Rating Rationale
December 23, 2016 | Mumbai
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; short-term rating placed on 'Notice of withdrawal'
 
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.22670.5 Million
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Negative' and Rating Reaffirmed)
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Negative' and Rating Withdrawal)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Notice of Withdrawal)
(Refer to Annexure 1 for Facility-wise details)

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ; part of the Adani group) to 'Stable' from 'Negative' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL AA-'. CRISIL has reaffirmed the rating on short term bank facility at 'CRISIL A1+'. The rating action is based on publicly available information as the company has not cooperated with CRISIL in its surveillance process. CRISIL has also placed its rating on non-fund based facility on 'Notice of Withdrawal' for 180 days at the company's request. Additionally, CRISIL has withdrawn its rating on a term loan facility as there is no outstanding against the rated facility.

The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's expectation of continued improvement in the financial risk profile, led by higher cash accrual from subsidiary ports and reduction in related-party loans, over the medium term.  The company has nine ports across India (apart from the Mundra port), out of which seven were operational as on September 30, 2016. Most of these ports have become operational in past three years and contributed around 30% of the consolidated revenue in fiscal 2016. There was significant growth in revenue and profitability of key operational subsidiary ports, which include The Dhamra Port Company Ltd, Adani Hazira Port Pvt Ltd, and Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port Pvt Ltd. Revenue from these ports increased to Rs 19 billion in fiscal 2016 from Rs 11 billion in fiscal 2014, while net profit increased to Rs 3.9 billion from a net loss of Rs 1.2 billion. Consequently, the consolidated interest coverage ratio has improved over the years to 4.5 times in fiscal 2016 from 3.9 times in fiscal 2015 and 3.7 times in fiscal 2014. Furthermore, the ratio of net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation declined to 5.3 times as on March 31, 2016, from 5.8 times as on March 31, 2014. CRISIL expects cash flows in subsidiary ports to improve significantly led by ramp up in cargo volume over the medium term, supporting the improvement in the consolidated return on capital employed (RoCE).

Loans and advances (including business advances) to promoter companies remained high at around 12% of capital employed as on March 31, 2016. The return on these exposures has been low, affecting the RoCE. Management plans to reduce these loans and advances significantly, by March 31, 2017. Progress in reduction of related-party exposure remains a key rating sensitivity factor.

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has now combined the business and financial risk profiles of APSEZ and all its subsidiaries. This is because all these companies, together referred to herein as APSEZ, operate under a common management team, have operational and financial linkages with each other. Earlier, CRISIL had followed a moderate integration approach and factored in APSEZ's commitment to these subsidiaries in the form of equity, cost overruns, and guarantees. For debt calculation, CRISIL has included the USD 453 million (outstanding amount as on March 31, 2016, out of total debt of USD 800 million) guarantee provided by APSEZ for the borrowings of Mundra Ports Pty Ltd, which is owned by the same promoters. Against this guarantee, APSEZ has received a counter indemnity from Abbot Point Port Holding Pte Ltd.

The ratings continue to reflect a dominant market position, healthy operational profitability, and robust financial flexibility. These strengths are partially offset by a leveraged capital structure because of sizeable debt-funded capital expenditure, and exposure to promoter companies.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the financial risk profile of APSEZ will remain healthy over the medium term driven by higher cash accrual in subsidiary ports.
 
Upside scenario
* Sustained, and higher-than-expected increase in consolidated cash flows, led by further ramp up in volumes and operating profitability
* Significant reduction in debt due to lower related-party exposure
 
Downside scenario
* Weakening of the financial risk profile due to higher-than-expected debt-funded capital expenditure or acquisition
* Increase in exposure to related-party companies

About the Group

APSEZ is India's largest port operator, with 10 ports across the eastern and western seaboards. The company handled 152 million tonne (MT) of cargo in fiscal 2016. Its flagship port at Mundra is India's largest and handled 109 MT of cargo. The company also operates a multi-product port-based special economic zone (SEZ) at Mundra.

In fiscal 2016, on a consolidated basis, net profit was Rs 28.3 billion (Rs 23.2 billion in fiscal 2015) on net sales of Rs 72.6 billion (Rs 61.5 billion). In the six months ended September 30, 2016, net profit was Rs 19 billion (Rs 13 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal) on net sales of Rs 40 billion (Rs 35 billion).

Annexure 1 - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Million) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Million) Rating
Long Term Loan USD 48.33 Million CRISIL AA-/Stable Long Term Loan USD 48.58 Million CRISIL AA-/Negative
Long Term Loan USD 0.25 Million Withdrawal Long Term Loan Euro 18.04 Million CRISIL AA-/Negative
Long Term Loan Euro 18.04 Million CRISIL AA-/Stable Long Term Loan JPY 2880.16 Million CRISIL AA-/Negative
Long Term Loan JPY 2880.16 Million CRISIL AA-/Stable Non-Fund Based Limit 17920 CRISIL A1+
Non-Fund Based Limit 17920 CRISIL A1+(Notice of Withdrawal) -- 0 --
Total 22670.5 -- Total 22670.5 --

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
Criteria for rating Short-Term Debt (including Commercial Paper)

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Tanuja Abhinandan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
tanuja.abhinandan@crisil.com

Jyoti Parmar
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1835
B: +91 22 3342 3000
 jyoti.parmar@crisil.com

Sudip Sural
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
sudip.sural@crisil.com


Ravi Nori
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4040 2985
ravi.nori@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. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.

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.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a global analytical company providing ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services. We are India's leading ratings agency. We are also the foremost provider of high-end research to the world's largest banks and leading corporations.

CRISIL 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


About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets 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 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 95,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.



CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE

CRISIL respects your privacy. We 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 and other parts of S&P Global Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company) you may find of interest.

For further information, or to let us know your preferences with respect to receiving marketing materials, please visit www.crisil.com/privacy. You can view the Company’s Customer Privacy at https://www.spglobal.com/privacy

Last updated: April 2016


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of 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 providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL 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 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 or otherwise 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 Rating 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 assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL 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.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL 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 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 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. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis 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 web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: http://www.crisil.com/ratings/highlightedpolicy.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING 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 a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL