OREANDA-NEWS. June 26, 2015. RusRating has assigned a credit rating to BALAMER HOLDINGS LIMITED (Cyprus). The rating is "BB" on the international scale and "BBB" on the national scale, in both cases with a stable outlook.

The rating is based on the strong operating margin and low debt burden of the real estate development group acquired by the Company; the group’s substantial market presence; and close business ties to a major Russian financial-industrial holding with more than R0.5trn in assets.

Constraining factors include uncertain conditions in the Russian residential and commercial real estate markets and a lack of transparency with respect to the financial aspects of the deal.

About the Company

BALAMER HOLDINGS LIMITED is a Cyprus-registered company that, in RusRating’s view, forms part of a major Russian financial-industrial holding with more than R0.5trn in assets. The group’s business centres on oil production and trading, construction and the management of real estate, finance and credit. BALAMER HOLDINGS LIMITED is currently in the process of taking over a major Russian real estate development group that has more than 20 years’ experience in construction of residential and commercial real estate in Moscow and the surrounding region. The group is also behind Russia’s largest urban development project: the construction of 15 million m2 of residential space, 3 million m2 of commercial space and 600 000 m2 of social infrastructure over a twenty year period in New Moscow.

The real estate development group has a high operating margin and low debt burden relative to sales. On the whole its business model can be described as stable, although some construction work was deferred in 2014. Liquidity is sufficient. Sensitivity to financial risks is moderate.