Hong Kong, November 27, 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service has changed to stable from negative the rating
outlook on GLP Pte. Ltd.
At the same time, Moody's has affirmed the company's
Baa3 issuer rating, the (P)Baa3 rating on its senior unsecured medium-term
note (MTN) program, and the Baa3 senior unsecured rating on the
notes issued under the MTN program.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The change in GLP's outlook to stable reflects the decline
in its leverage since March 2018 and our expectation that its leverage
will continue to improve over the next 1-2 years, driven
by the company's commitment to deleveraging and steady earnings
growth," says Stephanie Lau, a Moody's Vice President
and Senior Analyst.
GLP has shown progress under a specific deleveraging plan since March
2018. Asset sales and project syndication have lowered its adjusted
net debt/EBITDA -- after joint-venture (JV) adjustments
-- to 11.9x for the 12 months ended September 2018
from 15.0x for the 12 months ended March 2018.
Moody's projects adjusted net debt/EBITDA -- after
JV adjustments -- to further decline to around 9.0x
in 2019. This forecast takes into account the company's demonstrated
ability and commitment to selling its assets into property funds,
as well as expected steady growth in earnings.
While this level of leverage is still high for the Baa3 rating category,
the associated risks are mitigated by the meaningful development gains
the company has generated through asset recycling, which is not
reflected in its EBITDA.
GLP has executed its business plan to recycle capital partly through asset
sales into the property funds that it manages. It will also utilize
these funds to make further acquisitions in the future. This strategy
will help control future debt growth, improve its geographical concentration
risks, and boost recurring management fee income stream.
Moody's expects GLP to achieve EBITDA growth of 15%-20%
annually in 2018 and 2019, supported by continued growth in rental
income and steeper fund fee income. Supported by this healthy EBITDA
growth, Moody's expects GLP will achieve revenue growth of
25%-30% annually over the same period, with
rental income remaining the key revenue driver.
GLP's Baa3 issuer rating reflects the company's (1) large
and globally diversified portfolio; (2) market-leading position;
(3) diversified income streams and stable operating performance;
and (4) experienced management team, with a track record in project
syndication.
However, the rating is constrained by GLP's (1) private company
status, which lowers its transparency, although mitigated
by its strong shareholders; (2) growing financial services business
in China, which raises execution risks and funding requirements;
and (3) frequent acquisitions and high debt leverage.
GLP's ratings could be upgraded if it improves its geographical
diversification and significantly reduces its debt leverage, such
that: (1) adjusted net debt/EBITDA -- after JV adjustments
-- remains below 7.0x-7.5x; and
(2) EBITDA/interest coverage -- after JV adjustments --
rises above 3.0x-3.5x. GLP would also need
to maintain a good level of liquidity.
On the other hand, GLP's ratings would be downgraded if:
(1) its EBITDA weakens; or (2) the company fails to deleverage as
planned. Specifically, downward rating pressure would emerge
if net debt/EBITDA -- after JV adjustments -- fails
to trend down to around 9.0x by 2019; and/or (3) EBITDA/interest
coverage -- after JV adjustments -- remains
below 2.0x-2.5x. A material weakening in GLP's
liquidity position could also lead to a rating downgrade.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was REITs and Other Commercial
Real Estate Firms published in September 2018. Please see the Rating
Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this
methodology.
GLP Pte. Ltd (formerly known as Global Logistic Properties Limited)
is one of the largest operators of modern logistics centers globally,
with operations in China, the US, Japan and Brazil (Ba2 stable).
GLP was privatized on 22 January 2018 at $12 billion on an equity
value basis, by a consortium of members. As of 30 June 2018,
shareholders include China Vanke Co., Ltd. (Baa1 stable),
Bank of China Group Investment Limited, HOPU Investment Management
and Hillhouse Capital.
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.
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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
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Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
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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
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
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Chris Park
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