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Sub-sector: Independent Power Producers
SMC Global Power
- Sector: Energy
- Sub Sector: Independent Power Producers
- Country: Philippines
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Fundamental View
AS OF 14 Jan 2026We see lower non-call risk for SMC GP’s c.2026 perps owing to strong near-term parental funding support, its recent c.2024 and c.2025 perp refinancing, and recent bond exchange/tender with a new $900 mn c.2029 perp issuance.
We see an improving credit outlook for SMC GP aided by lower thermal coal input costs, new contracts, and capacity additions. Net cash inflows of $2.1-$2.2 bn from the completion of an LNG deal is also positive.
While SMC GP improved its cost passthrough contractual mix from end-FY23 onwards, the company still remains exposed to high thermal coal input costs (~40-50% of contracts).
SMC GP incurs sizable capex that has led to additional debt incurrence and elevated credit metrics.
Business Description
AS OF 14 Jan 2026- SMC GP is a leading power generation and distribution company in the Philippines. Its total generation capacity stands at 4.7 GW, accounting for ~20% of the national grid.
- The bulk of its revenues is derived from power generation (~82%), with the remainder from electricity distribution and retailing (~18%).
- It operates 7 power generating plants across diversified energy sources, comprising coal (~62%), natural gas (~25%), hydro (~12%) and battery energy storage (~1%).
- Through long-term power supply agreements and retail supply contracts, SMC GP either sells electricity directly to customers (including large Philippines power distribution company Manila Electric Company, distribution utilities and other industrial customers), or through the Philippine Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.
- SMC GP acts as the Independent Power Producer Administrator (IPPA) for three power plants (~54% of total capacity), where it has the right to sell electricity generated by the IPPs without having to bear large upfront capital expenditures for plant construction and maintenance.
- SMC GP also distributes and retails electricity services through its wholly-owned subsidiary Albay Power and Energy, which distributes power in the province of Albay, Luzon.
- SMC GP is a wholly-owned unlisted subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines based on total revenues and assets.
Risk & Catalysts
AS OF 14 Jan 2026SMC GP still has $984 mn of c.2026 perps outstanding to be addressed, though we see low non-call risks.
A moderate portion of SMC GP’s off-take contracts do not contain cost pass-through mechanisms. This exposes the company to a rise in thermal coal input costs that could squeeze its EBITDA margins.
SMC GP incurs sizable capex that has spurred additional debt incurrence. Consequently, its credit metrics remain elevated.
Over 80% of SMC GP’s installed capacity is thermal coal or gas-fired, which may be viewed unfavorably from an ESG perspective.
Key Metric
AS OF 14 Jan 2026| PHP bn | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | 3Q24 | 3Q25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Book Cap | 69.2% | 62.8% | 64.4% | 62.4% | 58.3% |
| Net Debt to Book Cap | 66.4% | 59.4% | 57.7% | 58.8% | 48.1% |
| Debt/Total Equity | 224.6% | 168.7% | 181.2% | 165.6% | 139.8% |
| Debt/Total Assets | 79.0% | 73.8% | 73.8% | 71.3% | 67.2% |
| Gross Leverage | 19.4x | 12.9x | 11.9x | 10.4x | 10.4x |
| Net Leverage | 18.6x | 12.2x | 10.7x | 9.8x | 8.6x |
| Interest Coverage | 1.4x | 2.2x | 2.3x | 2.5x | 2.1x |
| EBITDA Margin | 13.2% | 26.4% | 26.6% | 25.7% | 43.5% |
CreditSight View Comment
AS OF 03 Feb 2026We upgrade SMC GP to Outperform from Market perform. SMC GP’s perps trade wide to S&SEA B-rated corporates including Vedanta and Indika, and we see room for 30+ bp of outperformance. We are comfortable with SMC GP’s improving credit outlook, completion of the $3.3 bn LNG deal, strong parental support, and management’s willingness and ability to repay the perps. We like SMC GP’s c.2029-2030 perps for their high coupons, and we see the ~8% yields as attractive for a S&SEA HY credit with improving fundamentals. That said, key risks include any weakening of parental funding support (due to SMC’s own sizable infra capex) and overly aggressive capex.
