Rating Rationale
September 18, 2020 | Mumbai
L. G. Chaudhary
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.55 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+' ratings on the bank facilities of L. G. Chaudhary (LGC).
 
The ratings reflect the extensive experience of LGC's promoters in the construction industry and moderate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by average scale of operations in a highly fragmented industry, high geographical concentration, and working capital intensive operation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of promoters in the construction industry
The firm's promoters have been in the construction industry for around two decades. Also, LGC is registered as a class AA contractor in the roads and bridges segment with various government departments and local authorities. This is reflected in outstanding order book of Rs 171 crore as on August 2020, which provides visibility for next 12-18 months, thereby assuring steady revenue flow over the medium term. The ability of the company to grow its operation and maintain healthy profitability in the backdrop of COVID 19 will remain a key monitorable.
 
* Moderate financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is likely to remain comfortable over the medium term. Networth were Rs 24.7 crore as on March 31, 2020, with gearing comfortable at 0.74 time. Debt protection metrics were satisfactory too, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 2.59 times and 0.29 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020.
 
Weaknesses
* Moderate scale of operations and high geographical concentration in revenue
The civil construction industry has low entry barrier, leading to intense competition from many organized and unorganized players. The revenue of firm remain volatile. The revenue increased from Rs 89 crore in FY17 to Rs 157 crore in FY19. However the same was declined to Rs 121 crore in FY20. Further majority of revenue is derived from Gujarat, which restricts growth opportunities and exposes the firm to availability of local tenders and to changes in state government policies. Also, LGC's operates mainly in road construction, unlike other players that have presence in multiple segments such as bridges, commercial and residential, industrial construction, infrastructure.
 
* Working capital intensive operation
Operations may remain working capital intensive over the medium term. Gross current assets were sizeable at around 186 days as on March 31, 2020, driven by various deposits required for tenders and security deposits. The debtors remain moderate at 7 days and inventory at 15 days in FY20.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is adequate backed by sufficient cash accrual of over Rs 3.5 crore vis-a-vis repayment obligation of Rs 1-2 crore over the medium term; the surplus cash will be used as working capital. The fund-based limit of Rs 3.50 crore was utilised in range of 85-90% during the 12 months through March 2020.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes LGC will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of the promoters and average financial risk profile.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factors
*Significant growth in revenue while maintaining operating margin over 6.5%
*Improved working capital requirement (GCA) led to lower reliance on external borrowings
 
Downward factors
*Decline in operating margin by 200-300 bps
*Large debt funded capex and/or significant withdrawal of capital weakens financial risk profile.

About the Company

Set up in 2004 as a partnership firm by Mr L G Chaudhary and his son, Mr G M Chaudhary, Gujarat-based LGC is a Class AA civil contractor that undertakes road projects.

Key Financial Indicators (Standalone)
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs.Crore 120.51 156.76
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 2.74 3.78
PAT Margin % 2.27 2.41
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.74 0.95
Interest coverage Times 2.59 3.29

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.Crore) Complexity level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 46 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 3.5 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Apr-2021 5.5 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
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  9.00  CRISIL BB+/Stable      25-06-19  CRISIL BB+/Stable  04-07-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  22-05-17  CRISIL BB+/Stable  CRISIL BBB-/Negative 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  46.00  CRISIL A4+      25-06-19  CRISIL A4+  04-07-18  CRISIL A3  22-05-17  CRISIL A4+  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 46 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee 46 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit 3.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable Cash Credit 3.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Term Loan 5.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable Term Loan 5.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Total 55 -- Total 55 --
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
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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