TRIS Rating Assigns Guaranteed Bonds Rating of “KNM” at “AAA” with “Stable” Outlook

TRIS Rating has assigned the rating of “AAA” to KNM Group Berhad’s proposed issue of up to Bt3,000 million in guaranteed bonds (“Guaranteed Bonds”) which are guaranteed by Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility, a trust fund of the Asian Development Bank (CGIF), with “stable” outlook. CGIF is rated “AAA” by TRIS Rating. The issue rating reflects the credit worthiness of CGIF as the guarantor of the Guaranteed Bonds.

The “stable” outlook reflects the creditworthiness of CGIF and the expectation that CGIF will continue to expand in line with its mission and risk management framework. The rating could face downward pressure if losses in the guarantee portfolio cause CGIF's financial profile to deteriorate significantly, or if there is evidence of weakening support from the contributors.

KNM Group Berhad (KNM) is an investment holding company incorporated in Malaysia. Through its subsidiaries, KNM operates as a global process equipment manufacturer and turnkey systems provider mainly for oil and gas, petrochemicals, renewable energy, and power industries. The company has been listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad since 2003. The proceeds from the Guaranteed Bonds will be used to refinance project debt of KNM’s subsidiary in Thailand, Impress Ethanol Company Limited (IEL) as well as to finance IEL’s bio-ethanol plant expansion and meet its working capital needs.

The rating on KNM’s Guaranteed Bonds is equalized with the rating on its guarantor, CGIF. Under the guarantee’s terms, CGIF provides an irrevocable and unconditional guarantee to cover 100% of the principal and the interest payments for the Guaranteed Bonds, and its guarantee obligations rank at least pari passu with all other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of CGIF.

The rating of the Guaranteed Bonds also takes into account the following conditions, which

TRIS Rating views the likelihood of such events is very low.

• Payment acceleration risk by the bondholders’ representative: The bondholders’ representative has the right to accelerate the Guaranteed Bond payments against the Issuer upon an occurrence of any event of default other than the Issuer’s non-payment. However, CGIF will no longer have obligations to make payments under the guarantee if the bondholders’ representative exercises this right.

• Foreign exchange rate risks: the bondholders might not receive the payment in Thai baht if CGIF determines that it is impossible or impracticable on commercially reasonable efforts and in accordance with its policy to obtain the baht. In such an event, CGIF may make the payment with an equivalent amount in US dollars or such other currency as it may determine.

CGIF’s credit rating reflects its status as a supranational institution owned by the governments of the ASEAN+3 countries and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), together called “contributors”. Its rating also reflects CGIF’s strong business platform and conservative risk management framework. The rating takes into consideration CGIF’s short operational track record and the challenges it faces in expanding its business.

CGIF was founded in 2010 under the initiative of 10 ASEAN countries, together with China, Japan, Korea, and the ADB. CGIF’s main objectives are to provide credit guarantees which allow eligible issuers to access regional local currency bond markets. Issuers can thus avoid currency and maturity mismatches by issuing bonds within the region. ADB is the trustee of CGIF. It holds in trust all of CGIF’s capital and is responsible for managing the capital. CGIF finances its operations solely from capital contributions. It is not allowed to borrow from any source, except for cash management purposes.

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