Rating Rationale
June 10, 2019 | Mumbai
Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.11187 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.10387 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.200 Crore Non Convertible Debentures  CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.200 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.250 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 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and debt instruments of Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL; part of the Kalpataru group).

The ratings continue to reflect an established track record in the transmission line tower (TLT) business, and diversified revenue. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations, and susceptibility to risks arising from exposure to projects undertaken through special-purpose vehicles (SPVs) and subsidiaries.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of KPTL and its subsidiaries - JMC Projects (India) Ltd (JMC), Shree Shubham Logistics Ltd (Shubham), Amber Real Estate Ltd (Amber), and Energylink (India) Ltd (EnergyLink) - collectively referred to as the Kalpataru group. CRISIL has moderately integrated the business and financial risk profiles of the SPVs of KPTL and JMC, as the projects have been funded through debt without recourse to KPTL and JMC. However, CRISIL has factored in KPTL's commitment to the SPVs in the form of equity, cost overruns, and guarantees.

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

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established track record
The group has a track record of over three decades in the TLT business, and is one of the leading players in the segment. Order inflow in KPTL was Rs 8,340 crore during fiscal 2019; unexecuted orders increased to Rs 14,068 crore as on March 31, 2019, from Rs 12,404 crore a year earlier, providing healthy revenue visibility. Around 40% of these orders come from overseas with customers based in several countries in Asia, Africa, Central America, the Middle East, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Australia, and Europe. Benefits from the improving outlook for the transmission sector in India'driven by Government of India initiatives - should continue to support the domestic business over the medium term.

* Diversified revenue
Diversity in revenue helps reduce susceptibility to downturns in any one business. While the flagship TLT business contributes 68% to revenue, 31% comes from JMC, which executes projects in the infrastructure, industrial and commercial building, railway, and road segments. JMC had unexecuted orders of Rs 9,962 crore as of March 31, 2019, against Rs 7,616 crore a year earlier while the order inflow was healthy at Rs 5,629 crore during fiscal 2019. The remaining 1% of consolidated revenue comes from Shubham, which provides warehousing and logistics services.

JMC's operating margin improved to 11.4% in fiscal 2019, from 11.3% and 9.5%, in fiscals 2018 and 2017, respectively, due to improving efficiency and completion of loss-making legacy orders. KPTL's margin has remained healthy at around 12.5% during the same period. Healthy performance of both the entities, along with achievement of EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) breakeven in Shubham, has led to a better consolidated operating margin of 12.5% in fiscal 2019, against 12.2% and 11.4%, in fiscals 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Given the sizeable unexecuted orders in JMC and KPTL, the group should continue to benefit from its diversified revenue and maintain a healthy operating margin over the medium term.

Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations
Large working capital requirement inherent in the engineering and construction industry keeps reliance on short-term debt high. Receivables are typically over 150 days due to sizeable retention money blocked in completed projects. Creditors too remain high at around 250 days, with back-to-back payment clauses in most contracts allowing for passing on of any delay in realisations on receivables. Gross current assets have remained high at over 300 days over the past 3 fiscals.

Increase in KPTL's customer advances to Rs 1,206 crore as on March 31, 2019, from Rs 697 crore as on March 31, 2017, has precluded increase in borrowings. However, the total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio has remained around 1.5 times, on a standalone basis, over this period. Level of receivables will remain a key rating sensitivity factor, given its impact on working capital management.

* Susceptibility to risks arising from exposure to infrastructure development projects
The group remains exposed to business risks related to infrastructure development projects as it has been building infrastructure assets on its own. KPTL commissioned two power transmission projects on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) basis, and is executing two additional projects under the SPVs, Alipurduar Transmission Ltd1  and Kohima-Mariani Transmission Ltd. While the commissioned projects have been stabilised and will not require further support, projects under implementation will need fund infusion to the extent of their equity contribution requirement. The group's under-construction residential project in EnergyLink had net infusion of Rs 12 crore during fiscal 2019. JMC's four operational road projects, due to weaker-than-expected operating performance, required a net infusion of Rs 41 crore in fiscal 2019 and will need continued funding support over the medium term. However, the investments are not expected to constrain the group's cash flows and financial risk profile due to healthy performance of KPTL and JMC, coupled with improved working capital management. Nonetheless, incremental exposure in these SPVs would be a key monitorable.

KPTL is planning to hive off its stake in its transmission assets in the near term. The proceeds from the sale are likely to be utilised to reduce the group's leverage. However, the deal is yet to be finalised and will remain a key monitorable.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate. Expected cash accrual of Rs 600-900 crore should amply cover debt obligation of around Rs 300 crore, per fiscal over the medium term. The group had cash equivalents of around Rs 200 crore as on March 31, 2019. Unutilised bank lines also support liquidity. For fiscal 2019, average utilisation of KPTL's bank lines of Rs 775 crore was 55%, while that of JMC's bank lines of Rs 419 crore was 64%. 

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the business risk profile of the Kalpataru group will remain strong, backed by the steady inflow of new orders, an established market position, and a stable operating performance. The financial risk profile too should remain healthy despite investments in group SPVs and subsidiaries.

