Wednesday, November 30, 2016

MARC AFFIRMS ITS AAAIS RATING ON GAS DISTRICT COOLING (PUTRAJAYA) SDN BHD’S RM300 MILLION ISLAMIC DEBT SECURITIES


MARC has affirmed its AAAIS rating on Gas District Cooling (Putrajaya) Sdn Bhd’s (GDC Putrajaya) RM300 million Al-Bai’ Bithaman Ajil Islamic Debt Securities (BaIDS) with a stable outlook.

The affirmed rating reflects a three-notch uplift from GDC Putrajaya’s standalone credit profile, which is assessed at AA-. The rating uplift is premised on MARC’s assessment on the strength of parental support from GDC Putrajaya’s immediate shareholder Putrajaya Holdings Berhad (PJH), which carries a long-term credit rating of AAA/stable from MARC. The rating agency considers GDC Putrajaya as a strategic wholly-owned subsidiary of PJH based on the company’s specific role as the sole supplier of chilled water in Putrajaya and past evidence of financial support extended by the parent to the subsidiary.

GDC Putrajaya’s standalone rating is supported by its very strong competitive position, modest leverage position and steady revenue stream generated under long-term offtake agreements to supply chilled water to government premises in Putrajaya. The standalone rating, however, has come under increased pressure from weakening operating profit margins following the implementation of gas subsidy rationalisation in 2H2015 that has led to rising gas and utility costs. MARC notes that given the absence of a fuel cost pass-through mechanism in most of its offtake agreements, GDC Putrajaya has to absorb the increase in gas costs, which reduces its profitability. For 1H2016, GDC Putrajaya’s operating profit margin fell to 3.5% from 17.3% in the previous corresponding period; its profit before tax declined by 92.0% y-o-y to RM1.0 million despite a 7.8% y-o-y increase in revenue to RM95.6 million in 1H2016.

MARC notes that under the offtake agreements, chilled water tariff rates will increase by 9% every three years, with the next revision in 2017. However, the uptick in tariff rates could be offset by higher gas prices which are expected to increase by 18% in 2016 and 15% in 2017. MARC understands that the company is currently negotiating with the government on a tariff restructure to enable the transfer of any increase in natural gas prices to end-users. Should the restructuring efforts not yield the desired outcome to improve its margins, there is a high likelihood that GDC Putrajaya’s standalone rating would be lowered. 

GDC Putrajaya has six wholly-owned gas district cooling plants with a combined capacity of 89,280 refrigeration tonnes. Its key customer, the government, consumes 86.6% of its supply, followed by its parent PJH at 10.1% and third parties at 3.3% in 1H2016. The company receives payments from the offtakers in two forms: demand and variable charges. The demand charges are payable irrespective of offtake volumes, providing GDC Putrajaya with a steady revenue stream. MARC regards the demand charges, which accounted for 69.5% of GDC Putrajaya’s revenue in 1H2016, to mitigate demand risk. Variable charges are based on the actual quantity of chilled water delivered and are expected to increase in tandem with the increase of government and commercial buildings in Putrajaya.

Cash flow from operations (CFO) declined to negative RM2.2 million in 1H2016 (1H2015: positive RM8.6 million) on the back of higher utility and gas costs as well as delay in payments from a few offtakers due to administrative issues. The debt-to-equity ratio remained unchanged at 0.27x as at end-June 2016, with total outstanding debt standing at RM100.0 million under the rated BaIDs; the next scheduled payment is due in December 2017 (RM50.0 million) and the final payment in December 2022 (RM50.0 million). Its cash balance stood at RM50.5 million as at end-June 2016 and MARC expects financial support from its parent to be forthcoming if necessary, as has been demonstrated in the past.

The stable outlook is underpinned by MARC’s expectation that PJH will continue to offer GDC Putrajaya financial support in relation to the BaIDS debt obligations. Downward rating pressure could be triggered if there is a material change in the support assumption and/or GDC Putrajaya’s financial metrics continue to deteriorate.


Contacts: Joan Leong, +603-2082 2270/ joan@marc.com.my, Sharidan Salleh, +603-2082 2254/ sharidan@marc.com.my.

November 30, 2016

MARC has affirmed its AAAIS rating on Gas District Cooling (Putrajaya) Sdn Bhd’s (GDC Putrajaya) RM300 million Al-Bai’ Bithaman Ajil Islamic Debt Securities (BaIDS) with a stable outlook.

