Hong Kong, June 04, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the corporate family rating (CFR)
of Dr. Peng Telecom & Media Group Co., Ltd.
(Dr. Peng Telecom) to Caa3 from Caa1.
At the same time, Moody's has downgraded Dr. Peng Holding
Hongkong Limited's senior unsecured rating to Caa3 from Caa1. The
notes are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Dr. Peng
Telecom.
The outlook on the ratings remains negative.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The downgrade follows the announcement by Dr. Peng Holding Hongkong
Limited on 29 May 2020 that the majority of its noteholders have accepted
the extension of the maturity date on its USD notes by 18 months to 1
December 2021 from 1 June 2020, with partial principal redemption
before that date [1][2].
The extension represents an economic loss for noteholders as the original
payment promises will not be met, thus triggering the downgrade.
Moody's views this amendment as a way for Dr. Peng Telecom to avoid
default given its constrained liquidity profile. The proposal can
therefore be viewed as a distressed exchange, which is a default
under Moody's definition.
This amendment highlights the severe challenges facing Dr. Peng
Telecom because of the intense competition among broadband internet access
operators in China and the uncertainty over its ongoing business transformation.
This situation will continue to strain the company's cash flow and liquidity.
The negative outlook reflects Moody's continued concerns over the company's
tight liquidity and ability to arrange funding on time to meet its obligations.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
Moody's could upgrade the ratings if the company makes significant
progress on servicing its debt obligations and improves its liquidity.
Moody's would downgrade the ratings further if there is an event
of default on its general debt obligations or other transaction that could
lead to a significant principal loss for its noteholders.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Telecommunications
Service Providers published in January 2017 and available at http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1055812.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Dr. Peng Telecom & Media Group Co., Ltd.
is a telecommunications operator in China and offers, among other
things, broadband internet access and application services.
Headquartered in Beijing, the company was founded in 1985 and listed
on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (600804.CH) in 1994.
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
debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures
in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the
same series, category/class of debt, security 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.
The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated
agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
These ratings are unsolicited.
a.With Rated Entity or Related Third Party Participation:
NO
b.With Access to Internal Documents: NO
c.With Access to Management: YES
For additional information, please refer to Moody's Policy
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Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating
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tab on the issuer/entity page and for details of Moody's Policy
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Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social
and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1133569.
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.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.
REFERENCES/CITATIONS
[1] Announcements made on the Singapore Stock Exchange dated 21 April,
27 April, 7 May and 29 May 2020
[2] Board meeting resolution announced on the Shanghai Stock Exchange
dated 28 May 2020
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.
Danny Chan
Asst Vice President - Analyst
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
Clement Cheuk Yiu Wong
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