Rating Rationale
October 10, 2023 | Mumbai
Acme Solar Rooftop Systems Private Limited
Rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.121.27 Crore (Reduced from Rs.129.72 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A/Stable’ rating on the long-term bank facilities of Acme Solar Rooftop Systems Pvt Ltd (ASRSPL). The rating on bank facilities worth Rs 8.45 crore has been Withdrawn as ASRSPL has repaid the facilities as confirmed by the lender. This is in line with the CRISIL Ratings policy on withdrawal of ratings.

 

The rating reflects the healthy revenue visibility and comfortable debt servicing metrics for ASRSPL and a well-defined waterfall mechanism for cash flows. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to counterparty risks and to risks inherent in the operations of renewable energy assets.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of ASRSPL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Healthy revenue visibility through a power purchase agreement (PPA): The 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) for the entire capacity of ASRSPL minimises offtake risk and provides revenue visibility. The PPA has a fixed tariff of Rs 7.57 per kilowatt hour (kWh) throughout its tenure. The entire 30-MW capacity became operational in May 2016 and ASRSPL has been receiving payments within 2-3 months of billing since commissioning.

 

  • Comfortable debt-servicing metrics: The fixed-tariff PPA with PSPCL should ensure adequate debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) over the tenure of the debt. Although ASRSPL has a bullet repayment of about Rs 15 crore in the last quarter of fiscal 2032 (broadly the same as repayment for the entire fiscal 2031), there is a healthy PPA tail period of almost nine years.

 

The company maintains a debt service reserve account (DSRA) covering two quarters of debt obligation, majorly in the form of fixed deposit. The lender has stipulated an additional DSRA of Rs 10.5 crore (Rs 2.1 crore per fiscal) over 2023 to 2027.

 

  • Well-defined waterfall mechanism: Lenders have control on the cash flow of ASRSPL through a trust and retention account (TRA) with a clearly defined waterfall mechanism for prioritising cash flow utilisation. As per the TRA agreement, any outflow, including transfer of surplus, is subject to the defined TRA waterfall (details provided later).

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to risks inherent in renewable power projects: Cash flow remains sensitive to the plant load factor (PLF), which depends entirely on solar irradiance and weather patterns, which are inherently unpredictable. This uncertainty may impact the debt servicing capability of ASRSPL. The project has performed close to P90 PLF in the past four years.

 

  • Exposure to counterparty risk: The long-term PPA with PSPCL for the entire project capacity exposes ASRSPL to risks related to the credit risk profile of a single counterparty and to any delay in payment. However, the company has been receiving payments within 2-3 months of billing for the past four years. Any stretch in the payment cycle will be a rating sensitivity factor.

Liquidity: Adequate

Cash accrual is expected at Rs 26-27 crore each in fiscals 2024 and 2025 (at P90 PLF) and should cover yearly debt obligation of ~Rs 20 crore. ASRSPL has a DSRA covering six months of debt obligation, majorly in the form of fixed deposit. Also, the company had additional cash (excluding DSRA) of Rs 21.68 crore as on August 31, 2022.

Outlook: Stable

ASRSPL will continue to benefit from its long-term PPA and adequate operational performance.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained higher generation at ~P50 level for 2-3 years
  • Faster-than-expected deleveraging leading to sharp improvement in DSCR (at P90 performance) and maintenance of current payment cycle of 2-3 months by PSPCL

 

Downward factors:

  • Stretch in receivables beyond the current cycle of 2-3 months
  • Significant weakening in performance from the P90 PLF level
  • Higher-than-budgeted operations and maintenance (O&M) expenses

 

TRA waterfall mechanism:

The receivables deposited/credited into the designated account shall be appropriated for the following purposes in the below order of priority:

 

  • Charges payable to the TRA bank
  • O&M expenditure including insurance
  • Interest charges and any other monies/dues payable by the borrower to the lender as intimated by the lender
  • Principal amount payable by the borrower under the loan agreement
  • Topping up of the DSRA

 

Surplus, if any (other than the debt service reserve money), shall be allowed to overflow to the promoters.

About the Company

ASRSPL was incorporated on January 21, 2015, under the Companies Act, 2013. The entity is engaged in the business of establishing, commissioning, set up and operates and maintains solar power generation plants with aggregate operational capacity of 30 MW in Punjab, commissioned in May 2016. It has a tie-up for sale of energy to PSCPL at a tariff of Rs 7.57 per kWh.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

32

32

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

5

3

PAT margin

%

14.8

8.8

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

1.80

2.07

Interest coverage

Times

2.48

2.07

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` 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.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)

ISIN Name of the
instrument
Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs. Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Term loan NA NA Jun-32 121.27 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Term loan NA NA NA 8.45 NA Withdrawn
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 129.72 CRISIL A/Stable   -- 23-08-22 CRISIL A/Stable 23-08-21 CRISIL A/Stable   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Term Loan 121.27 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Term Loan 8.45 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited Withdrawn
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
The Rating Process
Criteria for rating solar power projects

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Aveek Datta
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 99204 93912
B: +91 22 3342 3000
AVEEK.DATTA@crisil.com

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Manish Kumar Gupta
Senior Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
manish.gupta@crisil.com


Ankit Hakhu
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
ankit.hakhu@crisil.com


Aaditya Gupta
Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
Aaditya.Gupta1@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL Ratings. However, CRISIL Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About CRISIL Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of CRISIL Limited, an S&P Global Company)

CRISIL Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).
 
CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited ('CRISIL'). CRISIL Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").
 
For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL. For further information on CRISIL's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') that is provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). To avoid doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as CRISIL Ratings providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the report. In preparing our report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Ratings are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any securities/instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL Ratings assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinions and analysis. The rating contained in the report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way. CRISIL Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains.

Neither CRISIL Ratings nor its affiliates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, 'CRISIL Ratings Parties') guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the report, and no CRISIL Ratings Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the report. EACH CRISIL RATINGS PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Ratings Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its website, www.crisilratings.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee - more details about ratings by CRISIL Ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL Ratings and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on in its reports. CRISIL Ratings has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to:
https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html.

Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL Ratings public website, www.crisilratings.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without prior written consent from CRISIL Ratings.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL Ratings Limited. CRISIL Ratings is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited.

 

 

CRISIL Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on CRISIL Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html