Hong Kong, April 02, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Golden Eagle Retail Group Ltd's
corporate family rating (CFR) to Ba2 from Ba3.
Moody's has also upgraded Golden Eagle's senior unsecured debt ratings
to Ba3 from B1.
The rating outlook was changed to stable from positive.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"Golden Eagle's Ba2 corporate family rating reflects our expectation
that the company can sustain its improved core retail operations and disciplined
capital expenditure, which have improved its credit metrics over
the past year," says Danny Chan, a Moody's Assistant
Vice President and Analyst.
Golden Eagle registered 32.7% year-on-year
revenue growth in 2018 due to its ability to ramp up additional new retail
space and as it recognized increased property development revenues.
The company's overall profitability also improved in 2018.
Its operating margin improved to 36.6% in 2018 from 34.6%
in 2017, reflecting successful sales contributions from new retail
space. Its adjusted EBITDA consequently grew 22.8%
year-on-year to RMB3.09 billion in 2018.
The company has also showed more discipline in its capital expenditures
amid a weaker economic environment, reducing its spending by 75%
to RMB240 million in 2018 from RMB962 million in 2017.
As a result, the company was able to keep adjusted debt at RMB9.9
billion, almost unchanged from 2017, while operating at a
larger scale as measured by GFA. The company's GFA increased
by 41% to 2.5 million square meters between 2015 and 2018.
The number of stores in its retail portfolio also increased to 32 from
29 over the same period, including the addition of its flagship
store, Golden Eagle World in Nanjing.
The company's debt leverage -- as measured by adjusted debt/adjusted
EBITDA -- declined to 3.2x at the end of 2018 from 4.0x
at the end of 2017.
Moody's expects the company will slow down the pace at which it
adds new operating malls in 2019 and 2020, and that it will instead
focus on growing its retail revenue and profits through improved operating
efficiencies and costs, upgrading its merchandise mix and store
renovations.
Moody's expects the company's property sales will remain cyclical,
but its adjusted EBITDA for 2019 will remain largely unchanged from the
level in 2018 through growth in retail EBITDA. The company's
adjusted EBITDA should then tick up to RMB 3.3 billion in 2020
as it ramps up property development sales.
The company has indicated that it will remain cautious in its capital
expenditures, keeping total spending at moderate to low levels in
2019 and 2020.
On the basis of this company guidance, Moody's expects Golden
Eagle' debt leverage -- as measured by adjusted debt/adjusted EBITDA
-- will remain around 2.9x-3.1x and retained
cash flow (RCF)/net debt around 25%-29% over the
next 12-18 months. These levels are supportive of its Ba2
rating.
Golden Eagle's Ba2 CFR also reflects its strong market position in operating
retail stores in the affluent Jiangsu Province, the prime locations
of the company's retail store assets, the benefits of its concessionaire
model, and its self-owned properties to ensure business sustainability.
On the other hand Golden Eagle's Ba2 rating is constrained by its relatively
small scale, high level of geographic concentration, the intense
competition in the retail industry, and the risks and volatility
associated with its property development business.
Golden Eagle's Ba3 senior unsecured bond rating is one notch lower than
the CFR because of the risk of structural and legal subordination.
This risk reflects the fact that the majority of claims are at the operating
subsidiaries level. These claims have priority over Golden Eagle's
senior unsecured claims in a bankruptcy scenario. In addition,
the holding company lacks significant mitigating factors for structural
subordination. As a result, the expected recovery rate for
claims at the holding company will be lower.
Golden Eagle's liquidity is strong. Its cash balance of RMB6.46
billion at the end of 2018 covered 3.8x of the company's
debt maturing over the next 12 months. Moreover, the company
reported positive operating cash flow and free cash flow in 2018.
The stable rating outlook reflects Moody's expectation that the
company will continue to improve the efficiency of its retail operations,
operating costs, and competitiveness to support its revenue growth
and profit margins. Moreover, Moody's expects the company
will remain prudent in its capital expenditure and debt management,
and will limit connected transactions with its parent company and property
development business.
The ratings could be upgraded if the company: (1) grows in scale
and reduces its regional exposure; (2) remains disciplined in its
capital expenditure and investments; and (3) maintains good liquidity
and improves its credit metrics, such that adjusted debt/adjusted
EBITDA falls below 2.5x-2.0x and adjusted RCF/net
debt rises above 30%-35%, all on a sustained
basis.
However, the ratings could be downgraded in case of: (1) a
material revenue decline due to increased competition; (2) a weakening
in liquidity position; (3) growth in its property development business
or a substantial increase in its connected transactions with key shareholders;
or (4) weakening credit metrics, such that adjusted debt/adjusted
EBITDA rises above 3.5x-4.0x or adjusted RCF/net
debt falls below 20%.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Retail Industry published
in May 2018. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Golden Eagle Retail Group Ltd is one of the largest department store operators
in China. Based in Nanjing, the company is strategically
positioned in second- and third-tier Chinese cities,
catering to mid- to high-end customers.
At 31 December 2018, Golden Eagle operated 32 stores, including
15 lifestyle centers, in the Jiangsu, Anhui, Shaanxi,
Yunnan and Shanghai regions.
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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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.
Danny Chan
AVP - 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.)
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Clement Cheuk Yiu Wong
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Peter Choy
Senior Vice President
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
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China (Hong Kong S.A.R.)
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