Homepage
PR Newswire
03-12-2019, 09:41 PM
Missed bond payment by China’s state-owned Peking University Founder Group shocks investors
* Peking University Founder Group, controlled by China’s top university, misses payment on a 2 billion yuan (US$283 million) onshore bond, citing liquidity crunch
Yujing Liu
Published: 9:20pm, 3 Dec, 2019
Chinese state-owned conglomerate Peking University Founder Group missed payment on a 2 billion yuan (US$283 million) onshore bond, shattering the market’s confidence in companies previously considered as low-risk.
The company controlled by Peking University, a top Chinese college, could not service the 270-day bond because of a liquidity crunch, it said in an exchange filing on Monday.
It is the latest in a spate of defaults by Chinese companies. Tunghsu Optoelectronic Technology too missed an interest payment on its 1.7 billion yuan (US$241 million) onshore bond on Monday.
Founder Group, which operates in industries from software development to securities trading and real estate, is “actively seeking funding through various channels and strengthening operations” to ensure repayment of the bond, it said.
The default came as a surprise to China’s onshore investors, as Founder Group was rated AAA, the highest level by domestic rating agencies including China Lianhe Credit Rating. The agency lowered Founder group’s long-term rating to A with a negative outlook on Monday.
Analysts said investors were likely to re-examine their previous perception that such firms – especially with the backing of top universities owned by the Ministry of Education – would not fail their debt obligations.
![[Image: a2e1624c-15c6-11ea-9462-4dd25a5b0420_972x_212012.JPG]](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/methode/2019/12/03/a2e1624c-15c6-11ea-9462-4dd25a5b0420_972x_212012.JPG)
“Many university-backed companies are in a similar situation as Founder Group,” Guotai Junan Securities fixed income analysts led by Qin Han wrote in a report published on Tuesday. “This default signals an acceleration of fading confidence in these companies … It would trigger a correction in their valuations and create difficulties for refinancing.”
The report added that investors should treat state-owned companies with greater caution going forward, and differentiate those with strategic significance to the government – thus more likely to receive support in times of difficulty – and those without.
Founder Group has issued 23 bonds with 34.5 billion yuan of outstanding debt, of which nearly 70 per cent will mature within a year.
Founder Group’s default is the latest indication of widespread financial distress faced by Chinese companies, made worse by poor corporate governance.
The number of new bond defaulters could rise to as many as 50 next year from around 35 this year, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
More details in https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/...ty-founder
* Peking University Founder Group, controlled by China’s top university, misses payment on a 2 billion yuan (US$283 million) onshore bond, citing liquidity crunch
Yujing Liu
Published: 9:20pm, 3 Dec, 2019
Chinese state-owned conglomerate Peking University Founder Group missed payment on a 2 billion yuan (US$283 million) onshore bond, shattering the market’s confidence in companies previously considered as low-risk.
The company controlled by Peking University, a top Chinese college, could not service the 270-day bond because of a liquidity crunch, it said in an exchange filing on Monday.
It is the latest in a spate of defaults by Chinese companies. Tunghsu Optoelectronic Technology too missed an interest payment on its 1.7 billion yuan (US$241 million) onshore bond on Monday.
Founder Group, which operates in industries from software development to securities trading and real estate, is “actively seeking funding through various channels and strengthening operations” to ensure repayment of the bond, it said.
The default came as a surprise to China’s onshore investors, as Founder Group was rated AAA, the highest level by domestic rating agencies including China Lianhe Credit Rating. The agency lowered Founder group’s long-term rating to A with a negative outlook on Monday.
Analysts said investors were likely to re-examine their previous perception that such firms – especially with the backing of top universities owned by the Ministry of Education – would not fail their debt obligations.
“Many university-backed companies are in a similar situation as Founder Group,” Guotai Junan Securities fixed income analysts led by Qin Han wrote in a report published on Tuesday. “This default signals an acceleration of fading confidence in these companies … It would trigger a correction in their valuations and create difficulties for refinancing.”
The report added that investors should treat state-owned companies with greater caution going forward, and differentiate those with strategic significance to the government – thus more likely to receive support in times of difficulty – and those without.
Founder Group has issued 23 bonds with 34.5 billion yuan of outstanding debt, of which nearly 70 per cent will mature within a year.
Founder Group’s default is the latest indication of widespread financial distress faced by Chinese companies, made worse by poor corporate governance.
The number of new bond defaulters could rise to as many as 50 next year from around 35 this year, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
More details in https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/...ty-founder
Specuvestor: Asset - Business - Structure.