Hong Kong, February 21, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has downgraded GCL New Energy Holdings Limited's
corporate family rating to B2 from B1, and its senior unsecured
rating to B3 from B2.
At the same time, Moody's has changed the outlook to negative
from stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The ratings downgrade reflects the combined effect of 1) GCL New
Energy's tightened liquidity and a high level refinancing risk with
sizable maturing debt in 2019, as well as 2020, and 2) continued
uncertainty regarding the ongoing business model of the company under
the asset light strategy," says Ivy Poon, a Moody's
Vice President and Senior Analyst.
Moody's estimates that GCL New Energy has RMB8.5 billion
of debt maturing in 2019 and a further RMB6 billion in 2020. Such
amount raises material challenges for GCL New Energy, when compared
to available sources of cash.
"Moody's acknowledges that GCL New Energy is pursuing several
alternatives to address its large refinancing task," Poon
says, adding "However, there is uncertainty that these
alternatives will materialize in a timely manner, amid tight credit
conditions."
At the same time, the rating downgrade considers the uncertainty
associated with GCL New Energy's pursuit of an asset light strategy
with the aim of reducing debt and ease the pressure on liquidity.
The prolonged delays and uncertainty associated with the transformation
of GCL New Energy's business model, and the refinancing risk
facing the company, raise the credit risk to a level that is more
appropriate for the current lower rating.
Moody's notes that the previous rating level benefited from GCL
New Energy's market position as a major solar power generation company.
Strong operating profile underpinned by leading market position and meaningful
asset portfolio was one of the key credit considerations supporting the
previous B1 corporate family rating.
The negative ratings outlook reflects Moody's expectation that GCL
New Energy will continue to face high refinancing risk for its sizable
maturing debt in 2019, as well as 2020.
Upward rating pressure is unlikely, given the negative ratings outlook.
However, the outlook on the ratings could return to stable if the
company successfully refinances its maturing debt, receives more
timely collections of subsidies receivable, and/or introduces other
countermeasures to ease the liquidity pressure.
Downward pressure on the ratings could emerge if: (1) GCL New Energy
is unable to refinance its maturing debt in a timely manner; (2)
it undertakes aggressive asset sales that significantly jeopardize its
business sustainability; (3) the credit profiles of its parent,
GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited, weaken materially;
(4) there are signs of cash leakage to GCL-Poly via dividend distributions
or other means; and/or (5) there are material adverse changes in
the regulatory environment for China's solar power industry.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Unregulated Utilities
and Unregulated Power Companies published in May 2017. Please see
the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy
of this methodology.
GCL New Energy Holdings Limited is a privately owned solar power generation
company in China. The company's installed capacity totaled 7.1GW
across 26 Chinese provinces and abroad at 30 June 2018.
GCL New Energy was 62.28% owned by GCL-Poly Energy
Holdings Limited at 30 June 2018. GCL New Energy is the sole downstream
platform of its parent company.
Founded in 1996, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited is an integrated
solar photovoltaic company.
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.
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when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. Unless
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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.
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
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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.
Ivy Poon
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Project & Infrastructure Finance
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
Terry Fanous
MD-Public Proj & Infstr Fin
Project & Infrastructure Finance
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