EX-99.2 3 ea020914301ex99-2_sapiens.htm ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF RATING REPORT OF MA'ALOT S&P GLOBAL (A PART OF THE GLOBAL RATING FIRM STANDARD & POOR'S FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC) WITH RESPECT TO SAPIENS' SERIES B DEBENTURES, PUBLISHED ON JULY 9, 2024

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

July 9, 2024

 

Rating Affirmation

‘ilAA-’ Rating Affirmed; Outlook Stable

 

Primary Credit Analyst:

 

Sivan Mesilati, 972-3-7539735 sivan.mesilati@spglobal.com

 

Additional Contact:

 

Tom Dar, 972-3-7539722 tom.dar@spglobal.com

 

Please note that this translation was made for convenience purposes and for the company’s use only and under no circumstances shall obligate S&P Global Ratings Maalot Ltd. The translation has no legal status and S&P Global Ratings Maalot Ltd. does not assume any responsibility whatsoever as to its accuracy and is not bound by its contents. In the case of any discrepancy with the official Hebrew version published on July 9, 2024, the Hebrew version shall apply.

 

1 | July 9, 2024Rating Affirmation

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Table of Contents

 

‘ilAA-’ Rating Affirmed; Outlook Stable 1
Table of Contents 2
‘ilAA-’ Rating Affirmed; Outlook Stable 3
Overview 3
Outlook 4
Downside Scenario 4
Upside Scenario 4
Base Case Scenario 4
Assumptions 4
Key Metrics 5
Company Description 5
Business Risk 5
Financial Risk 6
Liquidity 8
Covenant Analysis 8
Compliance expectations 8
Requirements 8
Modifiers 8
Environmental, Social, And Governance 8
Recovery Analysis 9
Key analytical factors 9
Simulated default assumptions 9
Simplified Waterfall 9
Reconciliation 10
Related Criteria And Research 11
Ratings List 12

 

2 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Rating Affirmation

‘ilAA-’ Rating Affirmed; Outlook Stable

 

Overview

 

Key Strengths   Key Risks
International geographic diversification.   Limited intellectual property rights and R&D capabilities.
Growth and modernization trends in software solutions for the insurance market.   Small revenue base and EBITDA compared with global peers.
High barriers to entry underpinned by high software replacement costs and long-term relationships with clients.   Exposure to cyber risks.
Strong liquidity.      

 

As we expected, Sapiens International Corporation N.V. (“Sapiens” or “the Company”) continued growing in 2023, presenting an 8.4% increase in revenue. In the first quarter of 2024, the Company’s sales totaled $134.2 million, an increase of about 7.6% compared to the corresponding quarter last year. The growth was mainly due to the Company’s organic activity due to the creation of synergy between the companies it had acquired.

 

In our base case scenario, we expect the Company’s operations will continue to grow in 2024, including a ~5%-7% increase in sales. We believe the Company’s growth will be based on its expanding business in Europe, in particular Germany, Austria and the Nordic countries, and in its core segments in the United States, in addition to continued synergy between the companies acquired in the past two years and the Company’s existing products. As a result, we expect the Company’s adjusted EBITDA to increase to about $105 million - $110 million in 2024.

 

We expect Sapiens to continue to maintain low leverage. Sapiens has a cash cushion and bank deposits totaling about $196 million as of March 31, 2024, and in our base scenario we assume that if it makes small-medium acquisitions they will be financed with cash and/or by debt issuances. Accordingly, we believe that considering Sapiens’ low debt and projected increase EBITDA growth in the coming year, the Company is expected to present in 2024 an adjusted debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.7x-1.0x and an FFO (funds from operations) to debt ratio of 90%-100%. We estimate that in accordance with the Company’s dividend policy, in the next two years it will distribute an annual dividend totaling $25 million - $35 million in two semi-annual installments.