Upside scenario:
* Significant improvement in debt protection metrics due to monetisation of non-core assets, higher-than-expected profitability and limited incremental investments in group SPVs and subsidiaries

Downside scenario:
* Weakening of the financial risk profile due to a further stretch in the working capital cycle or greater support to SPVs.

About the Group

Established in 1981 by Mr Mofatraj P Munot, KPTL undertakes turnkey contracts for setting up transmission lines and substations for extra-high-voltage power transmission. It has diversified into civil contracts, railways and oil and gas pipeline construction.

JMC undertakes construction contracts for infrastructure (including bridges, flyovers, highways, and captive power plants), industrial projects, and buildings.

Shubham offers end-to-end logistical solutions in western India in the agricultural sector, spanning warehousing, cold storage and commodity-funding services, collateral management, and commodity exports.

Amber and EnergyLink are in the real estate business. Amber recently executed an information technology park project in Thane, Maharashtra, while Energylink is executing a real estate project in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Saicharan Properties Ltd.

For fiscal 2019, on a standalone basis, KPTL's profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 401 crore on net sales of Rs 7,115 crore, as against Rs 322 crore and Rs 5,779 crore, respectively, for the previous fiscal.

1One of the elements, which constitutes 65% revenue share, has commissioned in March 2019. The other is under-construction.

Key Financial Indicators (Cconsolidated; CRISIL adjusted numbers)
As on/for the period ended March 31  Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 8,483 7,170
PAT Rs crore 392 254
PAT margin % 4.6 3.5
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.58 0.59
Interest coverage Times 3.43 2.85

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
INE220B08035 Debentures 17-Mar-2017 7.90% 15-May-2020 100.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
INE220B08043 Debentures 25-May-2017 8.45% 25-May-2022 100.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
INE220B08050 Debentures 27-Sep-17 8.11% 27-Sep-22 100.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
INE220B08068 Debentures 12-Sep-18 0% 11-Mar-22 50.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
INE220B08076 Debentures 12-Sep-18 0% 12-Sep-22 50.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 250.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Cash credit# NA NA NA 775.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Letter of credit and bank guarantee NA NA NA 9190.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed letter of credit and bank guarantee NA NA NA 422.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed long term bank loan facility NA NA NA 800.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
#Rs.12.5 crores is interchangeable between fund-based and non-fund-based limits
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Name of entities Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
JMC Projects (India) Ltd Full Strong managerial, operational, and financial linkages
Shree Shubham Logistics Ltd Full Strong managerial, operational, and financial linkages
Amber Real Estate Ltd Full Strong managerial, operational, and financial linkages
Energylink (India) Ltd Full Strong managerial, operational, and financial linkages
Kalpataru Satpura Transmission Pvt Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Jhajjar KT Transco Pvt Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Alipurduar Transmission Pvt Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Kohima Mariami Transmission Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Kurukshetra Expressway Pvt. Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Vindhyachal Expressway Pvt. Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Wainganga Expressway Pvt. Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Brij Bhoomi Expressway Pvt. Ltd Partial SPV with non-recourse debt; only equity contribution considered
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  250.00  CRISIL A1+  30-05-19  CRISIL A1+  21-05-18  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
        02-04-19  CRISIL A1+  26-03-18  CRISIL A1+           
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  400.00
10-06-19 
CRISIL AA/Stable  30-05-19  CRISIL AA/Stable  21-05-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  04-09-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  10-03-16  CRISIL AA/Negative  CRISIL AA/Stable 
        02-04-19  CRISIL AA/Stable  26-03-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  04-05-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  29-01-16  CRISIL AA/Negative   
                07-02-17  CRISIL AA/Stable       
Short Term Debt  ST                      CRISIL A1+ 
Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper)  ST              04-09-17  CRISIL A1+  10-03-16  CRISIL A1+  -- 
                04-05-17  CRISIL A1+  29-01-16  CRISIL A1+   
                07-02-17  CRISIL A1+       
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1575.00  CRISIL AA/Stable  30-05-19  CRISIL AA/Stable  21-05-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  04-09-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  10-03-16  CRISIL AA/Negative  CRISIL AA/Stable 
        02-04-19  CRISIL AA/Stable  26-03-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  04-05-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  29-01-16  CRISIL AA/Negative   
                07-02-17  CRISIL AA/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  9612.00  CRISIL A1+  30-05-19  CRISIL A1+  21-05-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  04-09-17  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  10-03-16  CRISIL AA/Negative/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
        02-04-19  CRISIL A1+  26-03-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  04-05-17  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  29-01-16  CRISIL AA/Negative/ CRISIL A1+   
                07-02-17  CRISIL AA/Stable/ 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
Cash Credit# 775 CRISIL AA/Stable Cash Credit# 775 CRISIL AA/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 9190 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 9190 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Letter of Credit & Bank Guarantee 422 CRISIL A1+ Proposed Letter of Credit & Bank Guarantee 422 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 800 CRISIL AA/Stable -- 0 --
Total 11187 -- Total 10387 --
#Rs 12.5 crores is interchangeable between fund-based and non-fund-based limits
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

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