Hong Kong, January 22, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Services has assigned a B2 senior unsecured rating to
the proposed US dollar notes to be issued by Studio City Finance Limited
(B1 stable). The notes will be guaranteed by all of its existing
subsidiaries.
The rating outlook is stable.
Studio City plans to use the proceeds from the issuance -- together
with the proceeds from the initial public offering (IPO) of Studio City
International Holdings Limited -- to primarily refinance the company's
existing $825 million senior unsecured notes due 2020.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"Studio City's B1 corporate family rating primarily reflects
the company's improving business profile following the successful
ramp up of its casino operations and the recovery in Macao's gaming
revenue, which has in turn enhanced its earnings and credit metrics,"
says Stephanie Lau, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
"On the other hand, the rating is constrained by the company's
geographical concentration and moderate financial metrics,"
adds Lau.
The B2 rating of the proposed notes is one notch lower than Studio City's
B1 corporate family rating because of the risk of legal subordination,
reflecting the fact that a large portion of its debt comprises secured
debt.
The planned refinancing transaction is credit positive, because
it will extend Studio City's debt maturity, thereby increasing
financial headroom against future capital spending.
Moody's expects Studio City's total reported debt to increase
only moderately over the next 1-2 years, from $2.0
billion as of 30 September 2018, because debt reductions from the
initial public offering (IPO) proceeds of its parent - Studio City
International Holdings Limited - will partly offset incremental
debt to fund its capital spending associated with the phase two expansion
project.
The rating also factors in Moody's expectation that Studio City's
adjusted EBITDA will remain healthy over the next 1-2 years,
at around $300-$330 million annually, similar
to the $306 million recorded for the 12 months to September 2018.
This expectation reflects the company's strategic focus on the premium
mass-market segment, which exhibits greater resilience to
economic cycles and higher profitability than the VIP segment.
While the cessation of VIP rolling chip operations from January 2020 will
have the effect of reducing earnings, the negative impact will be
manageable.
Given the above expectations, Moody's projects that Studio
City's adjusted debt/EBITDA will register around 6.7x-7.3x
over FY2019 and FY2020, similar to the 6.5x recorded for
the 12 months to September 2018. Likewise, the company's
EBITDA/interest will likely remain largely steady at around 2.0x
over the same period. These projected financial metrics are consistent
with the company's B2-level standalone credit strength.
Studio City's ratings continue to incorporate a one-notch
uplift, reflecting Moody's expected likelihood of extraordinary
support from its parent -- Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited
-- given Studio City's increasing importance to the parent and the
parent's solid financial flexibility.
The stable rating outlook reflects Moody's expectations that Studio City's
operating performance will remain healthy, and that its credit metrics
will remain stable over the course of its phase two construction.
Studio City Finance's ratings could be upgraded if it enhances its scale
and financial profile. Specifically, upward rating pressure
would emerge if debt/EBITDA declines below 5.0x-5.5x
and EBITDA/interest rises above 3.0x on a sustained basis.
On the other hand, the ratings could be downgraded if it engages
in (1) aggressive expansion and capital spending; and/or (2) its
operations deteriorate, resulting in tight liquidity and high leverage
on a sustained basis.
Specifically, downward rating pressure would emerge if debt/EBITDA
exceeds 7.5x-8.0x and EBITDA/interest coverage falls
below 1.8x on a sustained basis.
In addition, a decline in the ability or willingness of its parent
-- Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited -- to provide support
would also lead to downgrade pressure.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Gaming Industry published
in December 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Studio City Finance Limited is a holding company incorporated in the British
Virgin Islands. Through its subsidiaries, it develops and
operates the Studio City property, an Asian-focused integrated
gaming and entertainment resort located at Cotai in Macau.
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.
Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating
when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. Unless
noted in the Regulatory Disclosures as a Non-Participating Entity,
the rated entity is participating and the rated entity or its agent(s)
generally provides Moody's with information for the purposes of
its ratings process. Please refer to www.moodys.com
for the Regulatory Disclosures for each credit rating action under the
ratings tab on the issuer/entity page and for details of Moody's
Policy for Designating Non-Participating Rated Entities.
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.
The first name below is the lead rating analyst for this Credit Rating
and the last name below is the person primarily responsible for approving
this Credit Rating.
Stephanie Lau
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
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