Hong Kong, December 13, 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the ratings below:
1) A1 issuer rating of The Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd (HKCG);
2) (P)A1 rating of the senior unsecured MTN program issued by HKCG (Finance)
Limited, and which is unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed
by HKCG;
3) A1 senior unsecured debt rating of the notes issued under the MTN program
by HKCG (Finance) Limited; and
4) A3 rating of the perpetual capital securities issued by Towngas (Finance)
Limited, and which is irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed
on a subordinated basis by HKCG.
Both HKCG (Finance) Limited and Towngas (Finance) Limited are wholly-owned
subsidiaries of HKCG.
The ratings outlooks are stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"HKCG's A1 ratings reflect its well-established and longstanding
operating track record as the first public utility company in Hong Kong,
and its long history of passing on rising costs through tariff adjustments
under the current regulatory regime for its domestic gas business,"
says Boris Kan, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.
"This situation results in highly stable and predictable cash flow."
At the same time, HKCG's strong piped gas business in China
continues to deliver solid growth under the Chinese government's
push for clean energy to control air pollution, and government policies
are moving in the right direction to provide the sector with better visibility.
"That said, the company's strengths are balanced by
the higher risk nature of China's evolving regulatory regime,
HKCG's high leverage at the current A1 ratings level, and
its high capital spending, which will pressure the company's
credit metrics over the next 2-3 years," adds Kan.
Moody's expects that HKCG's credit metrics over the next 12-18
months will stay above the above the downgrade triggers, but any
headroom will be limited. Such credit metrics support its A1 rating,
against the backdrop of a balanced business profile between its stable
Hong Kong operation and growing China businesses.
Moody's also expects HKCG's piped gas sales volume in China
to grow by about 10% per annum over the next 1-2 years,
but China will still account for less than half of the company's
funds from operations (FFO) over this period.
HKCG has also entered into the new energy business, which includes
coalbed methane liquefaction, coal-based chemicals,
biomass energies, as well as the operation of natural gas and LPG
refilling stations and landfill gas projects.
Moody's believes that these businesses carry higher business risks than
its piped gas business, because their performance is sensitive to
volatile commodity prices and is associated with higher execution and
operating risks.
Nevertheless, Moody's says that such risks should be mitigated by:
(1) the expected commencement of operations for all its new energy projects
by the end of 2019; (2) falling capital spending in the new energy
segment over the next 1-2 years, and (3) the segment's
relatively small contribution to HKCG's overall profits.
HKCG's stable ratings outlook reflects Moody's expectation
that the company will generate a significant part of its cash flow from
its stable Hong Kong operation, while it continues to execute its
growth strategies in China with manageable capital spending in the domestic
gas market, against the backdrop of an improving regulatory environment.
A near-term rating upgrade is unlikely, given the company's
business model, financial profile and capital spending levels.
However, positive rating trend could develop in the long term if
the company demonstrates (1) a track record of quality execution on its
new energy investments, with significant and predictable cash flow;
and (2) a clear trend of slowdown in capital spending.
Financial metrics indicative of upgrade trend include FFO interest cover
exceeding 8.0x and FFO/debt above 35% on a sustained basis.
Downward rating pressure may arise if the company does not pass on —
through its tariff adjustments — rising costs in its gas business
in Hong Kong and China. However, we see this as unlikely
in the near term.
Downward rating pressure will also arise, if capital spending further
accelerates from the current levels. Other downward rating pressures
include an increase in the company's overall business risk profile,
indicators of which include: (1) a majority of the company's
FFO from Mainland China; and (2) a significant profit contribution
from the new energy business.
Financial metrics indicative of downward pressure include FFO interest
cover falling below 5.0x and FFO/debt below 22% over time.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Regulated Electric
and Gas Utilities published in June 2017. Please see the Rating
Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this
methodology.
The Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd — listed on the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange — is mainly engaged in the production and distribution
of gas, marketing of gas and appliances, and comprehensive
after-sales services in Hong Kong and China.
The company also operates an aviation fuel facility at the Hong Kong International
Airport, and owns a 15.8% stake in the IFC complex
in Hong Kong.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to
each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their
credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating.
For provisional ratings, this announcement 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 case where the transaction
structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive
rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further
information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the
respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action,
the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating
when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. Unless
noted in the Regulatory Disclosures as a Non-Participating Entity,
the rated entities are participating and the rated entities or their agent(s)
generally provide Moody's with information for the purposes of its
ratings process. Please refer to www.moodys.com for
the Regulatory Disclosures for each credit rating action under the ratings
tab on the issuer/entity page and for details of Moody's Policy
for Designating Non-Participating Rated Entities.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
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.
Boris Kan
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Project & Infrastructure Finance
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
Terry Fanous
MD-Public Proj & Infstr Fin
Project & Infrastructure Finance
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