Hong Kong, June 03, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a B3 senior unsecured rating
to the proposed USD notes to be issued by Haimen Zhongnan Investment Development
(International) Co., Ltd.
The outlook is stable.
The notes will be irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by Jiangsu
Zhongnan Construction Group Co., Ltd. (B2 stable).
The proceeds of the notes will be used to refinance existing debt.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The proposed notes issuance will lengthen Jiangsu Zhongnan's debt maturity
profile and will not have a material impact on its credit metrics,
because the proceeds will be used to refinance existing debt," says
Danny Chan, a Moody's Assistant Vice President and Analyst.
Jiangsu Zhongnan's B2 corporate family rating (CFR) reflects the company's
(1) strong sales execution and established brand name in property development
in Jiangsu Province; and (2) large operating scale. The company
also benefits from synergies between its property development and construction
services segments.
However, the B2 CFR is constrained by Jiangsu Zhongnan's geographic
concentration in Jiangsu Province,its exposure to risks associated
with its rapid business expansion, and its moderate, but improving
financial metrics.
The company achieved healthy 29% year-on-year contracted
sales growth to RMB46.3 billion in the first four months of 2019,
following 52% year-on-year growth in 2018.
This sales performance will provide funding for the company's expansion
and debt repayment, and supports future revenue growth.
Jiangsu Zhongnan's liquidity position is good, with cash/short-term
debt at 1.9x at the end of March 2019.
The B3 senior unsecured rating is one notch lower than the company's
CFR due to structural subordination risk.
This risk reflects the fact that the majority of claims are at the operating
subsidiaries. These claims have priority over Jiangsu Zhongnan'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.
The stable outlook reflects Moody's expectation that Jiangsu Zhongnan
will (1) control its leverage while expanding its business; (2) achieve
modest contracted sales growth; and (3) maintain stable liquidity
over the next 12-18 months.
Jiangsu Zhongnan's CFR could be upgraded if (1) the company improves its
financial position, for example by increasing its profit margin
and lowering its leverage, while demonstrating stable growth in
its property development and construction businesses; and (2) adjusted
EBIT interest coverage exceeds 2.25x-2.50x and adjusted
revenue/debt rises above 70% on a sustained basis.
On the other hand, downward rating pressure could emerge if (1)
the company executes heavily debt-funded expansions or acquisitions,
or both; (2) records negative contracted sales or revenue growth;
(3) its liquidity deteriorates on a sustained basis; and (4) adjusted
EBIT interest coverage falls below 1.0x and cash/short-term
debt falls below 80% on a sustained basis.
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.
Jiangsu Zhongnan Construction Group Co., Ltd. is based
in China's Jiangsu Province and principally engages in property development
and construction services. The company was listed on the Shenzhen
Stock Exchange in 2008. The company had a total land bank of around
43 million square meters as at December 2018.
Jiangsu Zhongnan was founded by Chen Jinshi, who has been engaged
in the construction business in China since 1988, when he established
the company.
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
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respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
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to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
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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.
Danny Chan
AVP-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.)
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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
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China (Hong Kong S.A.R.)
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077