Hong Kong, July 10, 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service has changed to positive from stable the outlook
on Health and Happiness (H&H) International Holdings Limited's Ba2
corporate family rating and Ba3 senior unsecured rating.
At the same time, Moody's has affirmed the company's ratings.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The positive ratings outlook reflects Moody's expectation that
H&H will expand its revenue scale and deleverage over the next 12-18
months," says Gerwin Ho, a Moody's Vice President and Senior
Credit Officer.
H&H has shown a good track record of revenue growth. Its revenue
rose 24% year-on-year in 2017 to RMB8.1 billion,
driven by 22% year-on-year growth in revenue for
baby nutrition and care products, which include infant milk formula
(IMF), probiotic supplements and other pediatric products,
and 27% year-on-year growth in adult nutrition and
care products, which consist mainly of vitamin, herbal and
mineral supplements (VHMS).
H&H's revenue growth is supported by a favorable business environment
in China (A1 stable). Its premium and new organic IMF products
enjoy good demand in China where consumers have a preference for quality
products. Its probiotic supplements have also registered strong
growth, spurred by effective marketing, and its adult nutrition
and care products' growth is driven by rising consumer demand for
Swisse Wellness Group Pty Ltd's (Swisse) VHMS products.
Accordingly, Moody's expects that H&H's revenue will grow at
about 17% year-on-year over the next 12-18
months, reflecting growth in its baby nutrition and care products,
as well as adult nutrition and care products.
H&H has maintained its position as a leading domestic IMF provider
in China. The company ranked first among domestic IMF providers
and sixth among domestic and foreign IMF providers in 2017, according
to Nielsen.
The company's VHMS provider Swisse retained its leading position
in the Australian VHMS market, with a 16.1% market
share for the 12 months ended 31 December 2017, according to IRI.
Given H&H's leading market position and asset-light model,
Moody's expects the company will maintain its EBITDA margins at
around 26.5% and positive free cash flow over the next 12
-- 18 months. The company has maintained positive free cash
flow since 2014, with free cash flow reaching RMB974 million in
2017. Such positive free cash flow will enable the company to reduce
its debt.
Consequently, the company's adjusted debt/EBITDA will be expected
to improve to around 1.9x in the next 12-18 months from
2.9x in 2017 and from 4.6x in 2016. This level of
debt leverage is strong for its Ba2 corporate family rating.
H&H's liquidity profile is sufficient. At the end of 2017,
its cash balance — including restricted cash — totaled RMB2.1
billion, which was sufficient to cover its short-term debt
of RMB793 million.
The company has also shown a track record of refinancing its debt.
It secured a USD300 million three-year term loan in June 2018 to
refinance the outstanding portion of its existing USD450 million term
loan that will mature in April 2019.
H&H's Ba2 corporate family rating reflects (1) the company's
leading position among domestic 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 VHMS in Australia and China, and
(3) the company's strong profitability and steady cash flow generation,
which reflect in turn its brand equity and the confidence-sensitive
nature of its products.
However, the rating is constrained by (1) its developing scale in
competitive markets, and (2) regulatory and product safety risks.
Upward rating pressure could arise if (1) the company maintains a strong
market position in the IMF and VHMS segments; (2) its revenue scale
expands; (3) it maintains a conservative financial policy and strong
liquidity position, such as sustainable positive free cash flow,
conservative dividend payouts, and cash/short term debt exceeding
1.5x -- 2.0x; and (4) it achieves debt leverage,
such that debt/EBITDA falls below 2x on a sustained basis, while
maintaining steady EBIT margins 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 these ratings 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 leading Australian
vitamin, herbal and mineral supplements (VHMS) provider.
The company acquired an 83% stake in Australian VHMS provider Swisse
Wellness Group Pty Ltd in September 2015, and further raised its
stake to 100% in February 2017.
Established in 1999, H&H is headquartered in Guangzhou and listed
on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2010. Its chairman
and CEO, Mr. LUO Fei, and other principal shareholders
together held a 71% stake in the company at the end of 2017.
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.
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
Gary Lau
MD - Corporate Finance
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