Hong Kong, December 01, 2015 -- Moody's Investors Service, ("Moody's") has
revised to negative from stable the outlook on China South City Holdings
Limited's (CSC) B1 corporate family rating and B2 senior unsecured debt
rating. Moody's has also affirmed all the ratings of CSC.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The change in ratings outlook to negative from stable reflects
our expectation that CSC's credit metrics will stay weak as its
contracted sales and revenue recognition visibility will remain low in
the next 12 to 18 months," says Stephanie Lau, a Moody's
Assistant Vice President and Analyst.
On 27 November 2015, CSC reported a year-on-year decline
of 58.1% in revenue to HKD2.15 billion and 44%
decline in contracted sales to HKD3.80 billion for the first half
of the financial year ending March 2016 (1H FY March 2016).
The company's weak performance came from the slower economic growth
in China (Aa3 stable), lower infrastructure spending by the local
government, and the weaker investment sentiment of investors.
Moody's believes that CSC will likely deliver weak contracted sales
in the next 12--18 months because the slow Chinese economy is likely
to persist.
In light of the challenging market conditions, CSC's strategy
is to conserve liquidity, which includes reducing capital expenditure
and increasing low-cost borrowing.
As such, Moody's believes that the company's debt level
is unlikely to fall and may even increase modestly. This implies
that the company's credit metrics could be weaker than the levels
reported in 1H FY March 2016.
As a result of weaker revenue recognition in 1H FY March 2016, CSC's
EBIT/interest coverage dropped to 1.9x on a last twelve months
basis compared with 3.0x at FYE03/2015. Such a low level
could pressure its ratings.
On the other hand, Moody's has noted that CSC's non-development
recurring revenue in 1H FY March 2016 recorded a 63% year-on-year
rise to HKD603 million, which provided interest coverage of around
63%.
Additionally, CSC's liquidity position has not deteriorated.
Its cash/short-term debt improved slightly to 95% at end-September
2015 after issuance of corporate bonds in 2015, compared to 91%
at end-March 2015.
CSC's B1 corporate family rating reflects its unique business model,
which involves the development and operation of integrated logistics and
trade centers in China.
The rating also considers CSC's ability to access large suburban land
plots at a low cost, as well as the infrastructure support it receives
from local governments.
Its relatively low land costs have helped the company achieve high gross
margins that offer flexibility in pricing in a down cycle.
Nevertheless, CSC's rating is constrained by execution risks related
to its expansion into new locations. Its fast and large-scale
expansion will entail significant funding needs.
Moreover, CSC is developing a stream of non-development recurring
income from its logistics and trade centers that can significantly contribute
to debt servicing.
The rating outlook could return to stable if CSC improves (1) its contracted
sales; and (2) its revenue and profitability such that its EBIT/interest
coverage level trend towards 2.0x-2.5x and non-development
recurring revenue/gross interest ratio stays at 0.7-0.8x.
On the other hand, downgrade pressure on CSC's ratings could
arise if the company (1) experiences contracted sales deterioration from
the level recorded in 1H FY March 2016, which is unlikely to reverse
in the near term; (2) increases its level of unsold inventory;
(3) shows weakening in its liquidity position; or (4) shows deterioration
in its credit metrics, that is, EBIT/interest falling below
2.0x-2.5x, and non-development recurring
revenue/gross interest ratio below 0.7-0.8x.
The ratios above are calculated based on Moody's standard adjustments
and the definition stated in Moody's Homebuilding And Property Development
Industry. The interest coverage formula is modified for Chinese
developers and substitutes "capitalized interest" in the numerator for
"interest charged to cost of goods sold". This is because the latter
is not separately disclosed in audited financial statements. Total
debt does not include adjustments for mortgage guarantees.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Homebuilding And Property
Development Industry published in April 2015. Please see the Credit
Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
China South City Holdings Limited, listed on the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange, is a developer and operator of large-scale integrated
logistics and trade centers in China. The company operates one
center in Shenzhen and is developing new trade centers in Nanning,
Nanchang, Xian, Harbin, Zhengzhou, Hefei and Chongqing.
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 rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
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 rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this 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.
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
the rating.
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.
Stephanie Lau
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
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077
Gary Lau
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (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
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077
Moody's revises outlook on China South City's ratings to negative