U.K.-based food services provider Compass Group PLC (Compass) has announced that it will pay a special dividend of £1 billion. The group's operating performance remains strong and, following the payment of the special dividend, we expect that the group's forecast credit metrics will remain commensurate with, albeit at the lower end of, a "modest" financial risk profile. We are therefore affirming our 'A' corporate credit rating on Compass. The stable outlook reflects our view that Compass will maintain its solid operational performance and conservative financial risk policy in the medium term. On May 14, 2014, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its 'A' long-term corporate credit rating on U.K.-based food services provider Compass Group PLC (Compass). The outlook is stable.
