Hong Kong, May 13, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited's
A1 issuer rating. The outlook remains stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The rating affirmation reflects Jardine Group's diversified business
portfolio across Asia, its maintenance of a strong financial profile
throughout the cycles and its excellent liquidity," says Gloria
Tsuen, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.
"The group's significant financial buffers as of the end of
2019 and steady cash flow contributions from its stable businesses will
support healthy financial metrics over the next 1-2 years,
despite a weakening in earnings as a result of deteriorating economic
conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic," adds Tsuen.
Jardine's earnings and cash flow will fall in 2020, and its credit
ratios will weaken because of its subsidiary The Hongkong Land Company,
Limited's (A2 stable) sizeable land acquisition, as well as
due to weaker demand against the backdrop of the pandemic-led disruptions
and weakening macro conditions.
Consequently, Moody's expects that Jardine's adjusted funds
from operations (FFO)/net debt (excluding debt from financial services)
will decline to 35%-40% in 2020 from around 63%
in 2019, and its adjusted FFO interest coverage to around 7.0x
from 9.9x over the same period.
However, these ratios are likely to improve to around 45%
and 7.5x-8.0x respectively in 2021 following a rebound
in global and regional economies. These ratios are in line with
the A1 rating category.
The stable, significant cash flow contributions from Hongkong Land's
office rental and Dairy Farm International's non-discretionary
retail businesses will partly offset a more significant earnings decline
in the group's more cyclical businesses.
The group's capital structure will also remain strong. Moody's
estimates that its adjusted net debt/net capitalization will remain low
at about 19% this year, although higher than the 16%
registered in 2019.
Jardine continues to have excellent liquidity that will also help it weather
the economic downturn. It had about $6.9 billion
of cash (excluding financial services) at the end of 2019, which
will be more than sufficient to cover the $4.7 billion of
debt (excluding financial services) maturing over the next 12 months.
These strengths are partly offset by the group's exposure to growth markets
in Southeast Asia, where business risk is relatively high.
The rating also takes into account the following environmental,
social and governance (ESG) factors.
Moody's regards the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under its ESG
framework, given the substantial implications for public health
and safety.
In terms of governance considerations, the rating factors in Jardine
Group's complex structure comprising two holding companies with a cross-shareholding
structure to shield the group from a possible hostile takeover.
Although this structure creates analytical complexity, it helps
maintain policy and ownership continuity.
The rating also considers Keswick family's control of the group despite
an only around 7% ownership. However, that concern
is mitigated by the group's listed status, a proven track record
of prudent management, and no major cash leakage to shareholders.
The stable outlook reflects Moody's expectation that Jardine Group's operating
profile will remain steady and financial leverage will stay healthy over
the next one to two years.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
An upgrade is unlikely over the next two to three years, given the
group's high exposure to Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia (Baa2
stable).
The rating could be upgraded in the longer term if (1) Jardine Group increases
the proportion of stable businesses in developed markets in its portfolio;
and (2) the group maintains free cash flow generation, strong credit
metrics and liquidity.
Moody's could downgrade the rating if Jardine Group's FFO/net debt
declines below 40%-50% and FFO interest coverage
falls below 8x-9x. These credit ratios exclude debt related
to the group's financial services companies and incorporate Moody's
expectation that these companies will continue to operate on a standalone
basis and will not require any material funding support from the group.
Furthermore, Moody's could downgrade the rating if operating
risk of the business portfolio increases materially or liquidity deteriorates
significantly, indicating a change in the group's conservative financial
management policy.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Investment Holding
Companies and Conglomerates published in July 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1125855.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Founded in 1832, Jardine Group has a broad business portfolio across
Asia. It has a significant presence in motor vehicles and related
operations, property investment and development, food retailing,
health and beauty, home furnishings, engineering and construction,
transport services, restaurants, luxury hotels, financial
services, heavy equipment, mining, energy and agribusiness.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and
sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and
Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's
Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
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this Credit Rating.
Gloria Tsuen, CFA
VP - Senior Credit Officer
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
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Chris Park
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