New World Development’s (NWD) FY 2023-24 results were weak, but in line with expectations as flagged by the company’s profit warning earlier in September. We expect the company’s revenue and EBITDA to improve in FY 2024-25, supported by new project launches in Hong Kong as well as contributions from new K11 commercial assets in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
While NWD has continued to reduce net debt, leverage weakened on account of the weaker earnings and smaller asset base (due to disposals). Cash/ST Debt is inadequate, though we believe the company’s liquidity is manageable due to its continued access to financing. In particular, we note positively NWD’s receipt of a HKD 1 bn unsecured loan, as well as its ability to tap the USD bond market in August 2024.
The resignation of Adrian Cheng as NWD’s CEO (as well as from the Boards of NWD’s sister companies) is surprising in our view, though we believe the impact is credit neutral.
We move to “Buy” from “Hold” on the NWDEVL notes, as we view the yields as attractive.