Rating Rationale
April 13, 2018 | Mumbai
Gail India Limited
Rating Reaffirmed ; Bonds withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.500 Crore
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.500 Crore Bond Issue  CRISIL AAA/Stable (Withdrawn)
Rs.750 Crore Bond Issue  CRISIL AAA/Stable (Withdrawn)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has withdrawn its rating on the long term debt instruments of Gail India Limited (GAIL) at the company's request and on receipt of independent confirmation of its redemption from the debenture trustee. The withdrawal is in line with CRISIL's policy on withdrawal of debt instruments. CRISIL has also reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the short-term bank facility of the company.

The ratings continue to reflect the company's leadership position in the natural gas transmission and trading business in India, its diversified business risk profile, and synergies in various business segments. The ratings also factor healthy financial risk profile because of robust capital structure and strong financial flexibility. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to the developing regulatory framework for natural gas transmission, cyclicality in the petrochemicals sector and implementation-related risks in projects.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of GAIL and its subsidiaries and associates as they are in similar businesses and have strong operational and financial linkages. CRISIL has also consolidated numbers of Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd (BCPL; 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1') to reflect the technical, managerial and financial support from GAIL to BCPL. 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Leadership position in the natural gas transmission and trading business in India
The company is the market leader in transmission and trading of natural gas in India. It has a natural gas pipeline network of over 11,000 kilometre (km) with capacity of 206 million metric standard cubic metre per day (mmscmd), with 75% market share in the gas transmission and 66% share in the gas trading volume in India as on March 31, 2017. It faces limited competition from a few companies, and should maintain its dominant position in the gas transmission and trading business in India.

* Diversified business risk profile and synergies among various business segments
GAIL has diversified into the petrochemicals, liquid hydrocarbons, and telecom segments. It has extended presence in the power, liquefied natural gas (LNG), re-gassification, city gas distribution (CGD), and E&P sectors through subsidiaries and joint venture participation. The diversified businesses support the company's credit risk profile while insulating its operating performance from major setbacks in any one business segment. CRISIL believes GAIL will continue to benefit from diverse business risk profile and integrated operations over the medium term.

* Healthy financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is healthy because of a robust capital structure with healthy debt coverage indicators (interest coverage ratio of 8.73 times and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio of 35% in fiscal 2017). The capital structure is likely to remain strong over the medium term given healthy annual cash accrual of Rs 3000-3500 crore.

The financial risk profile is also supported by healthy financial flexibility due to easy access to capital markets and benefits from majority ownership by the central government (53.95 % as on December 31, 2017).

Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to the developing regulatory framework for natural gas transmission
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), set up in 2006 under the PNGRB Act 2006, is mandated to regulate the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing, and sale of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas. GAIL's operational pipelines and tariffs are regulated by PNGRB. In fiscal 2015, PNGRB had lowered the tariff for GAIL's gas pipeline network for the Krishna-Godavari basin and for new pipelines, such as Dabhol-Bengaluru and Chainsa-Jhajjar, thus impacting profitability.

In fiscal 2017, the natural gas transmission business reported better profitability due to upward revision of tariff of six pipelines by PNGRB. The proposal on unified tariff for integrated pipelines, if accepted, will further benefit the company. Hence, changes in the regulatory framework for natural gas transmission will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.

Cyclicality in the petrochemicals sector
The petrochemicals business is cyclical as prices are linked to crude oil prices. In fiscal 2016, the segment reported EBIT loss due to reduced capacity utilisation, stabilisation cost for new capacity, and higher input LNG prices. However, the performance of the segment improved in fiscal 2017 aided by better capacity utilisation and higher sales volumes. In Q1 of fiscal 2018, the performance of this division was impacted by planned maintenance shutdown.

* Implementation related risks in projects
GAIL had planned capex of Rs. 11,965 crores over fiscals 2018 and 2019. A major portion of the capex will be towards executing the Rs 12,940 crore Jagdishpur Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline expansion project which will connect eastern India to the national gas grid. This will be funded through a mix of internal accruals, debt and capital grant from central government. The company will be exposed to project risks. Additionally, regulatory approvals required for the laying of pipelines and right of way could result in delays in commissioning of the projects.
About the Company

GAIL, a Government of India undertaking, is an integrated natural gas company in India. It owns over 11,000 km of natural gas pipelines, over 2000 km of LPG pipelines, six LPG gas-processing units, and a petrochemicals facility. In the past few years, it has participated in E&P activities. As of March 31, 2017, the company was a participant in 12 blocks. It also has joint-venture interest in Petronet LNG Ltd, Ratnagiri Gas and Power (Pvt) Ltd, and in the CGD business in several cities. Internationally, it has a presence in the citywide gas, compressed natural gas, and shale gas sectors in the US.

In first nine months of fiscal 2018, on a standalone basis, the company has reported profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 3,597 crores on revenues of Rs 38,230 crores (excluding excise duty) as against profit after tax of Rs 3,243 crores on revenues of Rs 34,696 crores.

Key Financial Indicators*
Particulars Unit 2017  2016 
Revenue Rs cr 49,078 51,805
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs cr 3,208 1,791
PAT Margins % 6.5 3.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.22 0.30
Interest coverage Times 8.73 5.80
*Consolidated with BCPL

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 Proposed non-fund-based limits NA NA NA 500 CRISIL A1+
INE129A07115 Bond issue Dec-2010 8.8% Dec 2017* 125 Withdrawn
INE129A07123 Bond issue Dec-2010 8.8% Dec 2017* 125 Withdrawn
INE129A07131 Bond issue Dec-2010 8.8% Dec 2017* 125 Withdrawn
INE129A07149 Bond issue Dec-2010 8.8% Dec 2017* 125 Withdrawn
INE129A07156 Bond issue June 2012 9.14% June 2017* 187.5
 
Withdrawn
INE129A07164 Bond issue June 2012 9.14% June 2017* 187.5 Withdrawn
INE129A07172 Bond issue June 2012 9.14% June 2017* 187.5 Withdrawn
INE129A07180 Bond issue June 2012 9.14% June 2017* 187.5 Withdrawn
*Redemption date
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Bond  LT  1250 Withdrawn    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  500  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  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
Proposed Non Fund based limits 500 CRISIL A1+ Proposed Non Fund based limits 500 CRISIL A1+
Total 500 -- Total 500 --
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 Petrochemical Industry
Rating Criteria for Upstream Oil and Gas Sector
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Entities Based on Government Support

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