Senior Credit Analyst, Lucror Analytics

Leonard Law, CFA

Senior Credit Analyst

High Yield Experts

Lucror Analytics

Lucror Analytics is a leading credit and ESG research specialist and a provider of technology solutions for differentiated fixed income strategies. Our roots are in bottom-up fundamental credit analysis with a specialization in high yield corporate credits from Europe, Asia and Latin America. We are one of few research specialists integrating ESG considerations with fundamental credit research through a dedicated ESG platform. Our ESG assessment covers five key criteria: Disclosure, E,S, & G Pillars, Controversies, ESG Impact on Credit and ESG Momentum.

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Our company has been at the forefront of developments in the fixed income markets, identifying opportunities and consistently delivering new products and value-adding solutions to clients. Lucror has close relationships with the largest and most reputable asset managers, family offices, hedge funds, investment and wealth managers globally.

Credit

<p><br />  We view Yanlord Land as “Medium Risk” on the LARA scale. The company has a strong brand name, having established its reputation as a high-end Chinese property developer over the past 20 years. Its projects are of good quality, and are distributed across key T1 and T2 cities in the Yangtze and Pearl River Delta regions. Yanlord has also demonstrated strong cash collection rates, but has embarked on aggressive debt-funded acquisitions to increase its land bank. We believe the company might expand into new cities over time, given its limited national presence compared to larger peers. Yanlord enjoys high gross margins, due to its focus on premium products in high-tier cities. This helps the company maintain stronger interest coverage compared to peers, and provides a buffer against rising land prices and ASP declines. <br /><br />  Our fundamental Credit Bias is “Stable”, mainly on account of Yanlord's strong contracted sales, which should support earnings recognition and cash-flow generation. These positives are offset by the company’s weak earnings-based leverage, moderately high reliance on JV structures, as well as smaller margins going forward.<br /><br />  We view Yanlord as “Moderate” on the LAGA scale. We regard as a weakness that founder Zhong Sheng Jian is joint Chairman/CEO, as well as the controlling shareholder (71% stake). Moreover, his son (Zhong Ming) and nephew (Zhong Siliang) are Executive Directors on the Board. However, this is offset by the presence of five INEDs (out of the nine directors), all of whom are well-qualified. We view positively that there has been a healthy turnover for INEDs, as all five currently in place were appointed fairly recently, between 2017 and 2021. Related-party transactions are immaterial.<br /></p>

   We view Yanlord Land as “Medium Risk” on the LARA scale. The company has a strong brand name, having established its reputation as a high-end Chinese property developer over the past 20 years. Its projects are of good quality, and are distributed across key T1 and T2 cities in the Yangtze and Pearl River Delta regions. Yanlord has also demonstrated strong cash collection rates, but has embarked on aggressive debt-funded acquisitions to increase its land bank. We believe the company might expand into new cities over time, given its limited national presence compared to larger peers. Yanlord enjoys high gross margins, due to its focus on premium products in high-tier cities. This helps the company maintain stronger interest coverage compared to peers, and provides a buffer against rising land prices and ASP declines.     Our fundamental Credit Bias is “Stable”, mainly on account of Yanlord's strong contracted sales, which should support earnings recognition and cash-flow generation. These positives are offset by the company’s weak earnings-based leverage, moderately high reliance on JV structures, as well as smaller margins going forward.    We view Yanlord as “Moderate” on the LAGA scale. We regard as a weakness that founder Zhong Sheng Jian is joint Chairman/CEO, as well as the controlling shareholder (71% stake). Moreover, his son (Zhong Ming) and nephew (Zhong Siliang) are Executive Directors on the Board. However, this is offset by the presence of five INEDs (out of the nine directors), all of whom are well-qualified. We view positively that there has been a healthy turnover for INEDs, as all five currently in place were appointed fairly recently, between 2017 and 2021. Related-party transactions are immaterial. 

