SMC power unit begins P30-B bond offer

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. has started offering fixed rate bonds worth up to P30 billion to partially repay loans and other investments.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. (PDEx) on Tuesday, SMC Global Power said it has received the Certificate of Permit to Offer Securities for Sale from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 29.

The power arm of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is offering P25 billion worth of fixed rate bonds, with an oversubscription option of up to P5 billion.

The issuance consists of three-year Series H bonds amounting to P10.246 billion due on 2022 at a coupon rate of 6.8350% per annum; five-year Series I bonds amounting to P8.476 billion due on 2022 at 7.1783% per annum; and seven-year Series J bonds amounting to P6.276 billion due on 2026 at 7.6% per annum.

Should the oversubscription option be fully utilized, the company could net P29.617 billion from the issuance.

Proceeds of the offer will go to the partial refinancing of existing loans and the re-denomination of US dollar denominated obligations worth a total of P14.31 billion. The company will also invest P15.31 billion for power-related assets.

The offer period will run until April 12. SMC Global Power plans to issue the bonds by April 24, after which it will be listed on the PDEx.

The company named BDO Capital & Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., Chinabank Capital Corp., PNB Capital and Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp., and SB Capital Investment Corp. as the joint issue managers, joint lead underwriters, and bookrunners for the offering.

The bonds represent the first tranche of SMC Global Power’s P60-billion shelf registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company also has P50 billion worth of outstanding bonds in the fixed income exchange.

Local debt watcher Philippine Rating Services Corp. (PhilRatings) had earlier assigned SMC Global Power a PRS Aaa rating, indicating that the bonds are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. This also means that the company has an “extremely strong” capacity to meet its financial obligations.

The rating also carries a stable outlook, which means that it is unlikely to change in the next 12 months.

SMC Global Power’s operating income grew 37% to P33.17 billion in 2018, following a 45% jump in consolidated revenues to P120.10 billion during the period. The company noted that volume rose by 39% during the period, thanks to additional power generated from its Limay, Malita and Masinloc plants, alongside better contributions from the Ilijan and San Roque power plants.

Shares in SMC firmed up 0.86% or P1.50 to close at P175 each at the stock exchange on Tuesday. — Arra B. Francia