Rating Rationale
July 24, 2020 | Mumbai
Aarti Hydro Power Private Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.24 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL B+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Aarti Hydro Power Private Limited (Aarti) at 'CRISIL B+/Stable/CRISIL A4'.
 
The lockdown and other measures taken by various central and state governments towards containment of COVID-19 are expected to have minimal impact on the business risk profile of the Aarti in fiscal 2021, since company operates in utility business and has Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) for both of its plants. However, realization from its customer to remain monitorable. 
 
CRISIL has also taken into cognizance, moratorium being granted by the bankers in debt servicing of term loan, up to August 31, 2020, as permitted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which should contain the risk of default.
 
The ratings continue to reflect susceptibility to hydrology risk associated with the terrain, and risks associated with the stabilization and ramp up in operations for the new plant. These weaknesses are partially offset by low demand and price risk, with assured offtake through the long-term PPA with MSEDCL and extensive experience of the promoters in the industry.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to hydrology risk associated with the terrain
Power generation is dependent on adequate water flow through the barrage. This is driven by annual rainfall in the region, thus exposing the company to hydrology risk.
 
* Risks associated with stabilization and ramp up in operations for new plant
The Company has undertaken capital expenditure (capex) to set up another hydro power project, with capacity of 2.5 MW. The new plant has started commercial operations from September 2019 at low utilization level. Plant generated power worth Rs 64 lakhs in fiscal 2020. Plant Load Factor (PLF) and operating margin will require certain time for stabilization; hence will remain a monitorable.
 
Strengths:
* Limited exposure to demand and price risk, with assured offtake through long-term PPA
Aarti supplies electricity to MSEDCL under a long-term PPA signed for 30 years (from the commercial operation date). The agreement provides revenue visibility, minimizes offtake risk and ensures steady cash flow.

* Extensive experience of promoters
Extensive experience of the promoters in the hydro power industry, has helped stabilize operations of the hydropower plant. The promoters have set up another hydro power plant in Gosikhurd, Nagpur, which has also started commercial operations.
Liquidity Poor

Aarti has not maintained any Debt Service Reserve Account (DSRA) for repayments of term loan. Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is low, estimated at 1.07 times over the tenure of the term loan. The repayments are scheduled during the period of high PLF- from September to March for all years, which provides liquidity cushion. Since payments from counterparty are often received with delays, promoters have to support repayment obligations by infusing unsecured loans if sufficient cash flows from operations are not generated. Unsecured loans from promoters stood at around Rs 14 crore as on March 31, 2020. 

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Aarti will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters

Rating Sensitivity Factors:
Upward factors
* Improvement in DSCR to more than 1.2 times per annum, over the tenure of term loan
* Improvement in liquidity in the form of DSRA or significant accumulated surplus from operating cash flows.

Downward factors
* Slower than expected ramp up in PLF and subdued operating margin for the new plant, impairing DSCR  to below 1.05 time over the tenure of term loan
* Deterioration in liquidity profile due to delays in receivables or lower than expected support from promoters.

About the Company

Incorporated in 2011, Aarti, is operating two hydro power projects. The company had successfully executed one hydro project having capacity of 1.50 MW at Hetawane dam, Pen, Raigad, which is operational from past 4 years. Company has also set up a new hydro power plant of 2.5 MW at Gosikhurd dam near Nagpur which began commercial operations from September 2019.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 2.33 2.99
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 0.42 0.66
PAT margins % 17.9 22.2
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 3.37 2.22
Interest coverage Times 2.94 3.20

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity date Issue Size
(Rs.Cr)
Complexity level Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Term Loan NA NA Feb-2029 13.9 NA CRISIL B+/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.1 NA CRISIL A4
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-2028 10 NA CRISIL B+/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  23.90  CRISIL B+/Stable      18-06-19  CRISIL B+/Stable      13-12-17  CRISIL BB-/Stable  -- 
            29-03-19  CRISIL BB-/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  0.10  CRISIL A4      18-06-19  CRISIL A4      13-12-17  CRISIL A4+  -- 
            29-03-19  CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*           
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 .1 CRISIL A4 Bank Guarantee .1 CRISIL A4
Long Term Loan 10 CRISIL B+/Stable Long Term Loan 10 CRISIL B+/Stable
Term Loan 13.9 CRISIL B+/Stable Term Loan 13.9 CRISIL B+/Stable
Total 24 -- Total 24 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Power Generation Utilities
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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