Yanlord Land - Tear Sheet - Lucror Analytics

<p><br />  In this month’s "In-Focus" section, we provide an update on Chinese developers’ JV exposure, including typical structures and the JV exposure of the companies under our coverage.<br /><br />  The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the "In-Focus" section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market.<br /></p>

   In this month’s "In-Focus" section, we provide an update on Chinese developers’ JV exposure, including typical structures and the JV exposure of the companies under our coverage.    The Asia Monthly focuses on providing updates on recent events, information on new issues and spread movements, as well as summarising our top picks, and discussing specific areas of interest in the "In-Focus" section. The Asia Monthly is intended to broaden investors' understanding of the Asian USD high-yield market. 

Asia HY Monthly - Chinese Developers' JV Exposure - Lucror Analytics

<p><br />  The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of May includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index.<br /></p>

   The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of May includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also features relative-value charts and lists of the bonds in the Lucror Asia HY index. 

Asia HY Trade Book - May 2021 - Lucror Analytics

Research from SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia), SCCM Asia Research

SCCM Asia Research

Research from SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia)

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<h2>Singapore</h2><h3><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ec-world-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22842" rel="noopener">EC World Reit (ECWREIT SP)</a> renews second major lease in Hengde Logistics (BUY; TP S$0.80/unit)</h3><p>ECWREIT has renewed a second major lease of some 74,057sqm in relation to Hengde Logistics with China Tobacco Zhejiang Industrial. The second major lease (Phase 2 renewal) came after a successful renewal of 152,752sqm of space in Oct20 (Phase 1 renewal). During the Phase 2 renewal, China Tobacco committed to a lease term of 2.65 years to coincide with the expiry of the Phase 1 renewal. Both leases with China Tobacco will expire on 31Dec23. Although the renewal rental rate contracted for the Phase 2 renewal is 8.8% lower than the existing rental rate, the effective blended rental rate of Phase 1 renewal and Phase 2 renewal is 2.2% lower than the effective blended rental rate of the expiring China Tobacco leases at Hengde Logistics Phase 1 and Phase 2. Similar to the Phase 1 Renewal, China Tobacco informed that they will no longer require the warehouse management services for the Phase 2 Renewal due to their internal restructuring. ECWREIT expects the Phase 2 Renewal to reduce ECWREIT’s revenue by 0.8%.</p><p>Comments: The Phase 2 renewal rate at -8.8% came as a surprise with a high single-digit negative reversion, compared the positive reversion of +1.1% in its Phase 1 renewal. This also deviates from mgmt.’s earlier guidance of “similar renewal terms as Phase 1”, which we expect should be “flattish”. While pending further information on the rationale behind such renewal, on a “all-in” basis, we expect a ~3% decrease from FY20 Gross Revenue following its two renewals. We currently have a BUY rating and TP of S$0.80/unit, and will review our recommendations upon results release tomorrow.</p><h3><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eagle-hospitality-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28059" rel="noopener">Eagle Hospitality Trust (EAGLEHT SP)</a> Dallas hotel sale falls through after missed deposit deadline</h3><p>EAGLEHT will not be going ahead with the planned sale of its property in Texas, as the buyer missed the deadline for a deposit. The sale and purchase agreement for Crowne Plaza Dallas Near Galleria-Addison (CPDG) was thus terminated on 4May. EAGLEHT’s wholly-owned subsidiary will hold on to initial deposits of US$1.45m in the aborted US$18.5m deal with buyer Lockwood Development Partners. Numerous EHT entities had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware court in 2021. But CPDG is not directly owned by a Chapter 11 entity, so it does not enjoy bankruptcy protection under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Amid the Chapter 11 entities’ limited ability to support CPDG, the decision was made to sell off CPDG, in the face of potential difficulty fetching a higher price in an auction, and the risk that a lender would foreclose on the property after mortgage loan defaults. But the EAGLEHT unit involved in the sale axed the agreement as the buyer did not meet the 3May deadline for an extra deposit of US$1.05m.</p><h3>One Bernam records 80 units sales (23% take-up rate) on its opening weekend</h3><p>MCC Group and Hao Yuan Investment said that over 80 units or 80% of the first phase of 100 units released at their JV project, One Bernam, were sold. This means ~23% out of a total of the 351units in the 99-year leasehold, mixed-use development, has been sold at ~S$2,650psf ASP. More than 90% of the units that were taken up were one- and two-bedroom units sized from 441-872sqft, priced upwards of S$1.017m. Most of the buyers are said to be Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents. In addition to the 351 residential units, One Bernam contains a two-storey retail podium of 15,726sqft, and one floor of serviced apartments with 13 keys. While one- and two-bedroom units make up 91% of the residences in the project, there are 29 three-bedroom apartments of 1,421sqft. There are also two units of three-bedroom penthouses with sizes of 1,744-1,948sqft, while the largest penthouse is 4,306sqft in size and contains five bedrooms. </p><h3>Biggest penthouse at Park Nova sold at S$5,838psf, a record for Orchard Boulevard area</h3><p>Park Nova, Shun Tak Holdings’ luxury condo in Singapore’s Orchard Boulevard-Tomlinson area, has recorded five units sales for well over $100m. The two biggest five-bedroom penthouses in the 54-unit luxury condo at 18 Tomlinson Road fetched S$34.438m and S$26.026m, respectively. The biggest penthouse of 5,899sqft garnered interest from more than one party and almost had to be sold via balloting. However, one party prevailed and emerged the eventual buyer at S$34.438m or S$5,838psf. The transaction price of S$26.026m for the second biggest penthouse of 4,499sqft, worked out to S$5,785psf. The third and smallest penthouse of 3,229sqft is also believed to have been sold for above S$17m.</p>