Posted Date:November 30, 2016

MARC has affirmed its AAAIS rating on Gas District Cooling (Putrajaya) Sdn Bhd’s (GDC Putrajaya) RM300 million Al-Bai’ Bithaman Ajil Islamic Debt Securities (BaIDS) with a stable outlook.
The affirmed rating reflects a three-notch uplift from GDC Putrajaya’s standalone credit profile, which is assessed at AA-. The rating uplift is premised on MARC’s assessment on the strength of parental support from GDC Putrajaya’s immediate shareholder Putrajaya Holdings Berhad (PJH), which carries a long-term credit rating of AAA/stable from MARC. The rating agency considers GDC Putrajaya as a strategic wholly-owned subsidiary of PJH based on the company’s specific role as the sole supplier of chilled water in Putrajaya and past evidence of financial support extended by the parent to the subsidiary.

GDC Putrajaya’s standalone rating is supported by its very strong competitive position, modest leverage position and steady revenue stream generated under long-term offtake agreements to supply chilled water to government premises in Putrajaya. The standalone rating, however, has come under increased pressure from weakening operating profit margins following the implementation of gas subsidy rationalisation in 2H2015 that has led to rising gas and utility costs. MARC notes that given the absence of a fuel cost pass-through mechanism in most of its offtake agreements, GDC Putrajaya has to absorb the increase in gas costs, which reduces its profitability. For 1H2016, GDC Putrajaya’s operating profit margin fell to 3.5% from 17.3% in the previous corresponding period; its profit before tax declined by 92.0% y-o-y to RM1.0 million despite a 7.8% y-o-y increase in revenue to RM95.6 million in 1H2016.

MARC notes that under the offtake agreements, chilled water tariff rates will increase by 9% every three years, with the next revision in 2017. However, the uptick in tariff rates could be offset by higher gas prices which are expected to increase by 18% in 2016 and 15% in 2017. MARC understands that the company is currently negotiating with the government on a tariff restructure to enable the transfer of any increase in natural gas prices to end-users.[LLL1] Should the restructuring efforts not yield the desired outcome to improve its margins, there is a high likelihood that GDC Putrajaya’s standalone rating would be lowered. [LLL2]

GDC Putrajaya has six wholly-owned gas district cooling plants with a combined capacity of 89,280 refrigeration tonnes. Its key customer, the government, consumes 86.6% of its supply, followed by its parent PJH at 10.1% and third parties at 3.3% in 1H2016. The company receives payments from the offtakers in two forms: demand and variable charges. The demand charges are payable irrespective of offtake volumes, providing GDC Putrajaya with a steady revenue stream. MARC regards the demand charges, which accounted for 69.5% of GDC Putrajaya’s revenue in 1H2016, to mitigate demand risk. Variable charges are based on the actual quantity of chilled water delivered and are expected to increase in tandem with the increase of government and commercial buildings in Putrajaya.

Cash flow from operations (CFO) declined to negative RM2.2 million in 1H2016 (1H2015: positive RM8.6 million) on the back of higher utility and gas costs as well as delay in payments from a few offtakers due to administrative issues. The debt-to-equity ratio remained unchanged at 0.27x as at end-June 2016, with total outstanding debt standing at RM100.0 million under the rated BaIDs; the next scheduled payment is due in December 2017 (RM50.0 million) and the final payment in December 2022 (RM50.0 million). Its cash balance stood at RM50.5 million as at end-June 2016 and MARC expects financial support from its parent to be forthcoming if necessary, as has been demonstrated in the past.

The stable outlook is underpinned by MARC’s expectation that PJH will continue to offer GDC Putrajaya financial support in relation to the BaIDS debt obligations. Downward rating pressure could be triggered if there is a material change in the support assumption and/or GDC Putrajaya’s financial metrics continue to deteriorate.

Contacts:
Joan Leong, 03-2082 2270/ joan@marc.com.my;
Sharidan Salleh, 03-2082 2247/ sharidan@marc.com.my;

