Sidley Austin has helped Guangzhou R&F Properties to complete a USD4.9 billion debt restructuring, allowing the Chinese developer to buy more time to pay off 10 offshore bonds and avoid default. It is reportedly the largest restructuring of public real estate debt in Asia to date.
The offshore creditors agreed to regroup 10 bonds, which had been due between now and 2024, into three tranches of amortisation notes to mature in 2025, 2027 and 2028, with a coupon of 6.5%. The debt restructuring gives R&F up to four years from the original due date to pay off the bonds.
The old bonds have been written off and delisted, while new notes worth USD5.1 billion were listed on the Singapore Exchange.
The complex transaction involved a combination of maturity extensions, PIK coupon mechanics, asset disposal-linked mandatory early redemptions, and a notes consolidation and mandatory exchange, which was launched concurrently with a proposal for consenting noteholders to accede to a restructuring support agreement.
R&F Properties promised that once it will be able to sell its R&F Princess Cove project in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, or its London ONE project, the company would use the proceeds to partially refinance the bonds.
The company’s legal adviser, Sidley Austin, was led by partners Xiong Renee and Matthew Sheridan, global co-leader of the Capital Markets group. Other team members included counsel Leonard Lou, managing associate Sophie Gu, and associates Angie Fan and Che Chang.
Linklaters acted as the international legal adviser to the lead solicitation agent JP Morgan Securities and co-solicitation agent Arta Global Markets while JunHe advised on PRC law.
Linklaters’ team was led by Asia managing partner William Liu, restructuring partner Andrew Payne and capital markets partner Taiki Ki, with support from counsel Min Fang, and managing associates Leeza Lee and Cheng Rui Chua.
JunHe’ partner Yu Yongqiang led this deal, with assistance from partners Shi Yun and Huang Wei.
The successful debt restructuring came amid a property market crisis in China. Though some market watchers see it as an example for other property developers to overcome financial hurdles, the scheme cannot easily be applied to industry peers.
As housing sales in China have plummeted by 28.9% from January to June compared to a year ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, developers have struggled to tackle their cash-flow crisis and lack of leverage to negotiate a moratorium with their creditors.
Read related stories
Sidley Austin, Appleby advise on China Fortune’s debt restructuring
Sidley Austin and Appleby assisted China Fortune Land Development (CFLD) to complete a USD4.96 billion offshore debt restructuring, the largest of its kind in China
Maples Group, Sidley Austin, Kirkland & Ellis help Modern Land in overseas debt restructuring
Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin assisted in the restructuring of Modern Land’s USD1.34 billion in overseas senior notes, paving the way for the cancellation of debt and the issuance of new notes
Sidley Austin, Kirkland and Harneys advise on Evergrande’s debt restructuring
Sidley Austin, Kirkland & Ellis and Harneys advised parties on preliminary proposals for the restructuring
For more stories about Sidley Austin, visit law.asia.
