Rating Rationale
July 22, 2020 | Mumbai
Kunnel Engineers and Contractors Private Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.50 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long-term bank facility of Kunnel Engineers and Contractors Private Limited (KCEPL) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL BB+'. The short-term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A4+'

The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's expectation that the credit risk profile of the company will remain constrained by increase in working capital cycle. Gross current asset days increased from 348 days in 2019 to more than 460 days estimated in 2020 due to stretched in receivables. Receivables increased to 370 days as on March 31, 2020, from 220 days a year earlier; this will remain a key monitorable. Large working capital requirement has resulted in full bank limit utilisation.

The rating continue to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters of in the civil construction business leading to a healthy order book and it's above average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by its modest scale of operation and large working capital requirements.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of the promoters: KCEPL commenced its operations as a civil contractor in 1994. The company has a track record of executing residential and commercial projects in Kerala. The company has scaled up its operations and established a healthy track record of execution for bidding projects directly. The company has exhibited a strong track record of timely and quality execution of projects which has enabled it to bag orders from its key clients such as Prestige group.

* Above average financial risk profile: The net worth of the company is above average estimated at Rs 42.5 Cr as on March 31, 2020. The net worth has shown a continuous increasing trend over the past 10 years. It has low gearing estimated at 0.5 times as on March 31, 2020. Gearing will continue to remain low over the medium term in the absence of any large debt funded capex plan. The debt protection metrics are moderate with estimated Net Cash Accruals to Total Debt (NCATD) and interest coverage ratio of 0.15 times and 2 times respectively for fiscal 2020.

Weaknesses
* Modest scale of operation: KECPL has small scale of operations indicated by estimated operating income of Rs 52 crore in 2020. CRISIL believes that company's scale of operations will continue to remain small over the medium term. While company's current net worth is adequate for its present scale of operations, this will continue to restrict its ability to bid for larger tenders and thereby limit its growth prospects over the medium term. Company's small scale of operation also restricts its cost efficiencies.

* Large working capital requirements: Company's operations have high working capital intensity marked by Gross Current Assets (GCA) days of more than 460 days in fiscal 2020. Company typically maintains an inventory of 60 - 75 days; further its receivables are stretched at more than 350 days. Even with creditor support, company's net working capital requirements are high resulting in higher reliance of short term borrowings with full bank limit utilization over the past one year ending April 2020. CRISIL expects that company's working capital requirements will continue to remain high and stretch its financial profile over the medium term.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity will remain adequate, with annual cash accrual expected at Rs. 1.5-2 crores over the medium term, against debt obligation of Rs.0.5 crores. The bank limits were utilized fully utilized for past 12 months ended May 2020.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes that KECPL's credit risk profile will remain constrained by large working capital cycle.

Rating Sensitivity Factor
Upward factor
* Improvement in scale of operation and sustenance of operating margin
* Improvement in working capital cycle with GCA days of less than 250 days

Downward factors
* Decline in revenue and operating margin leading to net cash accruals of less than 2 crores
* Further stretch in working capital cycle.

About the Company

Incorporated in June 24, 1993, and based in Kochi (Kerala), KECPL is a contractor undertaking civil construction work for residential and commercial projects. The company was started by Mr. K A Joseph. The company's day to day operations are presently managed by the son in laws of the founder, namely - MV Antony, KJ Francis Xavier, Michael Xavier and Terrance C Titus.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 73.04 72.70
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 1.65 3.94
PAT margins % 2.25 5.42
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.49 0.42
Interest coverage Times 2.75 4.73

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon
rate (%)
Maturity date Issue
size
(Rs.Cr)
Complexity Level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 16.0 NA CRISIL BB+/Negative
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 24.0 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 10.0 NA CRISIL BB+/Negative
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  26.00  CRISIL BB+/Negative      24-04-19  CRISIL BB+/Stable  29-01-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  30-12-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ CRISIL A3  -- 
                16-01-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  24.00  CRISIL A4+      24-04-19  CRISIL A4+  29-01-18  CRISIL A3  30-12-17  CRISIL A3  -- 
                16-01-18  CRISIL A3       
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 24 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee 24 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit 16 CRISIL BB+/Negative Cash Credit 16 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 10 CRISIL BB+/Negative Proposed Non Fund based limits 10 CRISIL A4+
Total 50 -- Total 50 --
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 rating short term debt
The Rating Process

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