BIM Land raises $200 million via offshore bond

Vietnamese property developer BIM Land Joint Stock Company (BIM Land), a member of BIM Group, recently raised an additional $200 million via debut issuance of 5-year bonds at 7.375% coupon in the Singapore market.

Fitch Ratings rated BIM Land's bond at B, in line with its issuer ratings, and Moody's rated it at B2.

The debut marks BIM Land's first offshore bond and the first time non-public enterprise in Vietnam successfully priced its USD bond. In the past, Vietnam saw some offshore deals by Vingroup, NovaLand and VPBank.

In 2019, BIM Land raised nearly $140 million from IFC and Credit Suisse. It also promoted bond capital mobilization in domestic market. For example, the enterprise successfully mobilized VND1,000 billion (about $44 million) in last March, secured by its right to use land plots in Hung Thang ward, Ha Long.

BIM Land is a property developer in several high-growth, tourism-led regions in Vietnam, counterbalanced by the cyclical demand for its tourism-led investment products, such as condotels and rental villas, compared with residential property.

Fitch said that BIM Land has smaller residential contracted sales than those of higher-rated peers, but these risks are mitigated by the company's healthy balance sheet.

It expects attributable contracted sales (excluding minorities' share) of Vietnamese property developer to recover to VND7.5 trillion (about $330 million) in 2021 on improving demand and a solid project launch pipeline.

BIM Land's contracted sales originate in the city of Ha Long in the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh, and on Phu Quoc island. Its new project in Vinh Phuc should contribute to contracted sales from 2022, improving diversification.