Rating Rationale
May 27, 2020 | Mumbai
Inox Wind Limited
Ratings downgraded to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.2500 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A-/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A2+')
 
Rs.200 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A2 (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A2+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of Inox Wind Limited (IWL) to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' from 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'.
 
The rating action reflects weakening of IWL's credit profile on account of sustained weak operating performance and average liquidity. IWL's performance was expected to improve in fiscal 2020 given its healthy order book. However, for the first 9 months of fiscal 2020, operating income declined 55% to Rs 571 crore from Rs 1,258 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Furthermore, operating margin weakened to 9.5% from 14.7%. Working capital cycle remains stretched with consolidated receivables estimated over Rs 1,500 crore as on March 31, 2020. Liquidity remains average because of high utilisation of bank limits and minimal unencumbered cash and equivalent. Company's performance was impacted due to delay in execution as the availability of central grid evacuation infrastructure from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) was delayed.
 
IWL expects the operating performance to improve in fiscal 2021. It has started execution of a large order from Continuum Power Trading (TN) Pvt Ltd (Continuum). IWL plans to divest stake in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) holding 50 MW of ready-to-be-commissioned windfarms. The company is also looking to monetise stake in the operations and maintenance (O&M) business. These liquidity measures and other cost optimisation initiatives are likely to improve the cash accrual and liquidity. Furthermore, removal of ceiling tariffs under the reverse auction by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which is applicable for new auctions, is expected to benefit the industry over the medium term.
 
The ratings reflect strong support from the Inox group and IWL's established market position as a leading wind turbine manufacturer. These strengths are constrained by large working capital requirement constraining liquidity and weaker-than-expected operating performance.
 
The ratings also factor in the moratorium availed by IWL on its bank facilities in accordance with the relief measures provided by the Reserve Bank of India on March 27, 2020.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of IWL and its subsidiary, Inox Wind Infrastructure Services Ltd (IWISL). Both the companies, together referred to as IWL, are in related businesses and have common promoters.
 
CRISIL has applied its group notch-up framework to factor in the strong strategic and financial support from the Inox group (which includes GFL Ltd [GFL1], Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd [GFCL; 'CRISIL AA/Negative/CRISIL A1+'], Inox Leisure Ltd ['CRISIL AA-/CRISIL A1+/Rating Watch Negative'], Inox Renewables Ltd, Inox India Pvt Ltd ['CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1'], Inox Air Products Pvt Ltd ['CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'] and their subsidiaries).

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong support from the Inox group: GFL1 holds 56.98% equity in IWL, while the promoter family holds 18.02%, thus giving the group complete control over operations. The Inox group has extended support to IWL and IWISL through GFL1 and GFCL by enabling them to raise funds through non-convertible debentures, term debt, and working capital facilities as and when required. Group entities have also supported liquidity through significant advances and inter corporate deposits. The promoters maintain their stance of financial and managerial support to IWL, given its strategic importance to the group.
 
* Established market position: IWL is a leading wind turbine manufacturer in India. It has maintained healthy market position by directly winning orders of 950 MW in the four central and two state auctions till date. The company has also received supply orders and letter of intent for another 812.7 MW of turbines. Therefore, orders of 1470.7 MW (as on December 31, 2019) support the company's market position. Ability to successfully execute these orders should result in healthy revenue and cash flow visibility for fiscals 2021 and 2022. Completion of orders and receipt of timely payments will remain key monitorables.
 
IWL has a technological collaboration with AMSC Windtech (a wholly owned subsidiary of American Superconductor Corporation [AMSC]), which provides access to the latest turbine technologies. Leveraging the technological tie-up, company plans to launch the new 3.3 MW machines with largest rotor diameter of 146 meters during fiscal 2021. Continued technological collaboration with AMSC for new products and availability of grid connectivity for 500 MW should support the company's market position.
 
Weaknesses
* Large working capital requirement impacting liquidity: Working capital cycle remains stretched with gross receivables at Rs 1,560 crore as on December 31, 2019. Working capital intensity was high under the feed-in-tariff regime (FIT) regime as there were delays in commissioning or signing of power-purchase agreements (PPAs). The situation was compounded by an abrupt halt in signing of PPAs by distribution companies after the advent of wind auctions in February 2017. While the company has taken steps to improve receivables health by allocating some of the stuck machinery against new orders under the auctions regime, receivables remain high due to deferral in commissioning on account of delay in receipt of the evacuation infrastructure.
 
Large working capital requirement and slow order execution have led to continuous pressure on liquidity.
 
CRISIL will continue to monitor IWL's ability to execute orders and timely realisation of payments leading to an improvement in cash flow.
 
* Weaker-than-expected operating performance: The regulatory transition from a FIT regime to an auction-based regime and delay in availability of central grid evacuation infrastructure from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) continued to affect IWL's operating performance in fiscal 2020. Operating performance was also hit by slow execution of new orders during the fiscal. For the first 9 months of fiscal 2020, operating income declined 55% to Rs 571 crore over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, while the operating margin weakened to 9.5% from 14.7%.
 
