Rating Rationale
December 28, 2018 | Mumbai
ACT Infraport Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' ; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.51 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BB/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of ACT Infraport Limited (ACT Infra; part of the ACT Infra group) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' from 'CRISIL BB/Stable', and reaffirmed the short-term rating at 'CRISIL A4+'.

The upgrade is driven by improved liquidity in the group, supported by complete repayment of term loan in ACT Infra's subsidiary Sunbright Shipping Ltd SA (Sunbright). Uptick in demand from steel and allied sectors has improved growth, particularly in the domestic chartering segment. Revenue grew by 23% year-over-year in the first half of fiscal 2019. Domestic segment accounts for about 55% of the revenue, while the remaining is from South East Asia and Persian Gulf. Revenue is expected to grow 8-10% annually over the medium term, led by healthy demand from domestic and international chartering of steel, limestone and other cargo. Intense competition constrains the profitability to single-digits. However, this is expected to sustain at 8-9%, driven by the 10-15% markup on vessels chartered.
 
The financial risk profile is moderate with gearing expected to be around 0.5 time over the medium term. The company does not have any major capital expenditure or vessel acquisition plan over the medium term. Liquidity management will be a monitorable, given the high working capital requirement.
 
The ratings reflect the ACT Infra group's strong market position, backed by integrated logistics services offered to clients, and adequate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility of operating margin to intensifying competition and large working capital requirement.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has fully consolidated the business and financial risk profiles of ACT Infra and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Sunbright, Propel Shipping Pte Ltd (Propel) and Propel Middle East DMCC (Propel Middle East). This is because all these entities, collectively referred to as the ACT Infra group, have significant operational and financial linkages and share a common management. However, CRISIL has not combined the business and financial risk profiles of other subsidiaries, Propel Peace Shipping SA and Kshirsagar Navigation Ltd, as these do not have any significant operations.

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

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong market position backed by integrated logistics services
The group is an integrated logistics service provider providing a gamut of services in the dry bulk cargo segment. Over the years, it has become a one-stop centre for chartering, clearing and forwarding, stevedoring, custom house agency, warehousing, and transportation services. The company handled over 12 million tonne of dry bulk cargo and chartered 243 vessels in fiscal 2018. In the first half of fiscal 2019, it handled over 9 million tonne of dry bulk cargo and chartered 126 vessels.

* Moderate financial risk profile
Gearing stood healthy at 0.6 time as on March 31, 2018, and is likely to improve to 0.4-0.5 time over the medium term in the absence of debt-funded capital expenditure (capex). Debt protection metrics were also robust, with interest coverage expected to remain over 8 times and net cash accrual to adjusted debt of over 0.9 time. There is no major capex expected over the medium term, however, this will remain a key monitorable.

Weakness
* Large working capital requirement
Turnover grew at compound annual growth rate of over 50% in the three fiscals through 2018. Consequently, working capital requirement has been large. About one-fifth of receivables are estimated to be over 180 days as on March 31, 2018. While revenue growth is healthy, ability to manage working capital requirement over the medium term will be closely monitored.

* Susceptibility to intensifying competition
The logistics service industry is highly unorganised with just a few large players and numerous small players. Though the group has a stable market position on account of its diversified service offerings and strong track record, it continues to face intense competition, thereby remaining susceptible to the competition in the industry.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the ACT Infra group will maintain its business and financial risk profile over the medium term, supported by its established market position and adequate capital structure and debt protection metrics. Susceptibility to intensifying competition and volatility in charter rates will remain constraining factors. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of sustained revenue growth, while maintaining its debt-protection metrics. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if higher-than-expected capex, working capital requirement, or receivables write-offs adversely affect liquidity or debt protection metrics.
 
Liquidity
The ACT Infra group has moderate liquidity, with annual cash accrual of Rs 40-50 crore over the medium term and high bank limit utilisation. Annual accrual should comfortably cover maturing term debt-of Rs 2.5-3.0 crore. Bank limit utilisation was high at about 78% of the Rs 30 crore bank lines over the 12 months through September 2018. Cash and bank balances of Rs 10 crore (Rs 5 crore at the standalone level) provides additional cushion for the group. Capex is expected to be moderate at Rs 5-10 crore annually. Working capital requirement will remain high with increase in scale of operations.

About the Company

Incorporated in 2004 in Gandhidham, Gujarat, and promoted by Mr T V Sujan, ACT Infra provides logistic services primarily related to shipping, such as ship chartering, custom broker, warehousing, freight forwarding, and stevedoring.
 
Based in Panama, Sunbright was established in 2011 and owns a vessel that is captively used for chartering. Propel, also established in 2011, is based in Singapore and carries out international chartering for the group's customers. Propel Middle East, based in UAE, was established in 2016 to focus on chartering services in the Middle East.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs. Cr. 774 468
Profit after tax Rs. Cr. 27.7 3.9
PAT margin % 3.6 0.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.53 1.22
Interest coverage Times 8.01 4.76
Note: The financials of ACT Infra, Sunbright, Propel and Propel Middle East have been consolidated, net of inter-company transactions

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 Cash credit NA NA NA 5.00 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Cash credit * NA NA NA 25.00 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 1.00 CRISIL A4+
NA Term Loan NA NA 25-Oct-2024 8.00   CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 20-Sep-2024 12.00   CRISIL BB+/Stable
*Includes Rs 2crore fully interchangeable with bank guarantee
 
Annexure - Details of Consolidation
Name of company Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
ACT Infraport Ltd Full Parent company
Propel Shipping Pte Ltd Full Wholly owned subsidiary-significant operational and financial linkages
Sunbright Shipping Ltd SA Full Wholly owned subsidiary-significant operational and financial linkages
Propel Shipping Middle East DMCC Full Wholly owned subsidiary-significant operational and financial linkages
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  50.00  CRISIL BB+/Stable  27-04-18  CRISIL BB/Stable  25-05-17  CRISIL BB+/Stable  16-03-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1.00  CRISIL A4+  27-04-18  CRISIL A4+  25-05-17  CRISIL A4+  16-03-16  CRISIL A3    --  -- 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit* 25 CRISIL BB+/Stable Cash Credit 25 CRISIL BB/Stable
Term Loan 20 CRISIL BB+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 9 Withdrawn
Cash Credit 5 CRISIL BB+/Stable Term Loan 20 CRISIL BB/Stable
-- 0 -- Cash Credit* 5 CRISIL BB/Stable
Total 51 -- Total 60 --
*Includes Rs 2crore fully interchangeable with bank guarantee
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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