Hong Kong, April 03, 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service has today placed the Ba3 corporate family
rating (CFR) of Guangzhou R&F Properties Co., Ltd.
and the B1 CFR of R&F Properties (HK) Company Limited (R&F HK)
on review for downgrade.
The outlooks on the two companies are changed to rating under review from
stable.
R&F HK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guangzhou R&F.
RATINGS RATIONALE / FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE
OF THE RATINGS
"The review for downgrade of Guangzhou R&F's CFR reflects our
concerns over its high debt leverage and increased liquidity risk,
given its sizable refinancing needs in the next 12-18 months,"
says Josephine Ho, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
Guangzhou R&F has a total of RMB62 billion in debt maturing over the
next 12 months, including RMB21 billion of maturing and puttable
bonds, RMB28 billion in bank loans, and RMB13 billion in trust
loans. In addition, the company has declared a dividend payment
of RMB1.28 per share, or RMB4.5 billion, which
will be paid in the second quarter of 2020.
The company's cash holdings of RMB38 billion at the end of 2019,
together with its contracted sales proceeds after deducting basic operating
cash flow items, are not sufficient to cover these payments,
and it will need to raise new debt to repay its maturing debt.
In addition, Moody's expects Guangzhou R&F's debt
leverage, as measured by revenue/adjusted debt, will remain
weak at 44%-46% in the next 12-18 month,
compared with 44% at the end of 2019. This ratio is weak
when compared with its Ba-rated Chinese property peers, and
reduces its financial flexibility.
While Guangzhou R&F has a track record of refinancing maturing debt
both onshore and offshore, the current volatile funding environment
is creating uncertainty.
To help address its refinancing needs, Guangzhou R&F recently
received a RMB4 billion quota for onshore bond issuance and RMB5 billion
quota for private placement note in the first quarter of 2020.
The company in March 2020 also repaid $325 million of its $700
million offshore bond due in January 2021.
The review for downgrade of R&F HK's B1 CFR reflects the weakened
ability of its parent to provide financial and operating support in times
of need, and the potential deterioration in its standalone credit
quality in view of the challenging operating environment for its hotel
business.
Moody's review will focus on (1) Guangzhou R&F's refinancing
and liquidity management plan, (2) its ability to access funding
to refinance its maturing debt, including puttable bonds,
(3) its ability to meet its contracted sales plan and to deleverage over
the next 12 months, and (4) its ability to provide support to R&F
HK.
Moody's expects to close the review in the near future.
In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors,
Moody's has considered the concentrated ownership by Guangzhou R&F's
key shareholders, its high dividend payouts and aggressive financial
management. In addition, Moody's has considered the
rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak and the potential
impact on China's property sector. Moody's regards
the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under its ESG framework,
given the substantial implications for public health and safety.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Homebuilding And Property
Development Industry published in January 2018 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1108031.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Established in 1994 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2005,
Guangzhou R&F Properties Co., Ltd. is a large
developer in China's residential and commercial property sector.
At the end of 2019, the company's land bank totaled 57.9
million square meters (sqm) in attributable saleable area, spread
across 97 cities in China and 6 cities overseas, including Australia,
the UK, Malaysia, Korea, and Cambodia. Mr.
Li Sze Lim and Mr. Zhang Li are the company's co-founders
and owned 30.99% and 29.52% equity interests,
respectively, as of 31 December 2019.
R&F Properties (HK) Company Limited (R&F HK) and its subsidiaries
are principally engaged in the development and sale of properties,
property investments and hotel operations in China. The company
was established in Hong Kong on 25 August 2005. It serves as an
offshore funding vehicle and holding company for some of Guangzhou R&F's
property projects in China.
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Josephine Ho
Vice President - Senior 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
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Franco Leung
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