IWL commenced execution of the 250 MW order from Continuum in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, along with other orders from reputed clients. The company is undertaking execution of ongoing project from newly tied-up nacelle manufacturing facility at Bhuj in Gujarat, which is expected to improve profitability. Revenue growth and improvement in operating margin will remain key rating sensitivity factors.
Liquidity Adequate

IWL has unutilised bank lines and unencumbered cash equivalent of around Rs 30 crore as on March 31, 2020. Liquidity is constrained by large working capital requirement. Liquidity will be supported by expected higher cash accrual in fiscal 2021 and moderate capex as the common infrastructure has already been set up. Any improvement in working capital management post successful execution of orders and timely receipt of payments remain key monitorables.
 
The liquidity is strengthened by financial flexibility derived as part of the Inox group. The group companies have provided funds in the form of inter corporate deposits and advances.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes IWL will continue to benefit from the strong support from the Inox group. Healthy order book and its timely execution should increase the company's cash accrual.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Improvement in liquidity with increase in cash accrual and fructification of deleveraging plans
* Sustained increase in cash flow from operations with operating margin above 12% and improvement in working capital cycle
 
Downward factors
* Any material change in shareholding or diminution in support from the Inox group
* Lower cash accrual on account of fall in revenue or operating margin sustaining below 10%

About the Company

IWL was established in April 2009 under the Inox group. The company manufactures nacelles, hubs, rotor blades, and towers used to make and assemble wind turbines. It also provides associated services such as O&M of wind turbines, project execution, and infrastructure development for wind farms. The company has four units: at Una in Himachal Pradesh for nacelles and hubs; at Rohika in Gujarat for blades and towers; at Barwani in Madhya Pradesh for nacelles, hubs, blades, and towers; and a newly tied-up nacelle manufacturing facility at Bhuj in Gujarat.
 
IWL has a technical tie-up with AMSC Windtech, which provides control systems and vets suppliers for other parts from across the world.
 
For the 9 months ended December 31, 2019, operating income and reported profit after tax (PAT) were Rs 571 crore and negative Rs 87 crore, respectively, against Rs 1,258 crore and Rs 14 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 1441 468
PAT Rs crore -40 -188
PAT margin % -2.8 -40.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.67 0.54
Interest coverage Times 1.02 NM
NM - Not Meaningful

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 Letter of credit NA NA NA 1045 CRISIL A2
NA Long-term loan NA NA 31-Jan-20 130.82 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 315 CRISIL A2
NA Proposed long-term bank loan facility NA NA NA 680.48 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit* NA NA 7-365 days 38.7 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit** NA NA NA 65 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit*** NA NA NA 50 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit# NA NA NA 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit## NA NA NA 75 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit### NA NA NA 15 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 55 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 10 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 200 CRISIL A2
*Rs.38.70 crore is interchangeable with letter of credit
**Rs.65 crore is interchangeable with letter of credit/bank guarantee
***Rs.50 crore is interchangeable with letter of credit/bank guarantee
#Rs.20 crore is interchangeable with letter of credit/bank guarantee
##Rs.75 crore is interchangeable with letter of credit/bank guarantee
###Rs.15 crore is interchangeable with letter of credit
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of entities consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Inox Wind Infrastructure Services Ltd Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
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
Commercial Paper  ST  200.00  CRISIL A2      23-08-19  CRISIL A2+  23-11-18  CRISIL A2+  02-11-17  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A1+ 
            09-08-19  CRISIL A2+  16-10-18  CRISIL A2+  10-08-17  CRISIL A2+   
            30-07-19  CRISIL A2+  28-09-18  CRISIL A2+  19-07-17  CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative   
                    12-06-17  CRISIL A1+   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1140.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      23-08-19  CRISIL A-/Stable  23-11-18  CRISIL A-/Positive  02-11-17  CRISIL A-/Stable  CRISIL AA-/Negative 
            09-08-19  CRISIL A-/Stable  16-10-18  CRISIL A-/Positive  10-08-17  CRISIL A-/Negative   
            30-07-19  CRISIL A-/Stable  28-09-18  CRISIL A-/Positive  19-07-17  CRISIL AA-/Watch Negative   
                    12-06-17  CRISIL AA-/Negative   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1360.00  CRISIL A2      23-08-19  CRISIL A2+  23-11-18  CRISIL A2+  02-11-17  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A1+ 
            09-08-19  CRISIL A2+  16-10-18  CRISIL A2+  10-08-17  CRISIL A2+   
            30-07-19  CRISIL A2+  28-09-18  CRISIL A2+  19-07-17  CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative   
                    12-06-17  CRISIL A1+   
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 315 CRISIL A2 Bank Guarantee 315 CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 55 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 55 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 10 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 10 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit* 38.7 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit* 38.7 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit** 65 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit** 65 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit*** 50 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit*** 50 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit# 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit# 20 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit## 75 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit## 75 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit### 15 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit### 15 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of Credit 1045 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit 1045 CRISIL A2+
Long Term Loan 130.82 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Long Term Loan 130.82 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 680.48 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 680.48 CRISIL A-/Stable
-- 0 -- Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 500 Withdrawn
Total 2500 -- Total 3000 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Sachin Gupta
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3023
Sachin.Gupta@crisil.com


Nitesh Jain
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3329
nitesh.jain@crisil.com


Vaibhav Rungta
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
Vaibhav.Rungta@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.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are 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 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
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 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.CRISIL or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

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: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.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