Fitch Ratings has raised Viavi Solutions Inc.'s credit rating to BB from BB- and set a stable outlook after the company paid down a substantial portion of its term loan debt using proceeds from an equity issuance. The agency said Viavi repaid $450 million in term loan debt, funded by net proceeds of $557.2 million from the equity offering, and upgraded the firm's senior unsecured notes to BB with a Recovery Rating of RR4 from BB-/RR4.
The upgrade reflects a meaningful improvement in Viavi's leverage profile. Fitch now projects EBITDA leverage for fiscal 2026 at 2.6x, down from a prior estimate of 5.1x, placing the company below the 3.0x sensitivity threshold the agency uses for its BB rating category.
Viavi's business is split between wireless and wireline test-and-measurement markets. The Network and Service Enablement segment generates roughly 70% to 80% of total revenue, while the Optical Security and Performance Products unit accounts for the remainder. In 2025 the company completed acquisitions of Inertial Labs, Inc. and certain high-speed ethernet testing assets acquired from Spirent Communications plc.
Looking ahead, Fitch expects organic revenue to grow in the mid-single digits beyond fiscal 2026. The rating agency said demand for higher bandwidth, driven by fiber buildouts undertaken by data center operators and service providers, should support that growth. Fitch also forecasted EBITDA margins to settle in the high teens, supported in part by a restructuring initiative planned for 2026 that targets $30 million in annual operating cost reductions.
Fitch noted that Viavi's reduced leverage now sits below the 3.0x upgrade sensitivity for the BB rating. The agency indicated that sustained leverage beneath that threshold, combined with high-single-digit organic revenue growth and lower EBITDA margin volatility, could create conditions for a future upgrade.
Contextual summary: The rating action follows a capital structure change in which equity proceeds were used to retire secured first-lien term loan obligations, materially lowering projected leverage for fiscal 2026.
- Key points:
- Fitch upgraded Viavi to BB from BB- and assigned a stable outlook after debt repayment funded by an equity issuance.
- Pro forma fiscal 2026 EBITDA leverage falls to 2.6x from 5.1x; senior unsecured notes also upgraded to BB with an RR4 recovery rating.
- Fitch projects mid-single-digit organic revenue growth and high-teen EBITDA margins after fiscal 2026, supported by a 2026 restructuring plan targeting $30 million in annual cost savings.
- Risks and uncertainties:
- Execution risk on the planned $30 million of annual operating cost reductions - impacts both profitability and margin stability.
- Revenue growth assumptions rely on continued demand for higher bandwidth and fiber buildouts by data center operators and service providers.
- Sustained leverage above the 3.0x sensitivity or elevated EBITDA margin volatility could limit rating upside.