Hong Kong, November 04, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a B2 rating to Powerlong Real Estate
Holdings Limited's (B1 stable) proposed senior unsecured USD notes.
Powerlong plans to use the proceeds from the proposed notes to refinance
its existing indebtedness.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The proposed issuance will improve Powerlong's liquidity profile and
will not materially affect its credit metrics, because the company
will use the proceeds to refinance existing debt," says Cedric Lai,
a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst, and also Moody's Lead
Analyst for Powerlong.
Moody's expects that Powerlong's rental income will grow 25% annually
to around RMB1.4 billion in 2019 and to RMB1.8 billion in
2020 from RMB1.1 billion in 2018, underpinned by the scheduled
opening of its new retail malls. The company plans to open six
retail malls in the second half of 2019, and a further ten in 2020.
As a result, Powerlong's adjusted rental income/interest coverage
will improve to 40%-45% over the next 12-18
months from 37% for the 12 months ended June 2019.
Moody's also expects Powerlong's adjusted EBIT/interest and adjusted debt/adjusted
capitalization will remain largely stable around 2.6x and 58%,
respectively, over the next 12-18 months.
Powerlong has achieved robust contracted sales over the past two years.
In the first nine months of 2019, the company, together with
its joint ventures and associates, achieved strong 57% year-on-year
contracted sales growth to RMB45.1 billion, after recording
97% year-on-year growth to RMB41 billion in 2018.
Such strong contracted sales should underpin healthy revenue growth over
the next 12-18 months.
Powerlong's B1 corporate family rating reflects its (1) track record of
developing and selling commercial and residential properties; (2)
growing recurring revenue, which improves the stability of its debt
servicing; and (3) expansion into higher-tier cities in China
where demand for its properties is more favorable.
However, its credit profile is constrained by execution risk,
the high level of capital required for its business strategy, and
its high debt leverage.
The B2 senior unsecured debt rating is one notch lower than the corporate
family rating due to structural subordination risk.
This risk reflects the fact that the majority of claims are at the operating
subsidiaries and have priority over Powerlong's senior unsecured claims
in a bankruptcy scenario. In addition, the holding company
lacks significant mitigating factors for structural subordination.
As a result, the likely recovery rate for claims at the holding
company will be lower.
In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors,
Moody's has considered the company's concentrated ownership in its controlling
shareholder, Hoi Kin Hong and Hoi Wa Fong, who held a 61%
stake in the company as of 8 July 2019.
Moody's has also considered (1) the presence of two independent nonexecutive
directors, who chair the audit and remuneration committees;
and (2) the application of the Listing Rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
and the Securities and Futures Ordinance in Hong Kong to any related-party
transactions.
The stable ratings outlook reflects Moody's expectation that Powerlong
will (1) continue to grow its contracted sales, especially for commercial
properties; (2) ramp up its malls to generate rental revenue streams
that will improve rental income/interest coverage to about 0.4x-0.5x
over the next 12-18 months; and (3) maintain adequate liquidity
and exercise prudence in its land acquisitions.
Upward ratings pressure could emerge if Powerlong continues to grow in
scale while maintaining its adequate liquidity and sound credit metrics,
and improves its debt leverage to a level that matches its business model
of holding investment properties.
Credit metrics that could trigger a ratings upgrade include: (1)
adjusted EBIT/interest rising above 3.5x; (2) rental income/interest
coverage rising above 0.6x; (3) adjusted debt/adjusted total
capitalization falling below 50%; and/or (4) cash/short-term
debt rising above 1.5x, all on a sustained basis.
Moody's could downgrade Powerlong's ratings if the company's sales
weaken or if it pursues a more aggressive expansion strategy that weakens
its credit metrics.
Credit metrics that could trigger a ratings downgrade include: (1)
adjusted EBIT/interest falling below 2.5x; (2) rental income/interest
dropping below 0.4x; (3) adjusted debt/adjusted total capitalization
rising above 55%; and/or (4) cash/short-term debt falling
below 100%.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Homebuilding And Property
Development Industry published in January 2018. Please see the
Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of
this methodology.
Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Limited is a Chinese property developer
focused on building large-scale integrated residential and commercial
properties in China. The company listed on the Hong Kong Exchange
in October 2009. The founding Hoi family held a 61% stake
in the company at 8 July 2019.
At 30 June 2019, Powerlong's land bank for development totaled around
24.4 million square meters in gross floor area under development
and for future development.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
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
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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
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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
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The first name below is the lead rating analyst for this Credit Rating
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Cedric Lai
Vice President - Senior 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