Fitch Downgrades Salem Hospital (OR) Revs to 'A'; Outlook Stable

SAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)--

Fitch Ratings has downgraded to 'A' from 'A+' its ratings on the following revenue bonds issued on behalf of Salem Hospital, obligated group member of Salem Health, Oregon):

--$50,000,000 Salem Hospital Facility Authority (OR) (Salem Hospital Project) var rate rev bonds ser 2008C (LOC: Bank of America, N.A.);

--$75,000,000 Salem Hospital Facility Authority (OR) (Salem Hospital Project) var rate rev bonds ser 2008B (LOC: U.S. Bank National Association);

--$60,232,197 Salem Hospital Facility Authority (OR) (Salem Hospital Project) rev bonds ser 2008A;

--$120,000,000 Salem Hospital Facility Authority (OR) (Salem Hospital Project) rev bonds ser 2006.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

SECURITY

Debt payments are secured by a gross revenue pledge of the obligated group (Salem Hospital). For fiscal 2012 (unaudited; Sept. 30 year-end), Salem Hospital accounted for 96% of Salem Health's operating revenues and 98% of its total assets.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

COMPRESSED FINANCIAL PROFILE: The rating downgrade to 'A' from 'A+' is supported by Salem Health's current financial profile, which is now more in line with the 'A' rating. Further, Fitch believes the financial profile will remain compressed over the medium term as operations remain challenged by a weak regional economy.

PRESSURED PROFITABILITY: Financial results for fiscal 2012 were markedly lower than expected with profitability margins comparing unfavorably to Fitch's 'A' category medians as net patient revenue growth suffered from systemically low inpatient activity. Salem Health reported $4.8 million in operating income for fiscal 2012, or a 0.8% operating margin, down from $21.4 million in the prior year (3.6%). Fitch expects operating profitability to remain pressured through fiscal 2013 and management has budgeted a 1.7% operating margin for fiscal 2013.

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN: Beginning March 2012, management implemented a financial improvement plan driven primarily by strong cost savings. The plan relies on both labor and non-labor cost savings, supply chain and revenue cycle management, and enhanced productivity to achieve $15.3 million in annualized savings by Sept. 30, 2013. Fitch notes that the weak fiscal 2012 financial results even included $8.8 million of realized cost savings due to management's plan.

GOOD LIQUIDITY: Liquidity relative to expenses is very good as Salem Health had 254.4 days cash on hand (DCOH) at Sept. 30, 2012, compared to Fitch's 'A' category median of 191 days. Though the strong balance sheet growth reflects favorable investment portfolio performance, it also reflects sizably reduced capital spending over the last three fiscal years, which averaged 71.8% of depreciation annually.

LEADING MARKET SHARE: Salem Health maintains a leading and dominant 77% inpatient market share position in the primary service area, and a leading 24% market share in the secondary service area.

MODERATELY HIGH DEBT BURDEN: Though Salem Health has no new debt plans, Fitch believes Salem Health's pressured profitability and cash flow generation leaves no room for any additional debt capacity at the current rating.

CREDIT PROFILE

The rating downgrade to 'A' from 'A+' reflects Salem Health's current financial profile, which is more reflective of the 'A' rating level and is expected o remain so over the medium term. Profitability for fiscal 2012 was only just above break-even and was aided by strong cost saving measures. For fiscal 2013, profitability is budgeted to improve modestly but remain low for the rating category.

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Regional Economy Pressures Profitability

The weak regional and state economies have resulted in persistently high unemployment rates and led to systemically low inpatient activity and an unfavorable shift in its payor mix. As a result, net patient revenue for fiscal 2012 fell by 4% from the prior fiscal year and negatively impacted profitability. For fiscal 2012, Salem Health generated $4.8 million in operating income, equating to a meek 0.8% operating margin, which is markedly lower than the 3.6% operating margin for fiscal 2011 and is lower than Fitch's 'A' category median of 2.8%.

In response to the flagging profitability, management implemented a financial improvement plan beginning in March 2012 to yield $7.5 million in cost savings by Sept. 30, 2012 and $15.3 million in annual cost savings by March 2013. The plan relies on labor and non-labor cost savings, supply chain and revenue cycle management, and enhanced productivity. Management reports it exceeded its target for Sept. 30, 2012 with $8.8 million of cost savings realized. Although these cost saving measures are viewed positively, Fitch is concerned about the decline in revenue and pressure on profitability. Salem Hospital has budgeted a 1.7% operating margin for fiscal 2013.

Good Liquidity

Unrestricted cash and investment levels have risen steadily over the last three fiscal years due to low capital spending and favorable investment returns, especially in fiscal 2012. As of Sept. 30, 2012, Salem Health had $345.9 million in unrestricted cash and investments, equating to a very good 254.4 DCOH and an average 115.4% cash to debt position, compared to Fitch's respective 'A' category medians of 191 days and 116.4%.

Minimal Capital Spending

Capital spending has ebbed dramatically over the last three fiscal years as Salem brought a new hospital tower online in 2009. The low capital spending trend also reflects the Salem Health Board's desire to preserve and grow liquidity, especially in light of pressured profitability and cash flow generation. As a result, capital spending was a mere 58.1% of depreciation expense in fiscal year (FY) 2012; 85% for fiscal 2011, and 72.2% for 2010. The fiscal 2013 budget incorporates $49.7 million in capital spending, including $8 million in contingency spending, which equates to 117% of depreciation expense.

Moderately High Debt Burden

Salem Hospital's debt burden is moderately high as maximum annual debt service (MADS) accounts for 3.5% of operating revenue, which is high compared to Fitch's 'A' category median of 2.8%. Further, MADS coverage by 2012 operating EBITDA, at 3.0 times (x), is weak when compared to Fitch's 'A' median of 4.1x. While Salem Health has no new debt plans, Fitch believes that Salem Health's current cash flow generation leaves no room for any sizable additional debt capacity at the current rating.

As of Sept. 30, 2012, Salem Health had $299.8 million in long-term debt outstanding, of which $125 million (42%) are variable rate demand bonds supported by two letters of credit (LOCs) provided by Merrill Lynch Bank of America and US Bank, which expire on Dec. 1, 2013 and April 30, 2016, respectively. Fitch notes that Salem's cash to puttable debt is strong at 2.7x. In addition, Salem's investments are highly liquid. Salem Health has entered into a fixed payor interest rate swap agreement with UBS, with an aggregate notional amount of $75 million. As of Oct. 31, 2012, the swaps had a mark-to-market value of negative $19.4 million, and collateral posting is required above a $20 million threshold.

Stable Outlook

The Stable Outlook is predicated on Fitch's expectation that management will remain focused on its financial improvement plan, maintain current balance sheet strength, and achieve its aforementioned budget target for fiscal 2013.

About the Organization

Salem Hospital is a 424-staffed-bed hospital located in Salem, OR, approximately 45 miles south of Portland. Salem Health reported $581.7 million in operating revenue for fiscal 2012 (unaudited). Salem Health covenants to provide annual audited financial statements to the Municipal Securities Rule Making Board's EMMA system.

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. The ratings above were solicited by, or on behalf of, the issuer, and therefore, Fitch has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

--'Revenue Supported Rating Criteria', June 12, 2012;

--'Non-Profit Hospital and Health System Rating Criteria', July 23, 2012.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

Revenue-Supported Rating Criteria

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm rpt_id=681015

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