wanda(Wanda restructures US$600-million bond)

By YANG Bingke

Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management Group, the commercial property management unit of Chinese real estate giant Dalian Wanda Group, announced on Thursday that a US$600-million (4.2 billion yuan) bond repayment plan had been approved by bondholders.

The extension will help the company alleviate liquidity pressure and ensure future cash flows.

Room to breathe

This bond was issued in January 2014, with a 10-year term, a coupon rate of 7.25 percent, a total amount of US$600 million, and a maturity date of January 29, 2024.

The extension plan extends the maturity of the bond to December 29, 2024, with repayment scheduled in four installments. Repayment sources will come from rental income and dividends from Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management Group.

In 2023, Wanda faces a total of 15.4 billion yuan in onshore public debt and US$400 million in debt, totaling about 18.2 billion yuan in concentrated maturity. After the current adjustment of the US$600 million, Wanda has two US$400 million bonds maturing in 2025 and 2026.

Selling off the family silver

To meet the company's repayment obligations, Wanda has been disposing of assets.

In March and July, Wanda reduced its holdings of Wanda Film, raising 1.2 billion yuan. WANG Jianlin, founder of Wanda, in July, raised 6.8 billion yuan by disposing of Wanda Film and Wanda Investment equity.

Facing the final curtain?

Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management Group is still in the process of applying for listing in Hong Kong. If it cannot successfully list by the end of 2023, Wanda must pay back about 30 billion yuan in stock repurchases. As this is appear unlikely, Wanda hopes to postpone the listing until 2026.