Hong Kong, May 21, 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Melco Resorts Finance Limited's
corporate family rating (CFR) and senior unsecured rating to Ba2 from
Ba3.
The rating outlook is stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The ratings upgrade reflects Melco Resorts Finance's solid
business operations and high quality assets, which have supported
its robust financial profile and strong liquidity, even during the
downturn in Macao's gaming industry during 2014-2016,"
says Stephanie Lau, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
"The upgrade also considers the improved credit profile of its parent
Melco Resorts Entertainment, which lowers the risk of cash drainage
on Melco Resorts Finance," adds Lau.
The opening of its new hotel, Morpheus in 2Q 2018, effective
cost controls and the broader Macao market's recovery will allow
the company to steadily increase earnings over the next 1-2 years.
Gross debt will also remain broadly flat, as the construction of
Morpheus completes during 2018, lowering capital spending in the
following 12-18 months.
Given these assumptions, Moody's expects Melco Resorts Finance's
financial profile to remain strong, with adjusted debt/EBITDA at
1.8x-1.9x over the next 12-18 months,
similar to the rate of 1.9x for 2017. Likewise, adjusted
EBITDA/interest will remain solid at 9x-10x over the same period.
Such levels appropriately position the company in the Ba2 rating category.
Moody's also expects a lower need for cash support from Melco Resorts
Finance due to its parent's improved credit profile, which
in turn, is a result of Studio City's improved business and
financial profile.
In 2017, Studio City Finance's adjusted EBITDA grew 174%
year-on-year to USD276 million and Moody's expects
the company's adjusted EBITDA to grow further to around USD315-330
million in the next 12-18 months, driven by Macao's
steady growth in gross gaming revenue (GGR) and better cost efficiency.
Moody's projects Melco Resorts & Entertainment's EBITDA/interest
will register at around 3.9x-4.2x and adjusted debt/EBITDA
to stay stable at 3.2x-3.3x in the next 12-18
months.
The Ba2 rating, despite Melco Resorts & Entertainment's
weaker credit profile when compared with Melco Resorts Finance,
also accounts for the covenant package in the Melco Resorts Finance's
debt facilities, which limits the risk of potential cash leakage
to its parent.
On the other hand, the company's Ba2 corporate family rating is
constrained by its geographic concentration.
Melco Resorts Finance's liquidity remains strong, underpinned
by a cash balance of USD837million for the end of 2017 and projected annual
operating cash flow of around USD600-650 million in the next 12
months. Such cash sources are sufficient cover its short-term
debt of USD44 million, capital spending and dividend payouts in
the next 12 months.
Melco Resorts Finance's senior unsecured bond rating is not affected
by subordination to claims at the operating company level, because
the latter is not seen as material especially as we expect the majority
of claims will remain at the holding company.
The stable rating outlook reflects Moody's expectation that Melco
Resorts Finance will maintain its strong financial profile over the next
12-18 months, based on its premium mass-market business
and prudent financial management. Moreover, Moody's
does not expect the company to provide major financial assistance to its
parent.
Upward pressure on the ratings could emerge if (1) Melco Resorts Finance
improves its financial profile further, such that adjusted debt/EBITDA
stays below 1.6x-1.8x on a sustained basis;
and (2) Melco Resorts and Entertainment improves its credit metrics,
such that adjusted debt/EBITDA falls below 2.0x-2.5x
on a sustained basis.
The ratings could be downgraded if (1) the operating performances of Melco
Resorts Finance and Melco Resorts and Entertainment significantly deteriorate,
as a result of a material slowdown in Macau's gaming market or stronger-than-expected
competition; (2) a major construction project is vested at Melco
Resorts Finance, increasing its financial risk; or (3) Melco
Resorts and Entertainment engages in significant debt-funded investments.
Metrics that will indicate a possible downgrade include adjusted debt/EBITDA
in excess of 3.0x for Melco Resorts Finance and in excess of 3.5x
for Melco Resorts & Entertainment.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Gaming Industry published
in December 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Melco Resorts Finance Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Melco Resorts
and Entertainment, which is in turn owned by the Hong Kong-listed
Melco International Development Ltd. All of Melco Resorts Finance's
operations are currently located in Macao.
Melco Resorts Finance operates two wholly owned casinos in the territory,
namely, Altira Macau and City of Dreams. The company also
has non-casino-based operations at its Mocha Clubs,
and provides both gaming and non-gaming services to Studio City.
The company reported consolidated net revenue of USD4.7 billion
in 2017.
Melco Resorts and Entertainment also owns 60% of Studio City Finance
Limited (B1 stable), which develops and operates the Studio City
project, an integrated gaming and entertainment resort, which
is located at Cotai in Macao.
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.
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
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
Gary Lau
MD - Corporate Finance
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