Hong Kong, March 27, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed Xinjiang Guanghui Industry Investment
(Group) Co., Ltd.'s (Guanghui Group) B2 corporate
family rating (CFR) and B3 senior unsecured debt ratings.
At the same time, Moody's has changed the outlook on the company's
ratings to negative from stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The negative outlook reflects our view that Guanghui Group's
operating performance in 2020 will likely be weaker than expected,
given the increasing refinancing risks stemming from the deteriorating
global economic outlook," says Roy Zhang, a Moody's
Assistant Vice President and Analyst.
The rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating
global economic outlook, falling oil prices, and asset price
declines are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many
sectors, regions and markets. The combined credit effects
of these developments are unprecedented. More specifically,
Guanghui Group's exposure to retail and discretionary consumption have
left it vulnerable to shifts in market sentiment, especially given
its sensitivity to consumer demand.
"That said, the impact is partially mitigated by Guanghui
Group's large operating scale, strong market position in China's
auto dealer industry, and track record of successfully refinancing
its debt, as reflected by its B2 rating," adds Zhang.
Guanghui Group's revenue increased to RMB189 billion in 2018, growing
by an average rate of 22% over the past three years. Meanwhile,
its leverage -- as measured by adjusted total debt to EBITDA
-- decreased to 6.0x at the end of 2018 from a peak
of 9.9x at the end of 2016. These strong results were supported
by the company's leadership position in the domestic auto dealer industry,
and by its diversified business operations in energy and property.
Guanghui Group is the largest shareholder in China Grand Automotive Services
Grp Co., Ltd (CGA, B1 negative), the leading
auto dealer in China (A1 stable) in terms of unit sales, with a
large network, strong geographic coverage, and a diversified
brand offering. Its 33%-owned auto dealer business
accounted for 88% of its consolidated revenue in 2018.
Moody's expects Guanghui Group's leverage ratio will increase from
6.0x at 31 December 2018 to 7.0x-7.1x in the
next 12 to 18 months, due to the weak operating environment.
Founded in 1989, the company is one of the largest privately-owned
enterprise in Xinjiang province. Over the past three decades,
it has been through several economic cycles while meeting its debt obligations.
Guanghui Group's liquidity profile is weak due to its high reliance on
short-term debt, which amounted to around RMB66.6
billion at the end of June 2019 and well exceeded its cash holdings --
including pledged deposits -- of RMB31.5 billion.
However, the company has a good track record of refinancing its
debt, and also demonstrated good funding access in 2019 when overall
funding conditions were not favorable for privately-owned enterprises
in China.
In March, Guanghui Group exchanged about US$58 million of
existing notes into new US$ notes due in 2021.
The rating also takes into account the following environmental,
social and governance (ESG) considerations.
In terms of environmental and social risks, some of Guanghui Group's
businesses, such as its oil and gas, coal mining and chemical
businesses, are exposed to high risks associated with tightening
emission standards and health and safety measures. However,
such risks are partially mitigated by the company's track record of operational
continuity and business diversification.
Moody's regards the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under
its ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public
health and safety. Today's action reflects the impact on
Guanghui Group of the breadth and severity of the shock, and the
broad deterioration in credit quality it has triggered.
In terms of corporate governance factors, Guanghui Group is a private
company, and its corporate governance and transparency are weaker
than those of publicly listed companies. The company's share ownership
is concentrated in Ms. Sun Guangxin, who holds a 50.06%
stake in the company as of the end of 2018. Such risk is partially
mitigated by the presence of China Evergrande Group (B1 stable) as the
second largest shareholder, with a 40.97% stake as
of the same date.
The B3 senior unsecured bond rating is one notch lower than it would otherwise
be due to structural subordination risk. This risk reflects the
fact that the majority of Guanghui Group's claims are at its operating
subsidiaries and have priority over its senior unsecured claims at the
holding company in a bankruptcy scenario.
The outlook could be revised back to stable if Guanghui Group: (1)
maintains its business profile; (2) improves its liquidity;
and (3) refinances its short-term debt.
On the other hand, Moody's could downgrade the ratings if
(1) Guanghui Group reduces its ownership in, or control over,
CGA; (2) CGA's credit profile weakens materially; or (3) Guanghui
Group's liquidity or credit metrics further deteriorate, such that
its adjusted debt/EBITDA exceeds 8.0x and its EBITDA/interest falls
below 1.0x-1.5x on a sustained basis.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Retail Industry published
in May 2018. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Xinjiang Guanghui Industry Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.
is a private company that operates in three key segments, namely
auto dealerships, energy and real estate. At the end of June
2019, the company held a 33% stake in China's largest auto
dealer by revenue, China Grand Automotive Services Co.,
Ltd.
Founded in 1989, the unlisted Xinjiang Guanghui was 50.06%
owned by the Mr. SUN Guangxin at the end of 2018. Mr.
Sun is the chairman, founder and controlling shareholder.
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
regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the
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for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's
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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.
Roy Zhang
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.)
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Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Clement Cheuk Yiu Wong
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