SingaporeEC World Reit (ECWREIT SP) renews second major lease in Hengde Logistics (BUY; TP S$0.80/unit)ECWREIT has renewed a second major lease of some 74,057sqm in relation to Hengde Logistics with China Tobacco Zhejiang Industrial. The second major lease (Phase 2 renewal) came after a successful renewal of 152,752sqm of space in Oct20 (Phase 1 renewal). During the Phase 2 renewal, China Tobacco committed to a lease term of 2.65 years to coincide with the expiry of the Phase 1 renewal. Both leases with China Tobacco will expire on 31Dec23. Although the renewal rental rate contracted for the Phase 2 renewal is 8.8% lower than the existing rental rate, the effective blended rental rate of Phase 1 renewal and Phase 2 renewal is 2.2% lower than the effective blended rental rate of the expiring China Tobacco leases at Hengde Logistics Phase 1 and Phase 2. Similar to the Phase 1 Renewal, China Tobacco informed that they will no longer require the warehouse management services for the Phase 2 Renewal due to their internal restructuring. ECWREIT expects the Phase 2 Renewal to reduce ECWREIT’s revenue by 0.8%.Comments: The Phase 2 renewal rate at -8.8% came as a surprise with a high single-digit negative reversion, compared the positive reversion of +1.1% in its Phase 1 renewal. This also deviates from mgmt.’s earlier guidance of “similar renewal terms as Phase 1”, which we expect should be “flattish”. While pending further information on the rationale behind such renewal, on a “all-in” basis, we expect a ~3% decrease from FY20 Gross Revenue following its two renewals. We currently have a BUY rating and TP of S$0.80/unit, and will review our recommendations upon results release tomorrow.Eagle Hospitality Trust (EAGLEHT SP) Dallas hotel sale falls through after missed deposit deadlineEAGLEHT will not be going ahead with the planned sale of its property in Texas, as the buyer missed the deadline for a deposit. The sale and purchase agreement for Crowne Plaza Dallas Near Galleria-Addison (CPDG) was thus terminated on 4May. EAGLEHT’s wholly-owned subsidiary will hold on to initial deposits of US$1.45m in the aborted US$18.5m deal with buyer Lockwood Development Partners. Numerous EHT entities had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a Delaware court in 2021. But CPDG is not directly owned by a Chapter 11 entity, so it does not enjoy bankruptcy protection under Section 363 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Amid the Chapter 11 entities’ limited ability to support CPDG, the decision was made to sell off CPDG, in the face of potential difficulty fetching a higher price in an auction, and the risk that a lender would foreclose on the property after mortgage loan defaults. But the EAGLEHT unit involved in the sale axed the agreement as the buyer did not meet the 3May deadline for an extra deposit of US$1.05m.One Bernam records 80 units sales (23% take-up rate) on its opening weekendMCC Group and Hao Yuan Investment said that over 80 units or 80% of the first phase of 100 units released at their JV project, One Bernam, were sold. This means ~23% out of a total of the 351units in the 99-year leasehold, mixed-use development, has been sold at ~S$2,650psf ASP. More than 90% of the units that were taken up were one- and two-bedroom units sized from 441-872sqft, priced upwards of S$1.017m. Most of the buyers are said to be Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents. In addition to the 351 residential units, One Bernam contains a two-storey retail podium of 15,726sqft, and one floor of serviced apartments with 13 keys. While one- and two-bedroom units make up 91% of the residences in the project, there are 29 three-bedroom apartments of 1,421sqft. There are also two units of three-bedroom penthouses with sizes of 1,744-1,948sqft, while the largest penthouse is 4,306sqft in size and contains five bedrooms. Biggest penthouse at Park Nova sold at S$5,838psf, a record for Orchard Boulevard areaPark Nova, Shun Tak Holdings’ luxury condo in Singapore’s Orchard Boulevard-Tomlinson area, has recorded five units sales for well over $100m. The two biggest five-bedroom penthouses in the 54-unit luxury condo at 18 Tomlinson Road fetched S$34.438m and S$26.026m, respectively. The biggest penthouse of 5,899sqft garnered interest from more than one party and almost had to be sold via balloting. However, one party prevailed and emerged the eventual buyer at S$34.438m or S$5,838psf. The transaction price of S$26.026m for the second biggest penthouse of 4,499sqft, worked out to S$5,785psf. The third and smallest penthouse of 3,229sqft is also believed to have been sold for above S$17m.

