Hong Kong, March 02, 2012 -- Moody's Investors Service says that CLP Holdings Ltd's full-year
results for 2011 have no immediate impact on the company's A2 issuer rating.
The rating outlook remains stable.
"CLPH showed good growth in revenue in 2011, mainly due to
contributions from its acquisitions in New South Wales, and which
were immediately earnings accretive," says Peter Choy,
a Associate Managing Director at Moody's.
In FY2011, CLPH reported 57% revenue growth to HKD91.6
billion and 26% growth in operating profit -- before
non-recurring items -- due to the increased contribution from
TRUenergy in Australia, and the strength of the Australian dollar,
after the acquisitions of the EnergyAustralia retail business and the
Delta Western GenTrader contracts in March 2011.
With the NSW acquisitions, TRUenergy became one of the three leading
energy players in Australia. The substantial rise in revenue and
earnings in 2011 reflected an enlarged operating scale and the smooth
integration of these operations.
During 2011, the Australian business accounted for 28% of
total operating earnings -- before one-off items,
up from 14% a year ago.
"Nevertheless, TRUenergy's earnings were negatively
affected by a one-off impairment loss on its brown coal plant as
a result of the introduction of the Australian government's clean
energy legislation in late 2011. Therefore, CLPH's
net profit decreased 10% to HKD9.3 billion,"
says Choy.
While the higher Australian contributions partly led to CLPH's unadjusted
EBITDA before non-recurring items increasing by 31% to HKD
25.3 billion, its unadjusted EBITDA margin fell to 28%
from 34% in 2010, as the Australia operations showed lower
profitability than the Hong Kong operations.
"In addition, CLPH's substantial business growth came
with higher leverage as its USD2.05 billion NSW acquisitions are
largely debt funded," adds Choy. "Nevertheless,
the weakening in credit metrics in 2011 was within Moody's expectations."
As a result, total bank loans and other borrowings rose by HKD20.8
billion to HKD65.5 billion in 2011, mainly attributed by
NSW acquisitions and loan drawdown for Jhajjar plant construction in India.
The group arranged HKD28.2 billion in equivalent banking facilities
and raised HKD7.4 billion in debt in the bond market to meet its
financing requirements. After incorporating Moody's adjustments,
adjusted debt to book capitalization rose to around 48% from 41%
in 2010. Nevertheless, the weakening in credit metrics for
FY2011 was in line with Moody's expectations.
CLPH's liquidity remained sound in 2011 with free cash of HKD3.9
billion and undrawn banking facilities of HKD24.4 billion as of
31 December 2011. This amount should be sufficient to cover its
near-term re-financing needs, including short-term
debt of HKD12.6 billion.
In addition, the potential IPO of TRUenergy would provide extra
liquidity to the group and lower its reliance on debt financing when TRUenergy
recycles their capital back to CLPH after listing.
Looking ahead, CLPH's Hong Kong electricity business will
remain the foundation of group, and it accounted for 68.3%
of total operating earnings in 2011. The regulated business is
supported by stable earnings from the Scheme of Control, which permitted
return covers net fixed assets value after depreciation with pass-through
of fuel cost and operating costs.
However, the group reached a lower than expected tariff increase
for 2012 with the shortfall between proposed and actual tariff hikes compensated
by rent and rate rebates. The group may need to propose a higher
tariff increase in next tariff review given the uptrend fuel costs and
increasing permitted capital investments to meet the government's
new fuel mix target.
But, its ability to raise tariffs could be tested by the political
and social climate. In particular, Moody's does not
expect special rebates to compensate for the shortfall between proposed
and actual tariff hikes in the future as was the case in the tariff review
for 2012.
CLPH's business outside Hong Kong will continue to grow.
TRUenergy aims to strengthen its portfolio through further integration
of the retail business and better management of fuel costs in its generation
business. In addition, CLPH is expected to complete the acquisition
of a 17% stake in the Yangjiang nuclear project in China,
subject to regulatory approval.
The ratings outlook is stable, reflecting Moody's expectation that
CLPH will successfully integrate the NSW business and improve its financial
profile. The outlook also reflects Moody's expectation that the
company will make no major overseas acquisitions in the next 12 months.
The possibility of upward rating pressure is limited over the near term,
given the temporary weakness in credit metrics, and it will need
12-18 months to return its financial profile to pre-acquisition
levels.
Downward rating pressure will emerge if TRUenergy or other overseas operations
perform materially below Moody's expectations, or if CLPH makes
any additional majority debt-funded acquisitions, such that
its business and financial risk expands.
The key credit metrics that Moody's would consider for a downgrade include
FFO/debt falling below 15-20%, debt/capitalization
rising above 50%, FFO/interest falling below 4-4.5x
(consolidated), or CLP Power's cash flow contribution falling below
50% of the group total.
Please see ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for the last rating action and the rating history.
The principal methodology used in this rating was Regulated Electric and
Gas Utilities published in August 2009. Please see the Credit Policy
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
CLP Holdings Ltd, headquartered and listed in Hong Kong, operates
its electric utility business through its 100%-owned subsidiary,
CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd. The group also has a growing portfolio
of electricity generation investments across Asia Pacific.
CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd is a vertically integrated electricity generation,
transmission, and distribution company. It is regulated by
the Hong Kong SAR Government under the Scheme of Control Arrangement and
accounts for the majority of CLPH's operating cash flow. The company
has a de facto monopoly over Kowloon and the New Territories, which
together account for 80% of Hong Kong's population .
Peter Choy
Associate Managing Director
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
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077
Gary Lau
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (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
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077
Moody's comments on CLP Holdings FY2011 results