Chinese property developer Shimao misses repayment on US$1 billion bond

HONG KONG: Chinese developer Shimao Group has missed the interest and principal payment of a US$1 billion offshore bond due on Sunday (Jul 3) in the latest blow to China’s embattled property market.

Shimao was unable to pay a total of US$1.023 billion in principal and interest to creditors of a senior note listed on the Singapore Exchange, the developer said in a Sunday filing on the Hong Kong bourse, citing “market uncertainties over debt refinancing” and “challenging operating and funding conditions”.

With a coupon rate of 4.750 per cent, the bond matured on Jul 3 this year.

The developer has not received notice of acceleration of repayment from its lenders, it said, suggesting the debtholders have not moved to take enforcement actions.

Shimao hired Admiralty Harbour Capital as its financial adviser and Sidley Austin its legal adviser to help assess and explore ways to manage the liquidity crisis.

Meanwhile, creditors of its two syndicated loans have agreed to give the cash-strapped Chinese developer a breather.

Shimao said it has received written notice of support from the majority of the lenders of two syndicated loans agreed upon in 2018 and 2019, in which HSBC acted as the lead facilitator for dual currency loans.

The creditors, who are “generally supportive of the Company continuing to explore the possibility of an agreement and implementation of a potential restructuring with its relevant stakeholders”, are willing to allow Shimao to continue to run the business with minimum disruption, according to the filing.