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (10May21) - ECWREIT renews major Hengde logistics lease

<p>Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.</p><ul><li><a href='#lucror-entity-10365'>Sirtex Medical</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-8085'>Times China</a></li><li><a href='#lucror-entity-14152'>Yanlord Land</a></li></ul>

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region, based on key company-specific developments in the past 24 hours. Our Morning Views include a section with a brief market commentary, key market indicators and a macroeconomic and corporate event calendar.Sirtex MedicalTimes ChinaYanlord Land

Morning Views Asia: Sirtex Medical, Times China, Yanlord Land

Singapore

Yanlord Land Group Ltd is a real estate development company. The Company develops high-end residential property projects in the Peoples Republic of China.

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Yanlord Land (YLLG SP)

Yanlord Land - Tear Sheet - Lucror Analytics

We view Yanlord Land as “Medium Risk” on the LARA scale. The company has a strong brand name, having established its reputation as a high-end...

Lucror Analytics

Asia HY Monthly - Chinese Developers' JV Exposure - Lucror Analytics

In this month’s "In-Focus" section, we provide an update on Chinese developers’ JV exposure, including typical structures and the JV exposure of...

Lucror Analytics

Asia HY Trade Book - May 2021 - Lucror Analytics

The Asia HY Trade Book for the month of May includes a summary of our recommendations, as well as our high-conviction ideas. The report also...

Lucror Analytics

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (10May21) - ECWREIT renews major Hengde logistics lease

ECWREIT renews major Hengde logistics lease; EAGLEHT Dallas hotel sales fell through; ALI recovering slowly but surely, RLC 1Q21 results weighed by...

SCCM Asia Research

Morning Views Asia: Sirtex Medical, Times China, Yanlord Land

Lucror Analytics Morning Views comprise our fundamental credit analysis, opinions and trade recommendations on high yield issuers in the region,...

Lucror Analytics

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