At the same time, Moody's has affirmed Franshion's Baa3 corporate family rating and the Ba1 senior unsecured rating for the bonds issued by Franshion Development Limited.
The outlook on all ratings is negative.
The proceeds of the proposed bonds will be used to fund debt repayments and property development projects.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The new issuance will have a limited impact on Franshion's key credit metrics -- including adjusted debt/capitalization and EBITDA/interest -- as the proceeds will be used mainly to repay onshore bank loans," says Kaven Tsang, a Moody's Vice President and Senior Analyst.
"The proposed bonds will also lengthen Franshion's debt maturity and improve its funding stability," adds Tsang, also Moody's Lead Analyst for the company.
Franshion's Baa3 corporate family rating further reflects its credit strength, which is in turn supported by the stable rental income generated from its portfolio of quality investment properties, including prime office buildings and hotels in Shanghai and Beijing. This rental income provides the company with a buffer against business volatility.
The rating also takes into account the company's solid track record in the development of landmark, integrated projects and in the acquisition of strategically important projects through its collaboration with government-related entities.
In addition, the rating reflects Franshion's diversified and solid access to both on- and off-shore funding, and which is supported to an extent by its background as a state-owned enterprise (SoE) and its position as a subsidiary of Sinochem Corporation.
On the other hand, the company faces execution risk as a result of its planned expansion into the property development business. Its lack of geographic diversity also increases its exposure to performance volatility.
The negative outlook reflects Franshion's weak book sales, high net debt, and weak interest coverage for its rating level.
However, Moody's expects adjusted EBITDA/interest will return to around 3x-4x in the next 12 months, from the below 2x recorded in the last 12 months, as it progressively recognizes its presold projects. But any deviation from such expectations will pressure the ratings downwards.
The ratings could be downgraded if Franshion: (1) fails to execute its business plan, or China's property market experiences a significant downturn, such that cash flow is weaker than anticipated; (2) pursues aggressive debt-funded land acquisitions; or (3) significantly increases its investments in residential properties with debt funding.
Moody's would regard the following financial metrics as signals for downward rating pressure: (1) adjusted debt/capitalization above 45%-50%; (2) EBITDA interest coverage does not trend towards 4x-5x in the next 12 -- 18 months; or (3) adjusted recurring EBITDA to interest coverage ratio falls below 1x on a sustained basis.
A rating upgrade in the near term would be unlikely, given the negative outlook. However, the outlook could revert to stable if Franshion: (1) successfully carries out its sales plan and recognition targets; and (2) improves interest coverage EBITDA/interest towards around 4x-5x and recurring EBITDA/interest to 1x.
The principal methodology used in rating Franshion Properties (China) Limited and Franshion Investment Limited was the Global Homebuilding Industry Methodology published in March 2009. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2007, Franshion Properties (China) Limited is a 62.87%-owned subsidiary of Sinochem Hong Kong (Group) Company Limited, which in turn is 98%-owned by Sinochem Group, a state-owned enterprise under the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Franshion develops commercial and integrated properties in first-tier and major second-tier cities in China. As of June, 2012, the company had a total land bank of approximately 4.5 million square meters of attributable gross floor area.
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Kaven Tsang Vice President - Senior Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody'sInvestors 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 (C) 2012 Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and/or its licensors and affiliates (collectively, "MOODY'S"). All rights reserved.
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