Rating Rationale
October 09, 2023 | Mumbai
Kapston Services Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL BBB/Negative/CRISIL A3+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.140 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB/Negative (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A3+ (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL BBB/Negative/CRISIL A3+ratings on the bank loan facilities of Kapston Services Ltd (KSL).

 

The outlook remains ‘Negative on account of the average operating performance of the company resulting in subdued debt protection metrics. However, revenue is expected to increase in the ongoing fiscal compared to Rs 399 crore in fiscal 2023. The operating margin is expected to improve to around 5% as the new vertical, contract staffing expected to continue the growth trajectory.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the experience of the management of KSL in the facilities management and security services industry, the company’s established track record of operations and increasing scale of operations. These strengths are partially offset by modest operating margin, average financial risk profile and large working capital requirement.

Key rating drivers and detailed description

Strengths:

  • Experienced management: The promoter, Mr Kodali Srikanth, has experience of over a decade in the facilities management and security services business. Mr Chereddi Ramachandra Naidu, the chairman, takes care of the human resource management, industrial relations, strategy and project management. They are supported by the other directors, Mr Naveen Nandigam and Ms Doddapaneni Kranti Kiran.

 

  • Established track record of operations: KSL is a proven brand in providing integrated facility management (IFM) and security services to diversified clients. The company started providing contract staffing solutions to general and information technology (IT) companies in fiscal 2020. The staffing segment witnessed significant growth in the first two years and achieved revenue of Rs 118 crore in fiscal 2023. Revenue from the segment is expected at Rs 180-190 crore for fiscal 2024.

 

  • Improving scale of operations: Scale of operations has improved significantly, as reflected in revenue of Rs 399 crore in fiscal 2023, owing to increased contribution from the staffing business and the IFM vertical. Revenue was around Rs 113 crore for the first three months of fiscal 2024 and is expected around Rs 500 crore for the full fiscal. The company continues to add customers in the staffing business, and contact staffing is expected to contribute revenue of above Rs 200 crore from fiscal 2025.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Moderation in the margin: Margin moderated to 3.4% in fiscal 2023 from 4.7% in fiscal 2022 and was 4.7% for the first three months of fiscal 2024. Higher fixed and employee costs have led to moderation in the margin. Improvement in the margin on account of incremental revenue will remain a key monitorable.

 

  • Average financial risk profile: The financial risk profile has been constrained by high reliance on the working capital limit. The capital structure has moderated, with gearing increasing to 1.54 times as on March 31, 2023, from 1.49 time a year earlier. Debt protection metrics have moderated as well, with interest coverage at 1.52 times in fiscal 2023 vis-à-vis 1.91 times in fiscal 2022. Reliance on the working capital limit is expected to continue.

 

  • Large working capital requirement: Operations will remain working capital intensive, especially in projects where the company follows the pay-and-collect model. Consequently, receivables will remain high resulting in high reliance on working capital borrowings

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilisation was moderate at 73%, on average, for the 12 months through June 2023. Cash accrual is expected over Rs 12 crore against term debt obligation of Rs 4-5 crore over the medium term and will cushion liquidity. Current ratio was healthy at 1.43 times on March 31, 2023.

Outlook: Negative

The financial risk profile will remain average and operating performance a key monitorable.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Significant growth in revenue to Rs 450-500 crore and improvement in the operating margin, resulting in healthy net cash accrual
  • Improvement in the financial risk profile with interest coverage above 3 times

 

Downward factors:

  • Weakening in debt protection metrics, with interest coverage less than 1.5 times
  • Delay in collection of receivables or any large dividend payment impacting liquidity
  • Deterioration in the capital structure, with gearing over 2 times

About the company

Incorporated in 2009, KSL (formerly, Kapston Facilities Management Ltd) is ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001:2007 certified for providing IFM services for security, housekeeping, M&E (electro-mechanical) and landscaping (horticulture) and allied services. It is listed on the National Stock Exchange. Mr Kodali Srikanth is the promoter of the company.

Key financial indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

399.07

272.39

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

5.07

2.47

PAT margin

%

1.27

0.91

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

1.54

1.49

Interest coverage

Times

1.73

1.97

Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA:

KSL has not cooperated with Acuite Ratings and Research Ltd, which has classified the company as non-cooperative through a rationale dated April 22, 2021, on account of non-furnishing of information for monitoring of ratings.

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of instrument(s)

ISIN Name of the
instrument
Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs. Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 5 NA CRISIL A3+
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 28 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 23.71 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 10 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 30 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 28 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Long term loan NA NA Mar-25 3.34 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Long term loan NA NA Mar-25 2.61 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Long term loan NA NA Mar-25 4.34 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Working capital demand loan NA NA NA 5 NA CRISIL BBB/Negative
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 135.0 CRISIL BBB/Negative 08-03-23 CRISIL A3+ / CRISIL BBB/Negative 31-03-22 CRISIL BBB/Stable 12-01-21 CRISIL BBB/Stable   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 5.0 CRISIL A3+ 08-03-23 CRISIL A3+ 31-03-22 CRISIL A3+ 12-01-21 CRISIL A3+   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 5 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A3+
Cash Credit 28 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Cash Credit 23.71 IndusInd Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Cash Credit 10 Bandhan Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Cash Credit 30 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Cash Credit 28 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Long Term Loan 3.34 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Long Term Loan 2.61 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Long Term Loan 4.34 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Working Capital Demand Loan 5 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Negative
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria on Financial risk framework for manufacturing and services sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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