 

3 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

We acknowledge a high degree of uncertainty regarding the scope, duration and effects of the war in Israel. If the conflict expands to additional fronts, it could significantly increase the adverse risk to macroeconomic parameters in Israel and capital market volatility. There are already concerns that Israel’s main economic indicators may be weaker than expected (see Israel Long-Term Ratings Lowered To ‘A+’ From ‘AA-’ On Heightened Geopolitical Risk; Outlook Negative, published on April 18, 2024). As the situation evolves, we will update our assumptions and estimates accordingly.

 

Outlook

 

The stable outlook reflects our assessment that Sapiens will maintain its position in the software solutions market in North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asia Pacific). We also expect the Company to maintain organic growth, alongside acquisitions of companies in similar or tangent areas, while maintaining stable operating performance. The outlook also reflects our assessment that in the next 12 months the Company will maintain adjusted debt to EBITDA of about 1.0x and adjusted FFO to debt of about 90%, commensurate with the rating.

 

Downside Scenario

 

We may lower the rating if Sapiens’s competitive position is undermined. This could happen if market conditions worsen, leading to a deterioration in the Company’s operating performance and to continued or material decline in profitability. The rating will also come under pressure if Sapiens materially increases its financial debt in order to finance acquisitions or large dividend distributions to shareholders, such that it fails to consistently post an adjusted debt to EBITDA ratio of about 2.0x.

 

Upside Scenario

 

We may consider a positive rating action if Sapiens’s business risk profile materially improves, as reflected, inter alia, by a higher market share in its regions of operation, materially improved profitability and a wider client base and product variety compared with peers.

 

Base Case Scenario

 

Assumptions

 

About 5%-7% sales growth in 2024, due to organic growth, notably in Europe and APAC in life and elementary insurance.

 

R&D expenditures of 12%-13% of total expenses in 2024-2025.

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin of about 19%-20% in 2024-2025.

 

Acquisitions of about $15 million per year in 2024-2025.

 

4 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Dividend distribution of about $25 million - $35 million per year in two semi-annual installments, in accordance with the Company’s dividend distribution policy (about 40% of its non-GAAP net profit).

 

Key Metrics

 

Financial Metric  2023A  2024E  2025E
Debt/EBITDA  0.9x  0.7x-1.0x  0.7x-1.0x
FFO/debt  76.1%  90%-100%  105%-115%

 

A - actual. E – Estimate.

 

Company Description

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V. (“Sapiens”) is engaged in the development and marketing of global software solutions for financial markets and in particular for insurance companies, adapted to the segments of general insurance, life insurance and pension, reinsurance, etc. Sapiens has been working with international insurance companies and banks for years, and serves more than 600 insurance companies in North America, Europe, Israel and Asia.

 

The controlling shareholder (43.6%) in Sapiens is Formula Systems (1985) Ltd. (“Formula”, ilAA- /Stable) which, through subsidiaries, is engaged in the development, marketing and distribution of software and software tools and the provision of software services for IT systems. The remaining shares are held by the public. The Company’s shares are traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and on NASDAQ.

 

Business Risk

 

Sapiens’s business risk assessment is supported by the geographical spread of its operations. Sapiens operates in North America, EMEA and APAC. The Company’s markets of operation are characterized by high barriers to entry, underpinned by long-term relationships with clients and by high replacement costs when changing software suppliers.

 

In the past year, Sapiens’s organic growth stood out against the backdrop of significant acquisitions it has made in recent years, in particular growth for the deployment of global operations. The Company’s North American and European operations are currently generating most of its sales, following the acquisition of U.S.-based Delphi Technology, which provides software solutions for the insurance market with an emphasis on medical malpractice, Nordic Tia Technology, which provides digital software solutions, and Sum.Cumo which provides a foothold in the German market.

