China's Country Garden eyes debt deal, Evergrande creditors anticipate liquidation
By Clare Jim and Scott Murdoch
HONG KONG (Reuters) -China's Country Garden may announce a restructuring of its offshore debt soon, local media reported, while bondholders of embattled peer China Evergrande (HK:3333) Group raised concerns about a possible liquidation as its debt plans floundered.
Country Garden, which missed two dollar interest payments last month, has two coupons totalling $66.8 million coming due on Monday. Media outlet Cailianshe said the company may announce a restructuring soon.
The developer declined to comment on the media report and whether it has made any payments.
Country Garden has $10.96 billion offshore bonds and 42.4 billion yuan ($5.81 billion) worth of loans not denominated in yuan. If it defaults, these debt will need to be restructured, and the company or its assets also risk liquidation by creditors.
The coupons due on Monday are tied to Country Garden's 6.5% April 2024 and 7.25% April 2026 bonds. The payments have a 30-day grace period, but the developer faces a big test later this month, when its entire offshore debt could be deemed in default if it fails to pay a $15 million September coupon by Oct. 17.
China's property sector has been hit by a debt crisis since 2021. Companies accounting for 40% of Chinese home sales — mostly private property developers — have defaulted on debt obligations, leaving many homes unfinished.
More than two years on, the crisis has deepened as confidence in both housing and capital markets dried up, further squeezing developers' liquidity.
A key bondholder group of Evergrande said in a statement on Monday it was surprised by Evergrande's recent announcement that its offshore debt restructuring plan failed to meet regulatory requirements.
Evergrande,
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