Hong Kong, April 03, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has changed to stable from negative the
outlook on Fantasia Holdings Group Co., Limited's B2 corporate
family rating and B3 senior unsecured debt ratings.
At the same time, Moody's has affirmed all ratings.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The stable outlook on Fantasia's ratings reflects the company's
improved liquidity position and reduced refinancing risk, and our
expectation that its credit metrics will recover gradually in the coming
12-18 months from the current weak levels," says Celine Yang,
a Moody's Assistant Vice President and Analyst.
Fantasia has demonstrated its ability to raise new term funding with tenors
ranging from 1.5 years to 3 years since December 2018, albeit
at high costs, to refinance its maturing debt, compared with
issuance of three programs of 364-day USD bonds with a sizeable
aggregate amount of USD540 million in 2018.
Its improved liquidity position is also evidenced by the improvement in
its cash to short-term debt ratio to 1.7x in 2018 from 1.1x
in 2017 (after adjusting for puttable bonds and cash in its subsidiary
Colour Life Services Group Co., Limited).
The company achieved 50% growth in contracted sales to RMB30.2
billion in 2018 from RMB20.1 billion in 2017, after recording
65% year-on-year growth in 2017 from RMB12.2
billion in 2016. The increase in contracted sales in 2017 and 2018
supports its liquidity and will support revenue growth in 2019 and 2020.
Fantasia's leverage -- as measured by revenue to adjusted debt
-- of 32% in 2018 was weak when compared to many B2 Chinese
property peers. However, this weak level of leverage is mitigated
by its strengthened cash position at RMB25 billion (excluding cash held
at Colour Life) at the end of 2018, compared to RMB 14.2
billion at the end of 2017.
At the same time, Moody's expects Fantasia will become more
disciplined in controlling its debt growth. For the next 12-18
months, accordingly, its leverage will likely trend towards
40% from 32% in 2018 and EBIT/interest will improve to 1.50x
from 1.31x in 2018.
Fantasia's B2 corporate family rating reflects the company's (1) established
track record in property development in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic
Zone and the Pearl River Delta; and (2) the diversified income streams
from its property management, rental and hotel management businesses,
which are mostly recurring in nature.
On the other hand, the B2 rating is constrained by the company's
high leverage and weak interest coverage, which is in turn caused
by its high-cost financing.
Nevertheless, Fantasia's ratings could be upgraded if the company
(1) improves its debt maturity and liquidity profiles; and (2) improves
its credit metrics such that revenue/adjusted debt rises to 60%-70%
on a sustained basis and EBIT/interest improves to 2.5x or above.
The ratings could be downgraded if (1) its contracted sales or cash collections
weaken; (2) it engages in aggressive land acquisitions or other business
acquisitions, such that its debt leverage and liquidity deteriorate
materially; (3) refinancing and liquidity risks deteriorate;
or (3) its credit metrics are unlikely to improve, with EBIT/interest
failing to trend towards 1.5x in the next 12-18 months.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Homebuilding And Property
Development Industry published in January 2018. Please see the
Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of
this methodology.
Fantasia Holdings Group Co., Limited is a property developer
in China (A1 stable). Established in 1996, the company listed
on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 2009. Fantasia had
a market capitalization of HKD9.16 billion as of 1 April 2019.
Zeng Jie Baby is the company's largest shareholder, with a 57.5%
stake as of 5 March 2019.
In addition to property development, Fantasia is engaged in providing
property operation services, property agency services and hotel
services for its own properties and properties of third parties.
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.
Moody's considers a rated entity or its agent(s) to be participating
when it maintains an overall relationship with Moody's. Unless
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generally provides Moody's with information for the purposes of
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for the Regulatory Disclosures for each credit rating action under the
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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.
YuYing (Celine) Yang
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
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