Hong Kong, October 11, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Ba3 senior unsecured rating
to the proposed senior notes to be issued by Health and Happiness (H&H)
International Holdings Limited (Ba2 positive).
The rating outlook is positive.
The bond proceeds will be used by the company to redeem its USD bonds
due in 2021.
The bond rating reflects Moody's expectation that H&H will complete
the bond issuance upon satisfactory terms and conditions, including
proper registration with the National Development and Reform Commission
in China (A1 stable).
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The proposed notes issuance will not impact H&H's Ba2 corporate family
rating or positive rating outlook, because the proceeds will be
used by the company to refinance its existing debt," says Gerwin
Ho, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.
"The issuance will further improve H&H's debt maturity profile,"
adds Ho, who is also Moody's Lead Analyst for H&H.
Moody's expects that H&H's revenue will grow about 20% over
the next 12-18 months from the RMB10 billion achieved in 2018,
driven by growing sales in its baby nutrition and care products as well
as adult nutrition and care products segments.
On the other hand, Moody's expects that H&H's EBITDA margins
will contract to 21%-22% over the next 12-18
months compared with 23.2% in the 12 months ended 30 June
2019, driven by higher marketing, product and channel development,
and brand-building expenses to support the company's expansion
into new products and geographies.
Nevertheless, the company will continue to generate positive free
cash flow over the next 12-18 months, enabling H&H to
reduce its debt.
Consequently, the company's adjusted debt/EBITDA will likely improve
to 2.3x-2.4x over the next 12-18 months from
2.5x in the 12 months ended 30 June 2019. This level of
debt leverage is strong for H&H's Ba2 corporate family rating.
H&H's liquidity profile is solid. At 30 June 2019, its
cash balance — including restricted cash — totaled RMB2 billion,
which could cover its short-term debt, including lease liabilities,
of RMB208 million.
H&H's senior unsecured bond rating for the proposed senior notes is
one notch lower than it would otherwise be, because the bond is
subordinated to the senior secured loan facilities.
H&H's Ba2 corporate family rating reflects (1) the company's leading
position among domestic infant milk formula (IMF) providers in China and
diversification into a leading position in Australia's (Aaa stable) vitamin,
herbal and mineral supplements (VHMS) market, (2) the favorable
demand trend for IMF in China and for VHMS in Australia and China,
and (3) the company's strong profitability and steady cash flow generation,
which in turn reflect its brand equity and the confidence-sensitive
nature of its products.
However, the rating is constrained by (1) the company's developing
scale in competitive markets, and (2) regulatory and product safety
risks.
H&H's rating also takes into account the following environmental,
social and governance considerations.
H&H benefits from the growing demand for IMF and VHMS in China,
driven by changing lifestyles stemming from urbanization, rising
disposal income and greater awareness of health and wellness issues.
On the other hand, H&H faces regulatory and product safety risks
because it derives its revenues mainly from IMF and VHMS, which
are designed for human consumption. These risks are mitigated by
the company's premium product positioning and focus on quality.
H&H's ownership is concentrated and only a minority of its board consists
of independent directors. This risk is partially mitigated by the
fact that the company is a listed and regulated entity.
The positive ratings outlook reflects Moody's expectation that H&H
will expand its revenue scale and deleverage over the next 12-18
months.
Upward ratings pressure could arise if (1) the company maintains a strong
market position in the IMF and VHMS segments; (2) its revenue scale
expands; (3) H&H maintains a conservative financial policy and
strong liquidity, such as sustained positive free cash flow,
conservative dividend payouts, and cash/short-term debt exceeding
1.5x-2.0x; and (4) the company achieves debt
leverage such that debt/EBITDA trends towards 2.0x-2.5x,
while maintaining a steady EBIT margin and growing its revenue scale.
On the other hand, the ratings outlook could return to stable if
H&H is unlikely to meet the upgrade conditions over the next 12-18
months.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Global Packaged Goods
published in January 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Health and Happiness (H&H) International Holdings Limited is a leading
domestic infant milk formula provider in China and a leading vitamin,
herbal and mineral supplements (VHMS) provider in Australia. The
company holds a 100% stake in the Australian VHMS provider,
Swisse Wellness Group Pty Ltd.
Established in 1999, H&H is headquartered in Hong Kong and listed
on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2010. Its chairman,
Mr. LUO Fei, as well as other principal shareholders,
held a 67.3% stake in the company at 30 June 2019.
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.
Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating
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)
generally provides Moody's with information for the purposes of
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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.
Gerwin Ho
VP - Senior Credit Officer
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
Clement Cheuk Yiu Wong
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