Rating Rationale
April 03, 2019 | Mumbai
ABS Marine Services Private Limited
Ratings migrated to 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.14.42 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Migrated from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'*)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3 (Migrated from 'CRISIL A4+ ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'*)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Detailed Rationale

Due to inadequate information, CRISIL, in line with Securities and Exchange Board of India guidelines, had migrated the rating on the bank facility of ABS Marine Services Private Limited (ABS Marine; part of the ABS group) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+; Issuer not cooperating'. However, management has subsequently started sharing information necessary for carrying out a comprehensive review of the rating. Consequently, CRISIL is migrating the rating on the ABS Marine Services Private Limited s bank facility from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+; Issuer not cooperating to 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3'.

The ratings also reflect the group's established market position in the shipping services industry and healthy financial risk profile, backed by moderate net worth, and comfortable gearing and debt protection metrics. These rating strengths are partially offset by the exposure to risks relating to tender-based operations, and susceptibility to intense market competition.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ABS Marine and its wholly owned subsidiary, ABS Marine Singapore Pte Ltd, collectively referred to as ABS group.

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position in the shipping services industry: The ABS group has been an established player in the shipping services industry for nearly two decades, and provides diversified services such as manning and technical services and chartering and hiring services. Over the years, the promoters have established healthy relations with customers, resulting in stable revenue.
 
* Above-average financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is supported by moderate net worth, healthy gearing, and comfortable debt protection metrics. Capital structure is marked by an estimated net worth of Rs 80.07 crore and low gearing of 0.3 time as of March 2018. Debt protection metrics are comfortable driven by its healthy profitability and low dependence on external borrowings.
 
Weakness
* Exposure to customer concentration risks:
Significant portion of the ABS group's revenue comes from its few top customers; this exposes the group to customer concentration risks. Any change in the business risk profile of its largest customers could have a significant impact on the group's performance.
 
* Tender-based nature of operations and intense competition: The ABS group's tender-based operations and intense competition will constrain the business risk profile over the medium term. Majority of the group's manning and technical services are tender-based, resulting in exposure to risks related to loss of contracts. Furthermore, the shipping services industry is highly fragmented and competitive, resulting in limited pricing power for players.
Liquidity

The Liquidity of ABS group is supported by the huge unencumbered cash and bank balances of around Rs 15-20 cr expected to continue over medium term. Further the Group is expecetd t generate cash accruals of Rs 12-13 Cr against debt obligations of Rs 5.32 Cr.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the ABS group will continue to benefit over the medium term from its established market position in the shipping services industry. The outlook may be revised to Positive in case of greater-than-expected improvement in revenue and profitability while efficiently managing working capital, leading to strengthening of the business risk profile. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of a further decline in revenue or profitability or any larger than-expected, debt funded capex, weakening the financial risk profile.

About the Group

Incorporated in 1992, Chennai-based ABS Marine is involved in providing ship manning and technical services, and hiring and charter of ships. Operations are managed by the promoter, Captain P B Narayanan and his wife, Ms. Sreelatha Narayanan. The company's wholly owned subsidiary, ABS Marine Singapore Pte Ltd, also provides services such as hiring and chartering of ships.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs. Cr. 75.95 95.69
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 0.88 6.82
PAT Margins % 9.1 17.9
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.28 0.35
Interest coverage Times 4.97 10.67

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon
rate (%)
Maturity date Issue size
(Rs. Cr)
Rating assigned  with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 6 CRISIL A3
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 8.42 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
ABS Marine Services Private Limited Full ABS Marine Singapore Pte Ltd is 100% subsidiary of ABS Marine Services Pvt Ltd
ABS Marine Singapore Pte Ltd Full ABS Marine Singapore Pte Ltd is 100% subsidiary of ABS Marine Services Pvt Ltd
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  8.42  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  22-02-19  CRISIL BB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*      31-10-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable  14-06-16  CRISIL BBB/Positive  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  6.00  CRISIL A3  22-02-19  CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*      31-10-17  CRISIL A2  14-06-16  CRISIL A2  CRISIL A2 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 6 CRISIL A3 Bank Guarantee 6 CRISIL A4+/Issuer Not Cooperating
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 8.42 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 8.42 CRISIL BB+/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating
Total 14.42 -- Total 14.42 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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