established production
business as well as benefits resulting from domestic and cross-border families
of channels and scale. They further reflect the Group's current levels of
profitability and cash flow generation, and the expectation that the funding
of further growth will be consistent with a relatively conservative financial
profile.


The ratings anticipate that RTL Group will reposition its external
indebtedness and borrowings capacity at the level of RTL Group SA, with
minimum necessary amounts kept at the level of its subsidiaries.


RTL Group's Chief Executive Officer Didier Bellens said: "These ratings
demonstrate the soundness of our strategy and the enormous potential we have
to further improve the Group's position as pan-European leader in its sector.
They are a recognition of the quality of our assets and business lines and
reflect their unique combination and potential. We are perfectly positioned to
build on our strong brands and our excellent audience know how and to leverage
synergies between our broadcasting and production activities throughout many
countries."


Thomas Rabe, Chief Financial Officer, commented: "I am delighted about these
ratings because they reflect our financial strength and are another proof that
the combination and diversity of our assets is convincing. They allow us to
further leverage our growth potentials and give us access to new sources of
debt funding. The euro commercial paper programme which will be launched soon
is a first step in this direction."


Enquiries:


RTL Group

Markus Payer - Tel: 352 42142-5020


Finsbury

Julius Duncan - Tel: 44 207 251 3801

Alice Macandrew

Rtl Group (LSE:RTL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024

Rtl Group (LSE:RTL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024