CHINA's Country Garden may announce a restructuring of its offshore debt soon, local media reported, while bondholders of embattled peer China Evergrande Group raised concerns about a possible liquidation as its debt plans floundered.

Country Garden, which missed two dollar interest payments last month, has two coupons totalling $66.8m coming due on Monday. Media outlet Cailianshe said the company may announce a restructuring soon.

The developer declined to comment on the media report and whether it has made any payments.

Country Garden has $10.96bn offshore bonds and 42.4bn yuan ($5.8bn) worth of loans not denominated in yuan. If it defaults, these debts will need to be restructured, and the company or its assets also risk liquidation by creditors.

The coupons due on Monday are tied to Country Garden's 6.5 per cent April 2024 and 7.25 per cent

April 2026 bonds. The payments have a 30-day grace period, but the developer faces a big test later this month, when its entire offshore debt could be deemed in default if it fails to pay a $15m September coupon by 17 October.

China's property sector has been hit by a debt crisis since 2021. Companies accounting for 40 per cent of Chinese home sales - mostly private property developers - have defaulted on debt obligations, leaving many homes unfinished.

Reuters

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