RE: Tullow Oil (TLW)10 May 2026 08:51
Nice one Shls, so we have been upgraded from the previous rating 'D' (default).....which sent us to an all time low of 3.5p.
08-May-2026 | 05:59 EDT
Tullow Oil PLC Upgraded To 'CCC+' On Refinancing; Outlook Stable; New Senior Secured Notes Rated 'CCC+'
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On April 27, 2026, Tullow Oil PLC completed a consensual debt restructuring that improved its liquidity position and debt maturity profile.
While we expect the company to generate S&P Global Ratings-adjusted free operating cash flow (FOCF) of about $280 million in 2026, we view this cash flow as reliant on oil prices, and therefore insufficient for the group's high financial indebtedness. Because of this, and the company’s effective inability to refinance its debt maturities for a more extended period, we view the new capital structure as unsustainable. We believe that Tullow Oil continues to rely on favorable oil and capital market conditions to meet its financial commitments.
We view liquidity as adequate in the next 12 months, as funds from operations (FFO) are supported by the current favorable oil prices, new $100 million cargo prepayment facility (CPF), and lack of debt maturities in the next 12 months.
We raised our long-term issuer credit rating on Tullow Oil to 'CCC+' from 'D' (default). We also assigned a 'CCC+' issue rating to the new $1.2 billion senior secured notes issued by Tullow Holdco 2 Ltd. We withdrew our issue rating on the $1.285 billion refinanced senior secured notes, because they are no longer outstanding.
The stable outlook reflects our view that Tullow Oil’s liquidity will be adequate over the next 12 months, and that market conditions are very favorable at present.
LONDON (S&P Global Ratings) May 8, 2026-- S&P Global Ratings today took the rating actions listed above.
S&P Global Ratings believes that refinancing has improved Tullow Oil’s liquidity position and maturity profile. The completed process has provided the company with a new super senior $100 million CPF. It also replaced the existing senior secured notes and the loan provided by Glencore Energy UK Ltd. with new, longer-dated debt instruments. The new CPF ranks ahead of the senior secured notes and has the same security package and guarantees. The CPF can be drawn against designated cargo from the Ghanaian Jubilee and Tw