Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has reported that
Fotolia’s revenues for the fiscal year ending December 2012 totaled
$87 million. Moody’s expects revenues to increase in the “low to mid-single digit percentage range over the next 12 months.”
The information has become available because Fotolia is trying to raise $300 million in loans.
NEW $200 million 1st Lien Senior Secured Term Loan: Assigned Ba3, LGD3 -- 31%
NEW $100 million 2nd Lien Senior Secured Term Loan: Assigned Caa1, LGD5 -- 85%
An obligation rated “Ba” is judged to have speculative elements and is subject to substantial credit risk. The “3” indicates that this obligation ranks at the lower end of this rating category.
An obligation rated “Caa” is judged to be of poor standing and subject to very high credit risk. The “1” indicates this obligation ranks at the higher end of this rating category.
Moody’s has assigned a “Probability of Default” rating to both these obligations. The “Loss Given Default” (LGD) assessments are opinions about expected loss given default on fixed income obligations expressed as a percent of principal and accrued interest at the resolution of the default.
In June 2012,
KKR acquired a 47% stake (50% voting stake) in Fotolia from TA Associates (31% remaining ownership) and Oleg Tscheltzoff (Co-founder & CEO) in a transaction which valued the company at $455 million. At that time KKR Capital Markets put in place a $150 million senior financing for the company.
Proceeds from the new debt instruments are expected to fund the refinancing of existing debt, a $161 million special dividend, and transaction related fees. The rating outlook is stable.
Fotolia’s sales are strongest in the French and German markets and Moody’s says the company has a “leadership” position in these markets. It is not clear that Moody’s has examined the sales of Shutterstock and iStock in these markets. Fotolia failed to make an appearance at the recent Microstock Expo in Berlin which drew top microstock shooters from around the world. Shutterstock sent 9 delegates and sponsored several events. Shutterstock has also recently opened an office in Berlin.
Fotolia hopes this refinancing will provide more flexibility for it to expand into new markets.