 

5 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Figure 1: Geographical distribution (% of revenue)

 

 

On the other hand, we believe Sapiens’s revenues and EBITDA to be small compared with global peers. Global competitors benefit from economies of scale allowing them to bear high R&D costs and to make substantial capital investments. Furthermore, the Company has relatively limited intellectual property rights and R&D capabilities compared with global peers. Intellectual property rights and R&D capabilities are critical to creating barriers to entry and a leading market position.It should also be noted that in the context of intellectual property, the Company is exposed to cyber risks, including the disclosure of confidential information, system failures, etc., which may affect its activities and reputation. However, the Company has been investing in information security, and has insurance policies to cover certain types of damages of this kind.

 

Financial Risk

 

Sapiens’s financial profile is based on low leverage and maintaining a cash cushion (which includes short-term bank deposits) amounting to about $196 million as of March 31, 2024. In 2023, its adjusted debt to EBITDA was about 0.9x, compared with about 1.3x in 2022.

 

The Company’s sales increased by about 7.6% In the first quarter of 2024 compared to the corresponding quarter last year, totaling about $134.2 million. This is mainly due to organic growth led by the North American region, where sales grew by about 9.5%, and Europe where sales grew by about 6.5%. Sales in the South Africa and APAC regions also grew, by about 5.4% compared to the first quarter of 2023. In addition, Non-GAAP operating income grew by about 7.8% to about $24.3 million, but the EBITDA margin remained about 18%.

 

6 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

In our base case scenario, we assume that sales will grow by about 5%-7% in 2024, due to expected expansions in Europe, in particular Germany, Austria and the Nordic countries, and in its core segments in the United States, and due to continued synergy between acquired companies and the Company’s existing products. As a result, we expect the Company’s adjusted EBITDA to increase to about $105 million - $110 million in 2024. We believe that if small- to medium scale acquisitions are made this year, they will be financed with cash and/or debt. We therefore estimate that, considering Sapiens’ low debt and projected EBITDA growth in the coming year, the Company is expected to present an adjusted debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.7x-1.0x and an FFO to debt ratio of 90%-100%.

 

We expect Sapiens to distributed about $25 million -$35 million in dividends this year, and a similar amount next year. This is in accordance with the Company’s dividend distribution policy, according to which it distributes up to 40% of its net income (Non-GAAP).

 

Table 1.

Sapiens International Corp. N.V. -- Financial Summary (Mil. $)

Industry Sector: Software & Services

 

   2023   2022   2021   2020   2019 
Revenue   514.6    474.7    461.0    382.9    325.7 
EBITDA   102.4    92.5    90.9    74.7    58.0 
Funds from operations (FFO)   69.7    78.8    78.4    50.5    46.5 
Interest expense   2.1    3.6    6.4    6.8    5.7 
Cash interest paid   2.8    3.1    5.8    7.9    5.1 
Cash flow from operations   75.8    41.5    78.0    58.1    63.1 
Capital expenditure   2.8    3.0    3.9    5.4    11.5 
Free operating cash flow (FOCF)   73.1    38.5    74.1    52.7    51.6 
Dividends paid   28.2    38.6    20.3    7.0    11.2 
Discretionary cash flow (DCF)   44.9    (0.0)   53.8    45.7    40.5 
Cash and short-term investments   202.1    180.3    210.2    182.6    66.3 
Gross available cash   202.1    180.3    210.2    182.6    66.3 
Debt   91.6    116.6    151.6    180.2    121.7 
Equity   449.9    402.9    408.7    383.7    225.5 
Adjusted ratios                         
Annual revenue growth (%)   8.4    3.0    20.4    17.6    12.4 
EBITDA margin (%)   19.9    19.5    19.7    19.5    17.8 
Return on capital (%)   15.7    12.7    10.8    10.7    12.4 
EBITDA interest coverage (x)   48.9    25.4    14.3    11.1    10.2 
FFO cash interest coverage (x)   25.5    26.7    14.5    7.4    10.0 
Debt/EBITDA (x)   0.9    1.3    1.7    2.4    2.1 
FFO/debt (%)   76.1    67.6    51.7    28.0    38.2 
Cash flow from operations/debt (%)   82.8    35.6    51.4    32.3    51.8 
FOCF/debt (%)   79.8    33.1    48.8    29.3    42.4 
DCF/debt (%)   49.0    (0.0)   35.5    25.3    33.2 

 

7 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Liquidity

 

We assess Sapiens’s liquidity as strong, supported by a robust free operating cash flow. We expect the ratio between the Company’s sources and uses to exceed 1.5x in the 12 months starting April 1, 2024. This assessment reflects the Company’s cash balance, operating cash flow, debt maturities, maturities, relatively limited capital expenditure and dividend distributions.

