Singapore, November 23, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the B3 corporate family rating
of Lippo Karawaci Tbk (P.T.).
At the same time, Moody's has affirmed the B3 backed senior unsecured
rating of the bonds issued by Theta Capital Pte. Ltd.,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lippo Karawaci. The bonds are
guaranteed by Lippo Karawaci and some of its subsidiaries.
Moody's has also changed the outlook on all ratings to positive
from stable.
"The rating affirmation with a change in outlook to positive reflects
our expectation of an improvement in Lippo Karawaci's operating
cash flow at the holding company level over the next 12-18 months,
mainly driven by strong growth in its core marketing sales, the
construction completion of its legacy projects and a reduction in rental
payments to First REIT," says Jacintha Poh, a Moody's Senior
Vice President.
"We expect Lippo Karawaci's net cash flow from its property development
business and dividend cash flows from its key operating subsidiaries to
be sufficient to meet rental and interest payments at the holding company
level over the next 12-18 months, such that it does not need
to rely on one-off asset sales," adds Poh.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Lippo Karawaci's marketing sales were IDR4.4 trillion in
the first 10 months of 2021 (10M 2021), comprising IDR3.2
trillion of sales at the holding company level. This marketing
sales achievement has exceeded Moody's initial estimate of around
IDR3.5 trillion; hence, Moody's now estimates
Lippo Karawaci's 2021 marketing sales to be around IDR4.7
trillion.
Given most of Lippo Karawaci's projects are focused on the mass-market
residential segment, which Moody's expects demand from homebuyer
to remain strong, the company's 2022 marketing sales will
increase to around IDR5.2 trillion.
Around 75% of Lippo Karawaci's marketing sales in 10M 2021
are from projects held at the holding company level, and Moody's
expects the same proportion in 2021 and 2022. The rise in marketing
sales will lead to growth in cash flow from the company's property
development business, such that the company does not need to rely
on one-off asset sales.
Lippo Karawaci's liquidity at the holding company level will be good over
the next 12-18 months. As of 30 September 2021, Lippo
Karawaci had cash and cash equivalents of around IDR2.3 trillion
at the holding company level and Moody's expects it will generate
positive operating cash flow of around IDR100 billion in 2022.
Lippo Karawaci will also have sufficient cash to repay its short-term
loan facilities, although the company will likely continue to roll
over the loans and keep a larger cash buffer.
The positive operating cash flow in 2022 is supported by stronger cash
collection given the growth in marketing sales and lower construction
spending following the completion of its legacy projects; higher
dividend cash flows because Lippo Karawaci's key operating subsidiaries,
55%-owned Siloam International Hospitals Tbk (P.T.)
and 84%-owned Lippo Cikarang (P.T.),
have started to pay dividends; and a reduction in rental payments
to First REIT.
In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks,
Moody's has considered Lippo Karawaci's weak execution track record,
which resulted in liquidity pressure that was relieved by an IDR11.2
trillion rights issue backed by the Riady family in 2019. The current
management team, led by John Riady, was put in place following
the rights issue. Over the past two years, this management
team met all the milestones it set in 2019, but the track record
remains short.
Moody's has also considered the founding family's concentrated ownership
of Lippo Karawaci. However, this risk is mitigated by the
oversight exercised through the presence of strategic minority shareholders
on the board and partially balanced by demonstration of support from its
key shareholder.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
Lippo Karawaci's rating could be upgraded if the company continues to
improve its core property development business, such that operating
cash flow at the holding company level is positive without relying on
any one-off asset sales; the company reduces debt at the holding
company level; and liquidity stays good over the next 12-18
months.
Lippo Karawaci's rating could be downgraded if operating cash flow deteriorates
at the holding company level, weakening liquidity; and if there
are signs of cash leakage from Lippo Karawaci to affiliated companies,
for example, through intercompany loans, aggressive cash dividends
or investments in affiliates. The senior unsecured bond rating
could also be downgraded if debt is incurred at its subsidiaries.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Homebuilding And Property
Development Industry published in January 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1108031.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Lippo Karawaci Tbk (P.T.) and its subsidiaries are engaged
in the development, management and operation of retail malls,
hospitals, hotels, condominiums, and residential townships
across multiple cities in Indonesia. Lippo Karawaci also manages
Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (B1 negative), a real estate
investment trust (REIT) listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange,
in which it owned a 58% stake as of 30 September 2021.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity
analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity
to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and
Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
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governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1288235.
The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was
issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by
Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main
60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
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Jacintha Poh
Senior Vice President
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Vikas Halan
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077