Builder Times China’s wind-up hearing delayed amid debt talks

A HONG Kong court adjourned the first winding-up hearing of Times China Holdings to Jul 31, to give the petitioner more time to consider the defaulted builder’s debt proposal, according to a judge.

The liquidation petition was filed by Hang Seng Bank in connection with financial obligations of about US$173.2 million and HK$731.4 million (S$93.6 million), respectively, Times China said in April.

The Guangdong-based real estate firm said in a Friday (Jun 28) exchange filing that it has put forward key commercial terms to an ad-hoc group of offshore creditors that holds or controls more than 25 per cent of the principal of six US dollar bonds. In previous cases, showing progress in restructuring has been a key factor in avoiding a liquidation order.

Times China intends to restructure a total principal amount of US$2.9 billion of offshore debt, including existing bonds and some loan facilities. It offered creditors three options in the latest proposal, including a combination of upfront payment, short-term notes and new ordinary shares in the company. Investors can also choose to receive mandatory convertible bonds and medium-term notes.

Ahead of the hearing, negotiations between the company and major creditors quickened, with talks occurring almost daily, Bloomberg reported last week. The residential builder reached out to the petitioner last Thursday with the latest term sheet, the bank’s legal representative said during Wednesday’s hearing.

Times China has joined a growing list of Chinese property defaulters facing liquidation demands from creditors in Hong Kong over the past few years. A major state-backed property firm, Sino-Ocean Group Holding, received a winding-up petition last month. BLOOMBERG