Hong Kong, September 25, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed Greenland Hong Kong Holdings
Limited's Ba2 corporate family rating (CFR), the (P)Ba3 backed senior
unsecured rating on Greenland Hong Kong's MTN program, the Ba3 senior
unsecured rating on Greenland Hong Kong's USD notes, and the Ba3
backed senior unsecured rating on Greenland Hong Kong's USD notes.
The MTN program of Greenland Hong Kong and the related notes are supported
by a deed of equity interest purchase undertaking and a keepwell deed
between Greenland Hong Kong, Greenland Holding Group Company Limited
(Ba1 stable), and the bond trustee.
The outlook remains stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The affirmation of the Ba2 CFR reflects Greenland Hong Kong's
improving standalone credit profile and a one-notch rating uplift
for expected support from its parent, Greenland Holding, when
needed," says Danny Chan, a Moody's Assistant
Vice President.
"However, while we expect the company will continue to receive
strong financial and operating support from its parent, its Ba2
CFR is also constrained by Greenland Holding's credit profile,
as reflected by its Ba1 CFR," adds Chan.
Greenland Hong Kong's improving standalone credit profile is reflected
by its strengthening financial leverage and liquidity, growing contracted
sales and broader geographic coverage.
Moody's expects that Greenland Hong Kong's revenue/adjusted debt will
stay at 85%-90% in the next 12-18 months,
following an increase to 86% for the 12 months ended 30 June 2019
from 80% in 2018.
The improvement will be driven by mild revenue growth and lower debt following
the company's planned disposal of a mixed use property project in
Shanghai. The disposal is consistent with the company's increased
focus on residential developments, and will be completed by the
end of 2019.
Moody's also expects Greenland Hong Kong will control its debt while
pursuing growth, and keep its land acquisitions at 30%-35%
of contracted sales.
While Moody's expects EBIT/interest coverage will slightly decline
to 3.6x-3.9x over the next 12-18 months from
4.3x for the 12 months ended 30 June 2019, mainly due to
a reduction in profit margins, the projected ratios remain supportive
of its standalone credit profile.
Moody's further expects the company's contracted sales will
grow to RMB50-60 billion in the next 12-18 months,
supported by its good sales execution and sufficient saleable resources.
These contracted sales will support the company's cash flow and
future revenue growth.
Greenland Hong Kong recorded 38% year-on-year contracted
sales growth during the first eight months of 2019 to RMB30.2 billion,
following 26% and 65% growth in 2018 and 2017.
The company also maintained a land reserve of 20.1 million sqm
in gross floor area as of 30 June 2019, including land sold but
not yet delivered, which could support 3-4 years of development.
Greenland Hong Kong's standalone credit profile also reflects its well-located
land bank and good access to funding, given its status as a subsidiary
of Greenland Holding.
Moody's assumption of support considers (1) Greenland Holding's
59.11% ownership of Greenland Hong Kong as of June 2019;
(2) Greenland Hong Kong's role as the group's key platform
to raise funds from offshore banks and capital markets to invest in property
projects in China; (3) Greenland Holding's track record of providing
financial support to Greenland Hong Kong in the form of equity injections;
and (4) Greenland Hong Kong's growing economic importance to the
group.
In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors,
Greenland Hong Kong's Ba2 CFR considers the SOE status of its largest
shareholder, Greenland Holding, and the company's history
of related party transactions with Greenland Holding, such as the
provision of shareholder loans and payables, and asset sales.
However, Greenland Hong Kong has indicated that it plans to reduce
such transactions over the next 2-3 years, mitigating the
associated risks.
Greenland Hong Kong's senior unsecured rating is one notch lower
than it would otherwise be because of the risk of structural subordination.
This risk reflects (1) the fact that most of the claims are at the operating
subsidiaries' level and have priority over claims at the holding company
(Greenland Hong Kong) in a bankruptcy scenario; and (2) Moody's
view that the senior unsecured rating, in the absence of a parental
guarantee, should be lower than the Ba2 rating of the senior unsecured
notes issued by Greenland Global Investment Limited and guaranteed by
its parent, Greenland Holding.
The stable outlook for Greenland Hong Kong reflects Moody's expectation
that Greenland Holding will provide financial and operational support
in times of need, and that Greenland Hong Kong's standalone credit
profile will remain stable over the next 12-18 months.
Greenland Hong Kong's ratings could be upgraded if (1) Greenland
Holding's CFR is upgraded; (2) Greenland Hong Kong successfully
implements its business plan and improves its scale and diversity;
and (3) it improves its credit metrics, such that debt leverage
— as measured by revenue/adjusted debt — rises above 85%-90%,
and adjusted EBIT/interest rises above 3.5x-4.0x
on a consistent basis.
On the other hand, Greenland Hong Kong's ratings could be downgraded
if the company (1) fails to generate operating cash flow to maintain its
liquidity buffer; (2) fails to maintain contracted sales and revenue
growth; or (3) materially accelerates development, and executes
an aggressive land acquisition plan or acquisitions, such that debt
leverage — as measured by revenue/adjusted debt — falls below
65%-70% on a sustained basis.
Any evidence of a reduction in ownership or weakening of support from
its parent, or a downgrade of Greenland Holding's CFR, will
result in a downgrade of Greenland Hong Kong's ratings.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Homebuilding And Property
Development Industry published in January 2018. Please see the
Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of
this methodology.
Greenland Hong Kong Holdings Limited is principally engaged in the development
of large-scale, high-quality residential communities,
city center integrated projects, and travel and leisure projects
that target the middle- to high-end customer segment.
At 30 June 2019, the company's land bank totaled 20.1 million
square meters, and was located in key cities in the Pan-Yangtze
River Delta and Pan-Pearl River Delta. Greenland Holding
owned 59.11% of Greenland Hong Kong at 30 June 2019.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures
in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the
same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant
to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing
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issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain
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provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional
rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may
be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each
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The first name below is the lead rating analyst for this Credit Rating
and the last name below is the person primarily responsible for approving
this Credit Rating.
Danny Chan
Asst Vice President - Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd.
24/F One Pacific Place
88 Queensway
Hong Kong
China (Hong Kong S.A.R.)
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Franco Leung
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd.
24/F One Pacific Place
88 Queensway
Hong Kong
China (Hong Kong S.A.R.)
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077