Fitch Affirms Ruby Pipeline, LLC; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings has affirmed its long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured rating on Ruby Pipeline, LLC (Ruby) at 'BBB-'. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

Approximately $1.025 billion in debt is affected by today's rating decision.

Ruby is a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulated interstate natural gas pipeline providing 1.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas delivery capacity from the Opal Hub in Wyoming to the Malin Hub in Oregon, on the California border. The 673-mile pipeline was completed in July 2011. Ruby's operations are supported by take-or-pay capacity reservation contracts with mostly investment grade counterparties. Ruby's ratings reflect the cash flow stability and relatively low business risk associated with an interstate natural gas pipeline. Recontracting risk is a longer term concern given depressed gas differentials. However, the long-term nature of existing contracts, Ruby's first-mover advantage in what should be a moderate gas-demand-growth geographic region, and its access to growing gas supply basins helps to mitigate some of the risk surrounding its ability to recontract its capacity.

Ruby is an indirect operating subsidiary of a joint venture holding company that is owned 50/50 by Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI; IDR 'BB+'/Stable Outlook by Fitch) and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a large independent infrastructure fund formed in 2006. Ruby's ratings reflect Fitch's assessment of Ruby on a stand-alone basis.

KEY RATINGS DRIVERS

Cash Flow and Earnings Stability: Ruby has roughly 72% of its capacity subscribed under long-term reservation contracts. These contracts are ship-or-pay type contracts providing a high amount of revenue and cash flow certainty. Assuming Ruby generates revenue from capacity reservations only, Fitch estimates that the pipeline's debt/EBITDA leverage will be approximately 4.0 times (x) in 2014, moving to below 4.0x in 2015 as Ruby's term loan is amortized. The expected deleveraging that Ruby's amortizing term loan provides leverage metric results more in line with Ruby's single-asset pipeline peers, without any consideration provided to any potential incremental capacity sales for uncontracted capacity.

Supply/Demand Outlook Trends: Ruby currently provides the most direct and economic access to Rocky Mountain supply to the northern West Coast. Northern California, the Pacific Northwest and Northern Nevada are on a combined basis expected to show moderate natural gas demand growth over the next five to seven years, stemming mostly from increased gas power generation. With Western Canadian gas production imports to the U.S. expected to decline due to the construction of LNG exports facilities currently planned in Western Canada, these regions should look to Rocky Mountain production regions as the major gas supply source. Ruby, as a new direct pipe with excess capacity, should enjoy significant advantage over other transportation methods for Rockies gas to get to markets in Northern CA, NV and PNW.

Low Maintenance/Operating Costs: Ruby is a new pipeline with very low maintenance and operating costs, particularly for the initial years of the pipeline's life when heavy safety testing will not be needed or required. As a new pipe, Ruby should largely be free from federal scrutiny or mandates from the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Transportation Safety Board with regard to hydrostatically testing existing pipeline infrastructure. As a result maintenance and operating cost should generally be low helping keep cash flow available for debt service (and distribution) strong.

Re-contracting Risk: Ruby has long-term contracts with 11 counterparties for 72% of its capacity. Roughly 66% of these contracts (by capacity) roll off in 2021, with the most of capacity rolling off by 2026. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E; rated 'BBB+') is the anchor shipper accounting for 34% of the pipeline's contracted capacity with a 15-year contract. Ruby is exposed to the possibility that current capacity cannot be re-contracted at current rates or current volumes at contract expiry (generally 2021 and beyond). The supply demand dynamic within the markets that Ruby's serves are trending in Ruby's favor long-term. Should this dynamic materially change Fitch would likely take a negative ratings action.

Liquidity Adequate: Ruby is not expected to need significant available liquidity given its expected low maintenance and operating costs. Based on contracted revenue, Fitch estimates that Ruby should generate more than adequate liquidity for its operating needs, in addition to full availability under its $25 million revolver for any working capital needs. Ruby is expected to distribute all excess cash flow after maintenance capex and term loan amortization to its owners in the form of dividends. Ruby is required to comply with a leverage ratio of no more than 5.50x. Ruby is currently in compliance with all of its financial covenants. Ruby's leverage ratio as of Sept. 30, 2013 was 4.5x.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Considerations for a negative rating action include, but are not limited to:

--Significant increase in leverage above projections, which is not expected under the normal course of business. If Ruby's leverage were forecasted to remain above 4.5x on a sustained basis Fitch would consider a negative rating action.
--A significant change in the natural gas supply/demand dynamics in Ruby's service territories leading to contract renewal or debt refinancing difficulties.

Considerations for a positive rating action include, but are not limited to:

--Fitch does not expect a positive credit action under the course of normal business in the near term. Ruby contracting 100% of its capacity under long-term contracts at favorable rates could likely result in an upgrade but this is not expected given current basis spreads.

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Pipelines, Midstream, and MLP Stats Quarterly - Third Quarter 2013', Dec. 17, 2013;
--'2014 Outlook: Midstream Services', Dec. 10, 2013;
--'Credit Considerations for the GP/LP Relationship', Nov. 6, 2013;
--'Investor FAQs: Recent Questions on the Pipeline, Midstream, and MLP Sectors' Aug. 5, 2013;
--'Tax Event Risk and MLPs: Assessing a Change in Tax Status for MLPs', April 18, 2013;
--'The Top Ten Differences Between MLP and Corporate Issuers', Feb. 19, 2013;
--'Corporate Rating Methodology', Aug. 5, 2013;
--'Parent and Subsidiary Rating Linkage', Aug. 5, 2013.

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