Recommendation Reviewed: February 03, 2026
Recommendation Changed: February 03, 2026
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Perusahaan Listrik Negara
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Search topics about wealth insights and investments.Perusahaan Listrik Negara
- Sector: Energy
- Sub Sector: Independent Power Producers
- Region: Indonesia
- Bond: PLNIJ 4.125 27
- Indicative Yield-to-Maturity (YTM): 4.29%
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Fundamental View
AS OF 17 Dec 2025- PLN enjoys extremely strong ties with the Government of Indonesia (GoI) given its critical policy role of electrifying the nation. Post the launch of Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara, PLN is now indirectly owned by the GoI through Danantara.
- PLN delivered a robust set of 1H25 results, with total revenue and EBITDA up 5% and 9% YoY respectively driven by resilient power demand across Indonesia
- Looking ahead, we expect PLN’s credit metrics to improve in FY25 supported by higher YoY EBITDA, though partially weighed upon by higher capex; we anticipate FY25 EBITDA growth to be in the mid to high single-digit % YoY, mainly attributable to Indonesia’s healthy economic growth, supporting power demand; we also expect power tariffs to remain flat.
Business Description
AS OF 17 Dec 2025- PLN is involved in the entire electricity value-chain, from power generation, to transmission, distribution and retail.
- It alone accounts for 76% (~47 GW) of Indonesia's generation capacity (of which 8 GW is renewable capacity), while IPPs provide the remainder.
- The company controls and operates the entire transmission and distribution network in the country. It is the sole buyer of electricity produced by IPPs, through power purchase agreements (PPAs).
- It sells electricity to well-diversified off-takers – 41% to households, 25% to industrial customers, 21% to businesses and 12% to others.
- Since 2015, the GoI has gradually implemented monthly tariff adjustments for 13 customer groups, so that rates charged to customers are better matched with production costs.
- However, under the Public Service Obligation (PSO), the company will continue to sell electricity at subsidized rates of 50% to 450-volt amperes (VA) power households and 25% to 900 VA power households. The GoI subsequently reimburses the company for the difference between the subsidized tariff rate and production cost, typically within 2-3 months.
Risk & Catalysts
AS OF 17 Dec 2025- The company provides subsidized electricity to certain households for which it subsequently receives reimbursements from the GoI; though these payments tend to get delayed during major events such as COVID-19 pandemic.
- In order to increase the country’s electrification ratio to 97%, the company had been mandated by the GoI to develop large electricity capacities through the Fast Track II and 35,000 MW Programs. Implementation of such complex programs has required significant capital expenditure, which has led PLN’s FCF to fall deep into the red in recent years and created a funding gap.
- The success of the above programs is also contingent on the company’s ability to source coal cheaply, select quality contractors, acquire land rights and receive adequate subsidy reimbursements from the GoI.
- Being primarily a thermal power producer, PLN may be viewed unfavourably from an ESG perspective.
Key Metric
AS OF 17 Dec 2025| IDR bn | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | 1H24 | 1H25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Book Cap | 28.9% | 27.8% | 27.3% | 27.5% | 27.2% |
| Net Debt to Book Cap | 25.2% | 23.7% | 23.0% | 25.4% | 23.9% |
| Debt/Total Equity | 40.7% | 38.5% | 37.5% | 38.0% | 37.3% |
| Debt/Total Assets | 24.6% | 23.4% | 22.5% | 22.9% | 22.1% |
| Gross Leverage | 4.1x | 4.1x | 3.6x | 4.1x | 3.4x |
| Net Leverage | 3.5x | 3.5x | 3.0x | 3.8x | 3.0x |
| Interest Coverage | 4.5x | 3.7x | 3.9x | 3.4x | 3.9x |
| EBITDA Margin | 31.2% | 27.6% | 30.4% | 29.8% | 30.9% |
CreditSights View
AS OF 27 Jan 2026PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara) is a resilient, quasi-sovereign utility, making it a core defensive recommendation primarily due to its monopolistic dominance and critical role in powering Indonesia’s economy. The company’s credit strength is built on foundational operations across the entire electricity value chain—generation, transmission, and distribution—providing predictable cash flows and protection through established government subsidy mechanisms. Complementing this stability is its strategic alignment with national development goals, now reinforced by its indirect ownership under the sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, which supports its capital-intensive transition toward renewable energy and the ambitious 2034 power supply plan. This deep integration with the state not only mitigates execution risks associated with its elevated capital expenditures but also ensures robust financial backing, allowing PLN to sustain healthy credit metrics—recently improving net leverage to 3.0x—positioning it to benefit substantially from Indonesia’s resilient power demand and long-term economic expansion.
Recommendation Reviewed: January 27, 2026
Recommendation Changed: December 06, 2024
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