Hong Kong, July 29, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a B1 rating to the proposed
senior unsecured USD notes to be issued by Sunac China Holdings Limited
(Ba3 stable).
The rating outlook is stable.
The company plans to use the proceeds from the issuance mainly to refinance
existing debt.
"The proposed issuance will not have a material impact on Sunac's credit
metrics, because the proceeds will mainly be used to refinance existing
debt," says Danny Chan, a Moody's Assistant Vice President
and Analyst.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Sunac's Ba3 corporate family rating (CFR) reflects its strong sales execution,
leading brand and market position in China's Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities,
as well as the good quality of its land bank. The rating also considers
Sunac's good liquidity profile, driven by its rapid asset turnover
business model.
However, the CFR is constrained by Sunac's modest credit metrics,
a result of the company's business expansion and sizable acquisitions
over the past years.
Moody's expects Sunac's revenue/adjusted debt will stay between
46%-50% over the next 12-18 months compared
to around 46% in 2019, as the rapid pace of its land acquisitions
will partly offset the benefits from its solid revenue growth, which
is in turn driven by its strong sales over the past two to three years.
In addition, the company's interest-servicing ability,
as measured by adjusted EBIT/interest coverage, will stay around
2.1x-2.3x from around 2.2x over the same period.
Sunac's gross contracted sales fell 8.8% to RMB195.3
billion in the first six months of 2020 compared with last year,
because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. But Moody's
expects its contracted sales will slightly increase in 2020 when compared
with 2019, supported by good quality land resources, strong
brand name and good sales execution.
The company reported 21% growth in contracted sales to RMB556.2
billion for 2019, following 27% and 140% growth in
2018 and 2017 respectively.
The B1 rating on the proposed notes reflects the risk of structural subordination,
given the fact that the majority of claims are at the operating subsidiaries
and have priority over claims at the holding company in a bankruptcy scenario.
In addition, the holding company lacks significant mitigating factors
for structural subordination, reducing the expected recovery rate
for claims at the holding company level.
Sunac's liquidity is adequate. Its cash holdings of around
RMB126 billion as of 31 December 2019 largely cover its short-term
debt of RMB136 billion. Moody's expects the company's cash
holdings, together with expected operating cash inflow, will
be able to cover its committed land purchases, dividend payments,
as well as capital spending and payables for its previous acquisitions,
over the next 12-18 months.
The stable outlook on Sunac's CFR reflects Moody's expectation that
the company will maintain its healthy revenue growth, improve its
profitability, control its investments in non-property businesses
and maintain its leverage over the next 12-18 months.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATING
Moody's could upgrade the rating if Sunac: (1) exercises restraint
in its non-core business investments; (2) maintains its solid
liquidity position; and (3) improves its credit metrics, such
that adjusted revenue/debt rises above 70%-75% and
adjusted EBIT/interest rises above 3.0x-3.5x on a
sustained basis.
A material reduction in contingent liabilities associated with joint ventures
could also be positive for the ratings.
However, Moody's could downgrade the ratings in case of:
(1) a material decline in its contracted sales; (2) a weakening in
its liquidity position; (3) substantial investments in non-property
development businesses; or (4) a weakening in credit metrics,
such that adjusted revenue/debt falls below 50%-60%
and adjusted EBIT/interest drops below 2.0x-2.5x
on a sustained basis.
Downward rating pressure could also increase if the company's exposure
to contingent liabilities associated with joint ventures increases materially.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Homebuilding And Property
Development Industry published in January 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1108031.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 7 October 2010, Sunac
China Holdings Limited is an integrated residential and commercial property
developer with projects in China's main economic regions. The company
develops a diverse range of properties, including high-rise
and mid-rise residences, detached villas, town houses,
retail properties, offices and car parks.
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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The first name below is the lead rating analyst for this Credit Rating
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this Credit Rating.
Danny Chan
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.)
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Franco Leung
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