(Bloomberg) -- Distressed Hong Kong property firm New World Development Co. is in talks with banks to extend the due dates of some bilateral loans, people familiar with the matter said, adding to concerns over its ability to service one of the heaviest debt loads of its kind.
It’s unclear how much of a delay the builder is seeking for each loan. But the efforts show the company — which had total liabilities of HK$220 billion ($28.3 billion) at the end of June — is exploring ways to alleviate financial pressure after recording its first annual loss in two decades.
Perpetual notes from the developer of projects including the K11 Art Mall in Hong Kong’s shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui were earlier indicated down 5.8 cents at a record low of 40.3 cents. Its 4.5% dollar notes due in 2030 have also dropped about 18% this week to the lowest since August 2023. The company’s shares fell almost 7% Wednesday to extend declines over the past month to some 26%.
Controlled by the family empire of tycoon Henry Cheng, New World has been one of the most closely watched property firms due to its high leverage. Hong Kong’s prolonged property downturn has left it grappling with tighter investor scrutiny in recent years. Its net debt to equity was 82.7% as of the end of last year, compared with 41.4% at rival Henderson Land Development Co. and 21.2% at Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd., according to Bloomberg Intelligence.
New World has also asked lenders to waive a potential breach of a debt-ratio related covenant on certain facilities, said other people familiar with the situation. Debtwire first reported the waiver request last Friday. Generally speaking, a loan breach might not lead to defaults if banks agree to grant a waiver, but it could undermine creditors’ confidence in a company’s debt-servicing ability.
In response to media enquiries, New World said in a statement published on its website late on Wednesday that it “noticed a number of untrue speculations and rumors” without clarifying what it referred to. “We continue to comply with disclosure requirements and provide timely and appropriate updates to our investors and shareholders,” the company said.
Management changes in recent months are another key factor that’s weighing on securities of New World, whose 11 Skies commercial complex project opening in phases next to the Hong Kong International Airport is one of the first things many visitors to the city see.
The builder replaced its chief executive officer last month in an abrupt change. The company named Echo Huang Shaomei as CEO, replacing Eric Ma who was in the job for only two months.
--With assistance from Shirley Zhao, Chien Mi Wong and Luca Casiraghi.
(Updates with company statement in sixth paragraph.)
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