Hong Kong, July 17, 2017 -- Moody's Investors Service has downgraded to B2 from B1 the corporate family
rating (CFR) of Reward Science and Technology Industry Group Co.,
Ltd., (Reward) as well as the rating on the 7.25%
3-year backed senior unsecured notes issued by Reward International
Investment Limited and guaranteed by Reward.
The ratings outlook remains negative.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The downgrade reflects our expectation that the company's
leverage will remain high, given the volatility in its operating
performance and its dependence on the dairy segment for operating cash
flows," says Gloria Tsuen, a Moody's Vice President
and Senior Analyst.
"The downgrade also reflects the low transparency in the company's
financial disclosure, which is an area for improvement,"
adds Tsuen.
The previous B1 CFR was based on the expectation that the company would
deleverage to below 4.5x by the end of 2017.
However, the significant volatility in its revenue and margins --
partly a result of the company's relatively small size and limited
market shares -- will make it challenging for Reward to achieve that
level of leverage. Moody's estimates Reward's leverage
will be in the 5.5x-6.0x range in the next 6-12
months, which is more commensurate with a B2 rating.
In addition, the delay in the disclosure of the spin-off
of part of its daily consumer products business reflects low transparency.
This is negative for the company's ratings.
Based on the first public financial statement filing by its standalone
daily consumer products segment, Beijing Luowa Daily Chemicals Limited
(unrated), Reward's operating cash flow comes from a narrower
base than Moody's previous expectations. Luowa Daily Chemicals'
reported operating cash flow totaled only 4% of Reward's
consolidated reported operating cash flow in 2016. This means that
over 95% of Reward's operating cash flow depended on the
company's remaining businesses, mainly its dairy segment which
is more exposed to commodity price cycles and regulatory risks than Luowa
Daily's cleaning products.
Reward is in the process of listing Luowa Daily Chemicals on China's
National Equities Exchange and Quotations.
In 2015, Reward spun off a portion of its daily consumer products
business that it did not deem material, but only disclosed this
spin-off in June 2017. Considering that the transaction
involved related parties, the recent disclosure shows that there
is meaningful room for improvement in the transparency and timeliness
of the company's communication with investors.
Moody's expects Reward's liquidity will remain adequate.
Its reported cash balance of RMB6.6 billion at end-March
2017 is more than enough to cover its RMB1.9 billion in short-term
debt and bills payable.
Reward's B2 CFR is supported by its: (1) vertically integrated
dairy supply chain, which helps to ensure product safety; (2)
growing cleaning products business; and (3) solid liquidity.
At the same time, the rating is constrained by the company's:
(1) small size and limited market shares; (2) new entry into the
highly competitive and highly regulated infant milk formula market;
(3) execution risks related to its growth-driven business plan,
including cross-border acquisitions (which Reward is new to);
and (4) high ownership concentration.
The negative outlook reflects the high volatility in Reward's operating
performance, its reliance on the dairy segment for operating cash
flows, high debt leverage, and the low transparency in its
disclosure.
There is no upward ratings pressure, given the negative outlook.
However, the outlook could return to stable if Reward: (1)
reduces the volatility in its operating performance, and (2) reduces
adjusted debt/EBITDA to below 5.5x in the next 12 months.
Downward rating pressure could emerge if: (1) Reward's operational
performance or liquidity weakens; (2) the company fails to reduce
leverage; or (3) it fails to maintain sound corporate governance.
Credit metrics indicative of downgrade pressure include an adjusted EBIT
margin below 8% or adjusted debt/EBITDA above 6.0x on a
sustained basis.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Packaged Goods
published in January 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Headquartered in Beijing, Reward Science and Technology Industry
Group Co., Ltd. engages in the production and marketing
of dairy and other food products, as well as daily consumer products
(mainly cleaning products), and other businesses, such as
the leasing of commercial property and hotels.
It generated RMB7.6 billion in revenue in 2016, with 60%
derived from dairy and other food products, 29% from daily
consumer products, and 11% from other businesses.
Reward is a private company 96%-owned by its founder and
chairman, Mr. Hu Keqin, and his family.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
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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
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to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to
each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their
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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
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to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
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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.
Gloria Tsuen, CFA
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Hong Kong Ltd.
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Gary Lau
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
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Client Service: 852 3551 3077
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