Rating Rationale
September 21, 2017 | Mumbai
Ashoka Buildcon Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.6306 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.200 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (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 and debt programme of Ashoka Buildcon Limited (ABL; part of the Ashoka group) at 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+'.
 
The ratings continues to reflect the group's established track record in executing engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) contracts and build-operate-transfer (BOT) road projects. The ratings also factor in its sound financial risk profile, marked by healthy net worth, low gearing, and comfortable debt protection metrics; and expectation of limited financial support to and investment in subsidiary, Ashoka Concessions Ltd (ACL). These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has considered ABL's special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) and ACL as moderately integrated with ABL. The investment requirement in ABL's SPVs, expected cost overrun in under-implementation projects, as well as cash flow mismatches in the operational projects, have been factored into the financials of ABL. ABL has extended limited support articulation towards ACL wherein only distress support would be provided for viable operational projects and equity support for new projects.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established track record in executing EPC contracts and BOT road projects
The group has experience of over two decades in the EPC segment. As of June 2017, there were orders of Rs 6,400 crore to be executed, of which 70% were from the road segment and 30% from the power transmission and distribution segment.

ABL was one of India's early entrants in BOT road projects and won its first project in 1997. It currently has 23 such projects, of which 17 are operational, two in the final stage of completion, and four in a nascent stage, including two hybrid annuity projects. The group has constructed about 7000 lane kilometre so far and has successfully handed over completed projects. The three under-construction BOT projects are annuity based with over 80% right of way available. Recently, the group has won a hybrid annuity project (Ranastalam - Anandapuram in Andhra Pradesh) and a real estate development project near Mumbai airport. While the hybrid-annuity project costs Rs 2,637 crore, 40% of the funds will come from National Highways Authority of India during construction phase, thereby lowering funding risk. With respect to the real estate development project, the group is finalising documentation and funding tie-up is yet to be done. There will be upfront equity infusion of Rs 330 crore over the next few years.

Strong project execution capability is reflected in successful completion of projects within the scheduled time and budgeted cost. The strong in-house EPC division undertakes all project implementation for the BOT road projects. The group also manufactures ready-made concrete and high-grade bitumen, which supports operating efficiency, reflected in a moderate operating margin of 12-13% in the past three years.

The group's established track record and strong execution capabilities in EPC and BOT projects as well as healthy orders in hand will help maintain the business risk profile over the medium term.  

* Sound financial risk profile
The networth was healthy at Rs 1,864 crore and gearing strong of 0.09 time, as on March 31, 2017. The gearing is expected to be maintained at below 0.5 time over the medium term, given the moderate funding requirement in ongoing projects. On a standalone basis, ACL has adequate cash flow to meet financial requirement in other operational BOT projects. ABL will provide limited financial support to ACL in case of any large equity infusion requirement in new projects, thereby helping the group maintain its sound financial risk profile.  

ABL recently won a real estate development project near Mumbai airport.  The total estimated project cost of Rs 1200 crore would require upfront equity contribution of Rs 330 crore over the next few years. However, even with this additional funding requirement, ABL will be able to maintain gearing at around 0.5 time.

Operating income grew at a compound annual rate of 8% over fiscals 2012-17 to Rs 2030 crore in fiscal 2017. Revenue growth will be sustained over the medium term, backed by healthy orders in hand and strong execution capabilities. Debt protection metrics are comfortable and will remain steady, backed by the healthy orders and sustained profitability. The capital structure could, however, weaken if the group bids aggressively for large BOT projects. Pace of growth in the BOT portfolio as well as continued support to subsidiaries and its impact on the capital structure will, therefore, remain key rating sensitivity factors.

Weakness
* Working capital-intensive operations
Working capital requirement is inherently large in the EPC industry. In a typical power and transmission line contract, only 10-15% of the contracted amount is received in advance; 50-55% as per progress of the project; and 20% upon erection of supplied material. Furthermore, 10% of the contract value is held as retention money until the expiry of the warranty period, which further increases working capital requirement (gross current assets were over 344 days as on March 31, 2017). Working capital requirement will remain large with growing EPC orders.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Ashoka group's financial risk profile will remain sound over the medium term, backed by a healthy capital structure and comfortable debt protection metrics. The business risk profile is expected to improve with completion of existing projects and moderate revenue growth in the EPC business. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of a substantial and sustained increase in revenue and margins while the financial risk profile is maintained; or if improved performance of the operational BOT projects strengthens the business risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of substantial delays in project implementation, need to provide substantial support to group companies or significant increase in exposure to new projects necessitating sizeable equity investment, thereby affecting financial risk profile. Higher-than-expected financial support to subsidiaries will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.

About the Group

ABL, established in 1993, engineered and constructed residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings until 1997. The company won its first BOT project in 1997. Currently, operations comprise BOT road projects, EPC divisions, collection of tolls on roads and bridges owned and constructed by third parties, and manufacturing of ready-mix concrete.

ACL was set up in November 2011 as a subsidiary of ABL, which transferred seven BOT projects to the former. SBI Macquarie infused Rs 800 crore through a stake dilution of 34% in ACL, which acts as an exclusive BOT project developer for both ABL and SBI Macquarie.

In the EPC division, ABL constructs roads and bridges for its own BOT projects as well as for third parties. It also executes EPC projects in the power distribution space.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. Cr. 2045.1 1935.8
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 184.2 159.4
PAT Margins % 9.0 8.2
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.09 0.26
Interest coverage Times 6.99 6.34

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 Crore) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 2615 CRISIL A1+
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 485 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Proposed long-term bank loan facility NA NA NA 36 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Proposed short-term bank loan facility NA NA NA 3170 CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 200 CRISIL A1+
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  200  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  22-07-14  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1 
Non Convertible Debentures  LT    --  07-07-17  Withdrawal    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  22-10-14  CRISIL AA-/Stable  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  3691  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  22-07-14  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A+/Positive/ CRISIL A1 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2615  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  22-07-14  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 2615 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee 2615 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit 485 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit 485 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 36 CRISIL AA-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 36 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 3170 CRISIL A1+ Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 3170 CRISIL A1+
Total 6306 -- Total 6306 --
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
Rating Criteria for Construction Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Criteria for rating Short-Term Debt (including Commercial Paper)

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