Hong Kong, October 11, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has assigned a B3 senior unsecured
rating to the proposed notes to be issued by Jiayuan International Group
Limited ("Jiayuan") (B2 stable).
The proceeds of the notes will be used to refinance existing debt.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The proposed bond issuance will provide Jiayuan with additional liquidity
and lengthen its debt maturity profile, while the impact on the
company's credit metrics will be limited, because it will use the
proceeds to refinance existing debt," says Josephine Ho, a
Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
Jiayuan's B2 corporate family rating (CFR) reflects (1) the company's
track record in its core markets in Jiangsu Province; and (2) its
low-cost and quality land bank. These strengths support
the company's business growth plan and give it pricing flexibility in
a down-cycle.
However, the B2 CFR is constrained by Jiayuan's small operating
scale, its moderate geographic diversification, and the execution
risks associated with its rapid growth plan.
Moody's expects that Jiayuan's contracted sales will grow to RMB25 billion-RMB30
billion over the next 12-18 months from RMB20 billion in 2018.
In the first eight months of 2019, the company's contracted sales
grew 50% to RMB16 billion.
Moody's also expects that Jiayuan's projected credit metrics will support
its B2 CFR. Specifically, Moody's expects revenue/adjusted
debt will improve to around 70% and EBIT/interest will remain around
3.0x over the next 12-18 months, compared to 68%
and 3.2x for the 12 months to 30 June 2019.
In terms of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors,
Moody's has considered the risks associated with the concentration of
the company's ownership in Mr. Shum, who held a 69.3%
stake as of August 2019, and with Mr. Shum's share
pledge financing.
Given the company's listed status, Jiayuan is subject to the Hong
Kong Listing Rules and Securities and Future Ordinance. In addition,
Mr. Shum has demonstrated its commitment by injecting assets to
strengthen the company's operations and equity base, and by reducing
his share pledge loan to lower the risk of a change in control.
Jiayuan's liquidity is adequate. Moody's expects that the company's
cash holdings, together with contracted sales proceeds after deducting
basic operating cash flow items, will enable it to meet its refinancing
needs over the next 12-18 months. Jiayuan's reported
cash holdings of RMB5.7 billion as of 30 June 2019 covered 117%
of its short-term debt. The company's refinancing of maturing
USD bonds over the last 2-3 months has also lengthened its debt
maturity profile.
The B3 senior unsecured rating on the USD notes is one notch lower than
the 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 Jiayuan'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 ratings outlook reflects Moody's expectation that (1) Mr.
Shum will not materially increase his share pledge financing, (2)
the company's liquidity will remain adequate, with continued access
to the onshore and offshore loan and debt capital markets; and (3)
the company will grow its sales and maintain cash collection as planned
over the next 12-18 months.
Moody's could upgrade the ratings if Jiayuan (1) grows its business while
achieving its credit metrics, with adjusted revenue/debt rising
above 70% and EBIT/interest higher than 3.0x on a sustainable
basis; (2) maintains adequate liquidity, with cash/short-term
debt consistently above 1.5x; and (3) keeps the risk of a
change of control at a low level.
Moody's could downgrade the ratings if Jiayuan's (1) liquidity profile
weakens; (2) risk of a change in control increases; or (3) contracted
sales or revenue prove weaker than Moody's had expected, leading
to a deterioration in the company's credit metrics.
Credit metrics indicative of a downgrade include adjusted revenue/debt
below 55%, EBIT/interest below 2.0x, or cash/short-term
debt below 1.0x, all 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.
Jiayuan International Group Limited develops mass-market residential
properties mainly in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. The company had
a total land bank of around 13 million square meters at the end of August
2019. It also develops and operates commercial properties alongside
its residential property projects.
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
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.
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when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. Unless
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the rated entity is participating and the rated entity or its agent(s)
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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.
Josephine Ho
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
Peter Choy
Senior Vice President
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