Singapore, April 17, 2019 -- 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 bond issuance. The bonds are unconditionally
and irrevocably guaranteed by the major operating subsidiaries of NagaCorp.
The outlook on the ratings is stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The rating affirmation reflects NagaCorp's strong performance
and our expectation that key risks around the company's $3.52
billion development of Naga 3 are sufficiently mitigated. We also
expect the company will have sufficient resources over the next three
years to fund 50% of the development cost, with the remaining
share funded through equity contributions from the company's controlling
shareholder, Tan Sri Dr. Chen Lip Keong, who has track
record of providing funds for NagaCorp's previous expansions,"
says Jacintha Poh, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.
"Beyond 2021, NagaCorp's capacity to fund its portion
of the development cost, without incremental borrowings, will
depend on the company's ability to (1) refinance rather than repay all
maturing debt; and (2) generate free cash flows of around $270
million per annum," adds Poh, who is also Lead Analyst for
NagaCorp.
On 14 April 2019, NagaCorp announced that it had entered into a
guaranteed maximum sum design and build agreement of $3.52
billion for the development of its Naga 3 project, which will have
a gross floor area of 544,801 square meters. The development
will commence on or before 30 September 2019 and complete by 30 September
2025.
The risks associated with the development of Naga 3 are mitigated by (1)
the guaranteed maximum sum design and build agreement with CCAG Asia Co.,
Ltd., which undertakes to deliver a fully completed and operational
Naga 3 that will allow the company to commence operations upon handover;
(2) CCAG Asia Co., Ltd.'s successful track record
of completing both the Naga 1 and Naga 2 projects; and (3) an arrangement
with its controlling shareholder, which will cover any cost overrun.
The $3.52 billion development cost will be spent across
six years. According to the company, around 25% of
the cost will be incurred between 4Q 2019 and 3Q 2022. The remaining
75% will likely be incurred between 4Q 2022 and 3Q 2025.
As of 31 December 2018, NagaCorp had a cash position of $390
million, including $150 million that will be used to refurbish
Naga 1. Moody's expects the company to generate operating cash
flows of around $480 million in 2019 and around $530 million
in 2020, sufficient to cover its (1) maintenance capital spending
estimated at around $70 million; (2) dividend payouts of around
$250 million; and (3) its portion of the development cost
for Naga 3 of around $20 million in 2019 and around $95
million in 2020.
NagaCorp's B1 ratings continue to reflect (1) the dominant position
of its integrated casino and hotel complex, NagaWorld, in
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (B2 stable), underpinned by the company's
casino license with an exclusive right to operate casinos in and around
the capital city of Phnom Penh; and (2) the company's track
record of a strong operating performance since its listing, despite
economic challenges and increasing competition within the gaming industry
in Asia.
In 2018, NagaCorp achieved 60% growth in adjusted EBITDA
to a record of $525 million, driven by the company's
(1) VIP gaming business, which rose 71% owing to the successful
ramp-up of Naga 2, following its first full year of operations
in 2018, and (2) strong gaming margins of 45%. Over
the next 12-18 months, Moody's expects EBITDA growth
to moderate owing to increase in gaming taxes and a reduction in consumer
discretionary spending over concerns of a slowdown in economic growth
in Asia Pacific.
Nonetheless, Moody's expects NagaCorp to maintain solid financial
metrics. Leverage, as measured by adjusted debt/EBITDA,
will stay at 0.7x in 2019 and 0.6x in 2020, as compared
to 0.7x in 2018. Retained cash flow (RCF)/debt will weaken
to around 65% in 2019 and 78% in 2020, from 90%
over the same period owing to higher dividend payouts.
NagaCorp is rated one notch above Cambodia's sovereign rating,
based on Moody's assessment that there is a low likelihood of the
company being affected in the event of a weakening in Cambodia's
economic fundamentals. The company demonstrates a degree of insulation
from domestic conditions because it generates most of its revenue from
tourists and does not rely on local banks or the capital markets for funding.
The rating outlook is stable, reflecting Moody's expectation that
NagaCorp will carry out its expansion plans in a prudent manner while
maintaining solid financial metrics and liquidity over the next 12-18
months.
NagaCorp's rating is unlikely to be upgraded, because it is constrained
to one notch above Cambodia's sovereign rating. To upgrade the
rating, Moody's would expect -- in addition to a sovereign
upgrade -- the company to maintain its strong operating position
within the Cambodian gaming market and solid financial metrics,
as evidenced by adjusted debt/EBITDA below 2.0x and adjusted retained
cash flow/debt above 25%.
Downward rating pressure could emerge if (1) Cambodia's rating is downgraded;
(2) the operating environment deteriorates, resulting in protracted
weakness in operating cash flow generation; (3) the company fails
to maintain 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.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Gaming Industry published
in December 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
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. It is developing a second integrated
casino and hotel complex in Vladivostok, Russia, which the
company expects will commence operations in 2019. NagaCorp was
founded by Tan Sri Dr. Chen Lip Keong, the company's chief
executive officer and largest shareholder with an approximate 66%
stake as of 15 April 2019.
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.
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.
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
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Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Laura Acres
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
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Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077