 

Following are the Company’s main sources and uses for the 12 months starting April 1, 2024:

 

Principal Liquidity Sources   Principal Liquidity Uses
About $196 million in cash and cash equivalents (including short-term bank deposits).   Debt maturities of about $20 million.
Cash FFO of $90 million - $100 million.   Capital expenditure (capex) of about $10 million - $15 million.
      Dividend distribution of about $25 million - $35 million.

 

Covenant Analysis

 

Compliance expectations

 

As of March 31, 2024, the Company has adequate headroom on its financial covenants, and we estimate that it will maintain this headroom in the medium term.

 

Requirements

 

Under the terms of its bonds, the Company must maintain consolidated equity attributable to its shareholders (excluding minority interests) of at least $120 million. It must also maintain a ratio not exceeding 65% between net financial debt and net CAP on a consolidated basis, and a net financial debt to EBITDA ratio not exceeding 5.5x.

 

Modifiers

 

Diversification/portfolio effect: Neutral

Capital structure: Neutral

Liquidity: Neutral

Financial policy: Neutral

Management and governance: Neutral

Comparable ratings analysis: Neutral

 

Environmental, Social, And Governance

 

ESG factors have an overall neutral influence on our credit analysis of Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

8 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Recovery Analysis

 

Key analytical factors

 

We are affirming our ‘ilAA-’ rating, identical to the issuer rating, on Sapiens International Corporation N.V.’s unsecured Series B bonds. The recovery rating for this series is ’3’, reflecting our assessment that in the case of a hypothetical default, the recovery rate would be 50%-70%.

 

Our recovery prospects assessment is constrained to the 50%-70% range despite the simplified waterfall, according to which the value available for unsecured debtors exceeds total unsecured debt, due to our assessment that on the path to default the Company will replace unsecured debt by secured or senior debt.

 

Simulated default assumptions

 

Simulated year of default: 2029

 

A deep recession in the countries of operation, alongside failed M&A activity and the loss of several significant customers, will significantly hurt the Company’s operating performance.

 

The Company will continue operating as a going concern, an assessment supported by its long- term signed contracts with clients and by the high costs of replacing existing chip suppliers.

 

Simplified Waterfall

 

EBITDA on emergence: about $11.5 million

 

Industry EBITDA multiple: 6.5x

 

Gross enterprise value as going concern: about $75 million

 

Administrative and operating costs: 5%

 

Net value available for unsecured debt: about $70 million

 

Unsecured debt claims: about $36 million

 

Recovery expectations for unsecured debt: 50%-70% (constrained as noted above)

 

Unsecured recovery rating (1 to 6): 3

 

All debt amounts include six months’ prepetition interest.

 

9 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Mapping Recovery Percentages To Recovery Ratings

 

Recovery
expectations (%)
  Description   Recovery rating   Notching above/below
issuer rating
100%   Full recovery   1+   +3 notches
90%-100%   Very high recovery   1   +2 notches
70%-90%   Substantial recovery   2   +1 notch
50%-70%   Meaningful recovery   3   0 notches
30%-50%   Average recovery   4   0 notches
10%-30%   Modest recovery   5   -1 notch
0%-10%   Negligible recovery   6   -2 notches

 

Recovery ratings are capped in certain countries to adjust for reduced creditor recovery prospects in these jurisdictions. Recovery ratings on unsecured debt issues are generally also subject to caps (see Step 6, paragraphs 90-98 of Recovery Rating Criteria For Speculative-Grade Corporate Issuers, December 7, 2016, for further detail). ICR--Issuer credit rating.

