Hong Kong, March 13, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a Baa3 senior unsecured rating
to the proposed USD notes to be issued by Poly Real Estate Finance Ltd.
The bonds will be guaranteed by Hengli (Hong Kong) Real Estate Limited
(Baa3 stable), a 100%-owned subsidiary of Poly Developments
and Holdings Group Co., Ltd. (Poly Developments,
Baa2 stable).
In addition to the guarantee from Hengli, the proposed bonds will
be supported by a deed of equity interest purchase undertaking between
Poly Developments and the bond trustee, as well as a keepwell deed
between Poly Developments, Hengli, Poly Real Estate Finance
Ltd and the bond trustee.
The proceeds will be used to refinance Poly Developments' and Hengli's
existing indebtedness.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The new issuance will lengthen Poly Developments' and Hengli's
debt maturity profiles and will not materially affect the two companies'
credit metrics, because the proceeds will be mainly used for refinancing,"
says Kaven Tsang, a Moody's Senior Vice President.
Hengli's Baa3 issuer rating continues to reflect its ba3-level
standalone credit profile and a three-notch rating uplift,
based on Moody's expectation that Poly Developments will provide financial
support to Hengli, in times of stress.
The support assessment takes into consideration Poly Developments'
full ownership and track record of providing support to Hengli.
The support assessment also factors in Moody's expectation that Hengli
will remain strategically important in diversifying Poly Developments'
funding sources to include long-term offshore funding.
Hengli's standalone credit profile reflects its small scale and Moody's
expectation that the company will continue to grow in size over the next
two to three years, which will in turn enhance its operating and
financial profiles.
The standalone credit profile also factors in the operational and financial
benefits arising from Hengli's close linkages to its parent,
Poly Developments, such as the parent's brand, execution and
management expertise, diversified sales network, as well as
Poly Developments' good access to funding, given its state-owned
enterprise background.
On the other hand, Hengli's standalone credit profile is constrained
by its volatile performance, owing to its small scale and limited
diversification compared with other Ba-rated Chinese property peers,
as well as its high debt leverage.
Moody's expects that Poly Developments will have the ability to provide
support to Hengli, if needed.
Poly Developments' Baa2 issuer rating reflects its: (1) leading
market position as one of the largest residential developers by contracted
sales in China; (2) strong sales execution, supported by its
mass-market products and fast-turnover business model;
(3) nationwide coverage; and (4) strong liquidity and adequate access
to land and funding by virtue of its status as a state-owned enterprise.
Poly Developments' contracted sales grew 30.9% year-on-year
in 2018 to RMB405 billion, after growing 47.2% year-on-year
to RMB309 billion in 2017. The company's contracted sales will
support its future revenue growth.
Hengli's stable rating outlook reflects Moody's expectation that Poly
Developments will provide Hengli with financial and operational support
in times of need, and that over the next 12-18 months,
Hengli's scale will continue to grow and its financial metrics will remain
at levels supportive of its standalone credit profile.
A near-term rating upgrade is unlikely, given Hengli's small
operating scale and volatile financial metrics.
Nevertheless, upward rating pressure could emerge if: (1)
Hengli successfully executes its business plan and substantially improves
its scale and diversification to reduce sales and earnings volatility;
(2) the company improves its financial profile, with EBIT/interest
exceeding 4.0x-4.5x on a sustained basis; and/or
(3) Moody's upgrades Poly Developments' rating.
On the other hand, a downgrade of Poly Developments' rating
could lead to a similar downgrade of Hengli's rating.
Furthermore, any evidence of: (1) a material reduction in
the strategic importance of Hengli to Poly Developments; or (2) a
decline in ownership by or weakening in support from Poly Developments,
would also be negative for Hengli's rating.
Hengli's rating could also come under downward pressure if the company:
(1) fails to execute its business plan, such that its scale,
sales and operating cash flow generation are weaker than Moody's expects;
or (2) materially accelerates its development activities and implements
an aggressive land acquisition plan, such that its liquidity weakens
or EBIT coverage of interest falls below 2.5x 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.
Incorporated in Hong Kong in 2006, Hengli (Hong Kong) Real Estate
Limited is wholly owned by Poly Developments and Holdings Group Co.,
Ltd. and is Poly Developments' primary offshore investment
and funding platform.
Founded in 1992, Poly Developments is one of the largest property
developers in China (A1 stable), with contracted sales of RMB405
billion in 2018.
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.
Kaven Tsang
Senior Vice President
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