Singapore, April 07, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the B1 corporate family rating
of NagaCorp Ltd.
At the same time, Moody's has affirmed the B1 senior unsecured rating
of the company's US dollar bonds. The bonds are unconditionally
and irrevocably guaranteed by the major operating subsidiaries of NagaCorp.
The outlook on all ratings is changed to negative from stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
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. The gaming sector has
been one of the sectors most significantly affected by the shock given
its sensitivity to consumer demand and sentiment.
More specifically, the expected weakening in NagaCorp's credit profile,
including its exposure to Cambodia, have left it vulnerable to shifts
in market sentiment in these unprecedented operating conditions and the
company remains vulnerable to the outbreak continuing to spread.
Today's action reflects the impact on NagaCorp of the breadth and severity
of the shock, and the broad deterioration in credit quality it has
triggered.
Moody's expects the temporary suspension of casinos at NagaWorld
from 1 April 2020, as announced by the company[1], will
have a material impact on NagaCorp's earnings. Gaming revenue
accounted for over 95% of revenue and EBITDA in 2019.
"The change in outlook to negative reflects our expectation that
NagaCorp's earnings and credit metrics will weaken in 2020 with
the extent and pace of any subsequent recovery remaining uncertain for
now," says Jacintha Poh, a Moody's Vice President and
Senior Credit Officer.
"Nonetheless, the rating affirmation reflects NagaCorp's
large leverage buffer to withstand the earnings decline and our expectation
that the company will scale back dividend payments and expansionary capital
spending to preserve liquidity," adds Poh.
As of 31 March 2020, NagaCorp had cash and deposits of around $473
million. Based on Moody's assumption that the company will
generate around $600 million of operating cash flows over the next
18 months, it will have sufficient liquidity to cover estimated
dividend payouts of around $500 million, maintenance capital
spending of around $100 million and repay its $300 million
senior unsecured notes maturing in May 2021.
In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors,
Moody's has also considered the following.
Moody's regards the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under its ESG
framework, given the substantial implications for public health
and safety.
NagaCorp's gaming business is also exposed to elevated social risks,
particularly around evolving demographic and societal trends that may
drive a change in demand away from traditional casino-style gaming.
These risks are somewhat mitigated by the company's ability to adjust
capacity to suit market demand because there are no restrictions under
its casino license on operating hours or the number of gaming tables and
machines.
Moody's has also considered governance risk around the controlling
shareholder's concentrated ownership of NagaCorp. However,
this risk is partially balanced by the oversight exercised through the
board, which for the majority consists of independent directors,
and the demonstration of support by the controlling shareholder,
who has funded the company's expansion projects by injecting equity.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Gaming Industry published
in December 2017 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1099757.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
Given the negative ratings outlook, an upgrade is unlikely over
the next 12-18 months. Nonetheless, the outlook could
return to stable if the casinos at NagaWorld reopen, supporting
a recovery of NagaCorp's earnings and credit metrics.
Moody's could downgrade NagaCorp's ratings if (1) Cambodia's sovereign
rating is downgraded; (2) the operating environment deteriorates,
resulting in protracted weakness in operating cash flow generation;
(3) the company fails to maintain its 100% ownership of Ariston
Sdn. Bhd, which holds its Cambodian casino license,
and 100% ownership of NagaWorld; (4) the company increases
its debt leverage, capital spending or shareholder returns,
such that adjusted debt/EBITDA exceeds 2.5x and adjusted retained
cash flow/debt falls below 20% over the next 12-18 months;
and (5) the company has insufficient cash to cover its short-term
debt obligations.
NagaCorp Ltd. was incorporated in the Cayman Islands in 2003 and
listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2006. The company owns
and manages NagaWorld, the largest integrated casino and hotel complex
in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. NagaCorp was founded by Tan Sri
Dr. Chen Lip Keong, the company's chief executive officer
and largest shareholder with an approximate 70% stake as of 31
March 2020.
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.
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
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.
The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated
agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy
for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on
its website www.moodys.com.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social
and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.
At least one ESG consideration was material to the credit rating outcome
announced and described above.
The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was
issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed
by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt
am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.
REFERENCES/CITATIONS
[1] NagaCorp Ltd. voluntary annoucement 01-Apr-2020
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.
Jacintha Poh
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Ian Lewis
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077