Healthy US Data Remains Supportive of a December FFR Hike

30 November 2016


Rates & FX Market Update


Healthy US Data Remains Supportive of a December FFR Hike

Highlights

¨   Global Markets: UST yields rose to session highs after revised 3Q16 GDP data revealed healthy growth trends, while consumption outlook remained sanguine as consumer confidence edged towards pre-GFC highs, reinforcing expectations for Fed to tighten further in 2017. However, yields ended 1-2bps lower overnight on month-end flows and renewed concerns over the OPEC deal due later today; stay neutral USTs. Over in the EU, German November’s CPI was marginally disappointing at 0.1% m-o-m (Oct: 0.2%), although German-Peripheral spreads tightened overnight after a source revealed that the ECB is willing to increase purchases of BTPs in the event PM Renzi loses the referendum, which appears to be the base case as suggested by recent polls. We continue to prefer German Bunds over Peripherals, and stay mildly bearish towards the EUR, on mounting political uncertainties across the bloc. In Japan, IP contracted 1.3% y-o-y although in line with consensus expectations. The weaker JPY and slight upticks in external demand could bode well for production and 4Q16 GDP growth; stay neutral JPY.
¨   AxJ Markets: While USDCNY fixings have stabilised on USD consolidation, tightening liquidity has exerted upward pressure on CGB yields, with 10y approaching the 3% mark. The low likelihood of PBoC easing over the near term amid firmer economic conditions could continue to drive yields higher, though counterbalanced by rising local debt risks; stay neutral CGBs. Elsewhere, South Korea IP contracted 1.6% y-o-y in October, weighed by Samsung and Hyundai woes. Meanwhile, President Park’s offer to resign before her term ends may offer a respite to the current uncertainties and paralysis in policymaking, although a snap election is unlikely before March 2017 in our opinion; stay mild underweight KTBs and mildly bearish KRW.
¨   USDIDR climbed 0.21% overnight to 13,560, from c.13,100 prior to the US election, a level deemed “undervalued” by a senior BI official. While we concur with BI’s view that there are further room for rate cuts, Fed tightening may invite higher scrutiny on interest rate differentials across the EM space. However, subdued inflationary trends and a more robust FX reserve should minimise any downsides over the near term; stay neutral IDR.

Quiet Session for Credits on Eve of OPEC Meeting

30 November 2016


Credit Markets Update

Quiet Session for Credits on Eve of OPEC Meeting 
¨      APAC USD Credit Market: Asian bond market held steady with IG spreads unchanged at 187.9bps while average HY bond yields tightened 2bps to 6.77%. Asian IG credit protection cost grinds tighter to 126.7bps (-1.7bp) led lower by Indian corporate CDS spreads (IDBI Bank, Reliance Industries, Bank of India). US Treasury curve bull flattened, with the 10y at 2.29% (-2bp) and 2y at 1.08% (-1bp) following the slump in Brent oil prices to USD46.4/bbl (-3.9%) on the OPEC impasse, dampening inflation outlook, largely ignoring the upward revision in US 3Q GDP. In the primaries, China’s State Power Investment Corp (A2/A-/A)’s USD900m 5y bonds (priced: T+130bps; IPT: +160bps) and USD300m 10y bonds (priced: T+157.5bps; IPT: +190bps) were well received. The 5y bonds were oversubscribed by 3.2x and the 10y at 6.3x respectively. Later today, Guangzhou Silk Road Investment, guaranteed by Guangzhou Industrial Investment Fund Management Co. (NR/BBB+/A-) looks to sell USD230m Reg S 5y bonds with IPT slated at low 200bps area, while, Agriculture Bank of China (guarantor rating: A1/A/A) via its HK unit will tap the market for USD 3y bonds with IPT at +130bps level.
¨      SGD Credit Market: KrisEnergy receives approval for bond consent solicitation. The short-to-mid SOR curve was mostly unchanged, with only the 2y rising 0.3bps to 1.60% while the 5y stayed at 2.18%. KrisEnergy (NR) announced that it has so far received more than 75% of votes cast in favour of the consent solicitation for its outstanding KRISSP 17s and 18s to, among other things, allow for a 5 year maturity extension. Ezra Holdings (NR) announced its FY8/2016 results, where revenue dipped by 8% to USD136m, while it suffered a net loss of USD419m due to gross margin compression and impairment loss on fixed assets, assets held for sale and investments in associated companies totaling USD270m.
¨      MYR Credit Market: MYR2.0bn of 10y MGS 11/26 (Re-opening) drew a decent BTC of 2.65x (from 1.75x on MYR3.0bn issue in Aug 2016), with average yield of 4.465% above the level indicated in pre-sale trading of 4.44/40%. MGS yields closed mixed as investors eyed falling oil prices ahead of OPEC meeting, with the 3y yield gained 7bps to 3.92% while 5y yield shed 7bps to 4.02%. Elsewhere, Alliance Financial (RAM: A2)’s net profit fell 1.5% YoY to MYR132.5m in 2QFY17, due to a 4.2% fall in net interest income and a 16.0% YoY decline in non-interest income (driven primarily by a foreign exchange loss of MYR11.9m from a gain of MYR5.6m in 2QFY16). ALLIANCEB B3T2 10/25c20 was last traded at 5.198% (+73.1bps) on 23 Nov. DRB-Hicom (MARC: A-) slipped into the red in 2QFY17 with a net loss of MYR309.6m against a net profit of MYR3.9m in 2QFY16. The losses were attributed by lower revenue in automotive segment (-25.2% YoY to MYR1.9bn) and one-off MYR130.2m re-measurement loss of previously held equity interest in Pos Malaysia. DRB-Hicom 11/18 traded at 5.187% (unchanged) on 19 Oct.

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