S&P upgrades outlook on BT's debt on strong operating performance

(ShareCast News) - If BT Group is able to close its acquisition of EE in the next two years then together with the improved outlook for its financial performance that means its credit metrics will improve more than previously expected, one of the most influential ratings agencies said on Monday.Cost savings and "sustained strong fixed broadband performances" meant the telecommunications services provider was able to more than compensate for some revenue pressures and higher content costs.As a result of the above S&P revised its forecasts for the company's debt metrics and its outlook on its long-term debt to 'positive' from 'stable'.The latter action "reflects the possibility of a one-notch upgrade within the next one to two years if the EE acquisition closes along the planned parameters and BT's credit metrics are in line with our revised forecasts," S&P said in a statement."We are consequently revising our forecasts to reflect our anticipation of further EBITDA margin upside potential, leading to ratios of debt to EBITDA of less than 2.5x, funds from operations to debt trending toward 35%, and free operating cash flow to debt after pension contributions above 15% being likely achieved by March 2017, sooner than we previously anticipated," the agency explained.