Hong Kong, November 09, 2022 -- Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Jiangsu Zhongnan Construction Grp Co., Ltd.'s corporate family rating (CFR) to Ca from Caa2, and the senior unsecured rating on the bonds issued by Haimen Zhongnan Investment Dev (Intl) Co Ltd and guaranteed by Jiangsu Zhongnan to C from Caa3.
The rating outlooks remain negative.
"The downgrade reflects our expectation of weak recovery prospects for Jiangsu Zhongnan's bondholders, following the company's interest payment default on its USD bond," says Cedric Lai, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
"The negative outlook reflects our view that recovery prospects for Jiangsu Zhongnan's creditors could weaken further if the interest payment default extends to a wider default of other debts," adds Lai.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Jiangsu Zhongnan announced on 7 November 2022 that it had missed the interest payment on its outstanding offshore bond [1]. The interest payment default reflects the company's weak liquidity and constrained financial flexibility, and weak recovery prospects for its creditors. It could also trigger a cross default and accelerate the repayment of the company's other debt obligations. The company would have to rely on asset disposals or other fundraising plans for debt servicing. However, there are high uncertainties associated with such fundraising activities.
Haimen Zhongnan Investment Dev (Intl) Co Ltd's C senior unsecured debt rating is one notch lower than Jiangsu Zhongnan's CFR due to structural subordination risk. This risk reflects the fact that the majority of claims are at the operating subsidiaries and have priority over Jiangsu Zhongnan's senior unsecured claims in a bankruptcy scenario. In addition, the holding company lacks significant mitigating factors for structural subordination. As a result, the expected recovery rate for claims at the holding company will be lower.
In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, Moody's has considered the company's concentrated ownership by Zhongnan Urban Construction Investment Co., Ltd., which had a 52.09% stake in the company as of 05 November 2022, and the risks posed by its shareholder's share pledge financing. The agency has also considered Jiangsu Zhongnan's elevated financial risk associated with debt restructuring as it defaults on its interest payment.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGS
Moody's could further downgrade Jiangsu Zhongnan's CFR if the recovery prospects for its creditors deteriorate.
An upgrade is unlikely, given the negative outlook.
However, positive rating momentum could develop if Jiangsu Zhongnan repays its maturing debt obligations and materially improves its liquidity.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Homebuilding and Property Development published in October 2022 and available at https://ratings.moodys.com/api/rmc-documents/394515. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on https://ratings.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Jiangsu Zhongnan is based in China's Jiangsu Province and principally engages in property development and construction services. It had a total land bank of around 37.0 million square meters as of June 2022.
The company was founded by Chen Jinshi, who has been in China's construction business since 1988. It listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2009.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
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REFERENCES/CITATIONS
[1] Jiangsu Zhongnan's filings to Hong Kong Stock Exchange 7-Oct-2022
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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.
Yiwei Daniel Zhou
Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd.
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Franco Leung
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
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Cedric Lai
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
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