 

Reconciliation

 

In order to create a basis for comparison with other rated companies, we adjust the data reported in the financial statements which we use to calculate financial ratios. The main adjustment to Sapiens International Corporation N.V.’s consolidated data for 2023 is the discounting of R&D expenses and their deduction from EBITDA. Cash was not deducted from debt.

 

Table 2.

 

Sapiens International Corp. N.V.--Reconciliation Of Reported Amounts With S&P Global Ratings’ Adjusted Amounts (Mil. $) for the Fiscal Year Ended Dec 31, 2023

 

   Debt   Shareholder’
equity
   EBITDA   Interest
expense
   S&P
Global
Ratings’
adjusted
EBITDA
   Cash flow
from
operations
   Capital
expenditure
 
Reported Amounts   59.3    447.3    100.3    --    102.4    79.4    9.3 
S&P Global Ratings adjustments                                   
Cash taxes paid   --    --    --    --    (29.9)   --    -- 
Cash interest paid   --    --    --    --    (0.8)   --    -- 
Reported lease liabilities   27.7    --    --    --    --    --    -- 
Operating leases   --    --    5.0    2.1    (2.1)   2.9    -- 
Postretirement benefit obligations/deferred compensation   3.1    --    --    --    --    --    -- 
Capitalized development costs   --    --    (6.5)   --    --    (6.5)   (6.5)
Share-based compensation expense   --    --    3.6    --    --    --    -- 
Nonoperating income (expense)   --    --    --    --    --    --    -- 
Noncontrolling interest/minority interest   --    2.7    --    --    --    --    -- 
Debt: Earnouts and deferred consideration for business acquisitions   1.5    --    --    --    --    --    -- 
Total adjustments   32.2    2.7    2.1    2.1    (32.7)   (3.6)   (6.5)

 

10 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

S&P Global Ratings adjusted amounts

 

    Debt   Equity   EBITDA   Interest
expense
   Funds
from
operations
   Cash flow
from
operations
   Capital
expenditure
 
Adjusted    91.6    449.9    102.4    2.1    69.7    75.8    2.8 

 

Related Criteria And Research

 

Principles Of Credit Ratings, February 16, 2011

 

Methodology: Industry Risk, November 19, 2013

 

Country Risk Assessment Methodology And Assumptions, November 19, 2013

 

Methodology And Assumptions: Liquidity Descriptors For Global Corporate Issuers, December 16, 2014

 

Recovery Rating Criteria For Speculative-Grade Corporate Issuers, December 7, 2016

 

Corporate Methodology: Ratios And Adjustments, April 1, 2019

 

Group Rating Methodology, July 1, 2019

 

Environmental, Social, And Governance Principles In Credit Ratings, October 10, 2021

 

Methodology For National And Regional Scale Credit Ratings, June 8, 2023

 

Corporate Methodology, January 7, 2024

 

Methodology: Management And Governance Credit Factors For Corporate Entities And Insurers, January 7, 2024

 

Sector-Specific Corporate Methodology, April 4, 2024

 

S&P Global Ratings Definitions, June 9, 2023

 

11 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

Ratings List

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.  Rating  Date when the rating was first published  Date when the rating was last updated
Issuer rating(s)         
Long term  ilAA-/Stable  13/08/2017  11/07/2023
Issue rating(s)         
Senior Unsecured Debt         
Series B  ilAA-  12/09/2017  11/07/2023
Issuer Credit Rating history         
Long term         
June 28, 2022  ilAA-/Stable      
August 13, 2017  ilA+/Stable      

 

Additional details    
Time of the event   09/07/2024 09:19
Time when the event was learned of   09/07/2024 09:19
Rating requested by   Issuer

 

12 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il

 

 

Sapiens International Corporation N.V.

 

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13 | July 9, 2024www.maalot.co.il