Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties will debut on the Hong Kong Stock
Exchange on 23 December but the markets do not expect a blockbuster
first appearance for what will be Asia's largest initial public offering
(IPO) this year.
The looming flotation, of the firm that boasts
China's largest commercial property portfolio, will see billionaire
owner Wang Jianlin regain his title as China's richest man from Alibaba
Group boss Jack Ma.
But one analyst has warned that the listing could struggle on its debut on Tuesday.
Jackson
Wong, associate director at United Simsen Securities, told CNBC: "It's
not going to have a blockbuster debut. They will manage to have a flat
opening because of the size and valuation. They valued themselves at
single-digit PEs [price-to-earnings ratios], cheaper than other property
stocks in Hong Kong."
Wong added: "Property stocks are not hot in
Hong Kong right now, so I don't expect a huge opening but it will be
better than what most people think. Recent IPOs have had a 10%-20% drop
from their debut price, so this could perform just ok tomorrow."
Fitch
Ratings said in a 21 December note: "Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties
recent IPO...will drive its leverage down, although the China-based
developer will continue to have limited headroom at its current rating
level.
"Since the beginning of 2014, Wanda's leverage has
increased substantially as it embarked on an aggressive plan to develop
six Wanda City projects. Leverage peaked at 10.8x at end-June 2014.
Fitch estimates that the proceeds from this IPO will reduce Wanda's
leverage to just under 7x and trim its net debt to slightly below
CNY80bn by end-2014 from CNY101bn at end-June 2014."
Moody's said
in a recent report: "We estimate that Dalian Wanda Commercial
Properties' net debt/net capitalization ratio will decline to 38% to 42%
at the end of 2014, from 44.5% at the end of June 2014.
"The IPO will also reduce the company's reliance on debt funding, thereby enhancing its interest coverage."
The
property arm of Jianlin's Dalian Wanda Group raised $3.7bn (£2.4bn,
€3bn) last week after selling 600 million shares at $6.19 each, priced
at the higher end of expectations.
Earlier in the month, the property developer was compelled to cut the size of the offering by at least a third after investors balked at the high valuation. The firm had initially targeted to raise up to $6bn.
