Tokyo, August 20, 2014 -- Moody's Japan K.K. has changed to positive from stable the
rating outlook of Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
At the same time, Moody's has affirmed all its ratings on
Mitsui Fudosan, including A3 senior unsecured long-term ratings
and issuer rating.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The positive outlook reflects Moody's expectation that Mitsui Fudosan's
leverage will stabilize at its current level or lower due to the equity
finance through public offerings in July 2014, and growing cash
flows from its newly opened properties, condominium sales,
and the property management and brokerage business.
Moody's expects annual operating profit to grow to JPY175-185
billion for the next 1-2 years from JPY172.6 billion in
FYE2014/3, while debt will stabilize at around JPY2.0-2.1
trillion from JPY2.0 trillion.
On the other hand, Moody's needs to continue assessing whether
the company will maintain its financial leverage at the current level,
owing to our assumption that there will be further debt-funded
investments in new large projects over the next few years.
Expected Improvement in Leverage
Mitsui Fudosan's Debt/EBITDA multiple (unadjusted) improved below
9x in FYE2014/3 from around 10x in FYE2013/3, because of the improvement
in its leverage as a result of its growth in cash flow.
In addition, due to the equity finance through public offerings
amounting to JPY330 billion in July 2014, Moody's expects
that the company will stabilize its debt to around JPY2.0-2.1
trillion from JPY2.0 trillion in FYE2014/3, and debt/gross
asset (unadjusted) to around 40% or lower for the next 1-2
years.
Growth in Cash Flow
Given growth in its cash flows from its newly-opened properties,
condominium sales, and property management and intermediacy business,
Mitsui Fudosan's operating profit increased 16% in FYE2014/3.
In particular, its management segment, which does not need
large capital expenditures, contributed -- based on operating
income before eliminations -- 35% of Mitsui Fudosan's
total profit growth in FYE2014/3, and significantly reduced debt/EBITDA.
Leasing Business
Mitsui Fudosan's cash flow in its leasing business will increase
gradually for the next three years, owing to additional cash flows
from newly opened properties, including offices in the Nihonbashi
area and retail facilities where it maintains a strong franchise.
In addition, the operating income from existing buildings which
has bottomed will support the company's total cash flow growth.
Given strong demand for high quality buildings in good locations,
Mitsui Fudosan's average vacancy rate has fallen faster than the
market average. Thus, its rents will also rise relatively
faster.
Property Sales Business
Moody's expects the cash flow from Mitsui Fudosan's property
sales business will grow significantly for the next 1-2 years,
mainly driven by the growth in commercial property sales. In its
condo-sales business, despite cost increases for land and
construction, profitability will slightly improve, as sales
prices will rise, while selling costs will fall.
Moody's will consider upgrading the rating if Mitsui Fudosan:
(1) exhibits stronger profitability in its major segments; and (2)
increases its cash collections and reduces its level of debt further.
Specific credit metrics that Moody's will take into account include:
(1) adjusted debt/EBITDA below 10.0x; and (2) adjusted debt/gross
assets below 40%.
On the other hand, the company's ratings could come under pressure
if: (1) earnings from office leasing and property sales are significantly
affected by a further deterioration in market conditions; or (2)
debt substantially increases, owing to changes in its investment
and financial policies, thereby worsening its leverage, balance
sheet, and interest coverage.
Specific credit metrics that may lead to a downgrade of the company's
ratings include: (1) adjusted debt/EBITDA above 11.0x;
(2) adjusted total debt to gross assets above 50%; and (3)
adjusted EBITDA to interest expenses below 3x.
The ratings could also be adversely affected if the company's risks increase
owing to higher exposures to either property sales or overseas businesses.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Global Rating Methodology
for REITs and Other Commercial Property Firms published in July 2010.
Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for
a copy of this methodology.
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo,
is a leading property developer in Japan.
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 rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
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 rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this 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.
Moody's Japan K.K. is a credit rating agency registered
with the Japan Financial Services Agency and its registration number is
FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2. The Financial Services
Agency has not imposed any supervisory measures on Moody's Japan K.K.
in the past year.
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.
Takahiro Okubo
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Structured Finance Group
Moody's Japan K.K.
Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl
2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-6220
Japan
JOURNALISTS: 813-5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: 813-5408-4100
Kei Kitayama
MD - Asia-Pac Structured Fin
Structured Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 813-5408-4110
SUBSCRIBERS: 813-5408-4100
Releasing Office:
Moody's Japan K.K.
Atago Green Hills Mori Tower 20fl
2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-6220
Japan
JOURNALISTS: 813-5408-4110
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Moody's changes Mitsui Fudosan's outlook to positive; affirms A3