OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings says today that ratings on China Orient Asset Management Corporation (COAM; A-/Stable) and its bonds, and the Stable Outlook on its Issuer Default Ratings will not be impacted if proposed amendments to the bond indenture are adopted. A full list of Fitch-rated bonds is available at the end of this commentary.

COAM is seeking approval from bondholders to remove the debt ratio failure investment covenant on COAM's wholly owned offshore subsidiary China Orient Asset Management (International) Holding Limited (COAMI). COAM and COAMI believe the covenant is now not a common feature in bond offerings for Chinese corporates (including the other Chinese asset management companies) and the removal of this covenant would bring the terms and conditions and the credit enhancement features of the rated bonds in line with other issues in the market.

The debt ratio failure investment covenant requires:
- COAMI's ratio of consolidated total liabilities to consolidated total assets to be less than 0.9; and
- COAMI's ratio of consolidated total external liabilities (liabilities to parties other than COAM) to consolidated total assets to be less than 0.6.

As part of the covenant, COAM undertakes to invest in COAMI and/or other subsidiaries of COAMI outside China, in order for COAMI to remedy the debt ratio failure.

Fitch believes the proposed amendment, if adopted, will give the company more funding and operational flexibility and allow it to raise more debt to support its growth over the long term. Fitch does not expect COAM to change its financial policies and credit profile to an extent that would affect its ratings, even though the proposed amendment will allow it to raise more debt.

In addition, Fitch also expects COAM's state ownership, strong control by and strategic ties with the state, and COAMI's strategic importance to COAM as the latter's major offshore investment and financing platform will remain unchanged.

For a more detailed discussion on COAM's rating, see "Fitch Affirms China Orient Asset Management at 'A-'; Outlook Stable" dated 5 September 2014 at www.fitchratings.com.

The full list of rated bond is as follows:
Century Master Investment Co., Ltd
USD600m 4.75% senior unsecured notes due 2018

Starway Assets Enterprises Inc.
CNY2.5bn 4.1% senior unsecured notes due 2017

Charming Light Investments Ltd.
USD1.1bn 3.75% senior unsecured notes due 2019
USD400m 5% senior unsecured notes due 2024.