Rating Rationale
April 01, 2019 | Mumbai
Leap Green Energy Private Limited
Rating downgraded to 'CRISIL B/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.31 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL B/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its ratings on bank facilities of Leap Green Energy Private Limited (Leap Green, part of Leap Green group) to 'CRISIL B/Stable' from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable'. The Leap Green group comprises Leap Green, Maple Renewable Power Pvt Ltd (Maple), Olive Ecopower Pvt Ltd (Olive), Clover Energy Pvt Ltd (Clover), Lotus Clean Power Venture Pvt Ltd (Lotus), Tulip Renewable Powertech Pvt Ltd (Tulip), Violet Green Power Pvt Ltd (Violet), Iris Ecopwer Venture Pvt Ltd (Iris), and Orchid Renewable Powertech Pvt Ltd (Orchid), Citron Ecopower Pvt Ltd (Citron) , IVY Ecoenergy Pvt Ltd (IVY) and Vanila Clean Power Pvt Ltd (Vanilla).

The rating downgrade reflects tight liquidity position in the group given instance of drawdown of DSRA, delays in debt servicing in some of the SPVs and high cash fungibility in the group companies. Also leap Green's SPVs namely (Clover, Maple, Olive, Orchid, Lotus, IRIS) have delayed in servicing debt obligations on the term loans in fiscal 2019. The delays were on account of cash flow mismatch and penal interest has also been charged by the lenders.  Instance of DSRA drawn down in February 2019 also indicate cash flows mismatch in the some of the SPVs.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Leap Green (capacity of 19.50 MW) and its subsidiaries: Maple (61.50 MW), Olive (51.55 MW), Clover (71.50 MW), Lotus (46.20 MW), Tulip (55.50 MW), Iris (42.05 MW), Violet (33.00 MW), Orchid (66.90 MW), Citron (75 MW), IVY (164MW) and Vanilla (64 MW). All these companies, collectively, referred to as the Leap Green group, operate in the wind energy and related space, have significant operational linkages, high cash fungibility, and are under a common management. Post debt-servicing, excess cash flow from the SPVs would be available for covering any shortfall across the Leap Green group and shall also available for future expansions. Furthermore, Leap Green has extended guarantees for the debt of the subsidiaries.

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
Weakness:
* Recent delays in term debt servicing due to low liquidity position and cash flow mismatch: The group SPVs have defaulted in servicing of debt obligations of one of the lenders in Feb 2019 owing to delay in realization of payments. Also on account of cash flow mismatch, DSRA has been drawn in case of another lender and the same is expected to be rebuilt over near team. The group has a cash balance of about of about Rs 39 crore as on February 2019.
 
* Moderate increase in counterparty risk: Post acquisition of new assets, Leap Green's exposure to state discoms has increased with about 54% asset servicing group captive customers and 46% catering to state discoms, which has resulted in moderate increase in counter party risk. Out of 46% exposure to state discoms, the group has about 36% assets servicing Rajasthan discom, 6% to Madhya Pradesh and about 4% to Maharashtra state discom. While the increase in counterparty risk shall be partly supported by working capital limits, however any variation in cash flow due to counterparties will remain a key monitorable.

* Delayed equity infusion along with large debt funded acquisitions over past couple of years: The group undertook large debt funded acquisition of 236 MW of Inox assets (debt of about Rs 1150 crore; Rs 785 crore of Long term debt and Rs 365 crore of Short term debt) in fiscal 2018 and 75MW of citron (debt of about Rs 300 crore) in fiscal 2017 impacting the financial risk profile and liquidity position of the group The short term debt was expected to be replaced with equity over medium term. However, the equity infusion has been delayed by over 1 year. Going forward, any further acquisition in the absence of equity infusion shall further strain the financial profile of the group. Any material increase in debt from current levels and equity infusion by the group shall remain key monitorables.

* Operating track record of Inox Assets: The group has acquired Inox Assets of about 236 MW in fiscal 2018. The assets are housed in 2 SPVs; IVY Ecoenergy Pvt Ltd and Vanila Clean Power Pvt Ltd. The assets have an average tariff of about 5.0-5.1/unit and average blended PLF of about 20% based on the wind resource study. The actual performance of the assets over medium term shall remain one of the key monitorable.

Strengths
* Well diversified portfolio, diversified counterparty and high fungibility of funds: The rating also benefits from diversification of the assets with about 54% of assets servicing group captive customers and 46% servicing distribution companies (discoms). The newly acquired Inox Assets have exposure to state discoms of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Also there had been transfer of assets between Leap Green, Iris and Orchid in fiscal 2017, however debt is being serviced by earlier SPVs though cash flow is currently being generated in other SPVs. Upstream of cash flow in form of management fees and inter corporate deposits to support the debt obligation and other expansions plans.

Inox Assets and Citron SPV are ring fenced with provision for cash surplus in the SPV being transferred to Leap Green for servicing debt obligation.
Liquidity

The group has long term debt obligations of Rs 420-450 crore (including interest and principal) each, over fiscals 2019 and 2020. Low liquidity position and delay in receipts of payments led to default in servicing of debt obligations in February 2019. Depletion of DSRA was observed in Feb 2019 owing to cash flow mismatch and the same is expected to be built over next near term. However significant delays in the realization of payments can lead to delay in the creation and replenishment of DSRA and further stress the debt servicing ability of the group.

Outlook: Stable

The stable outlook reflects weak liquidity position of Leap Green Group.
 
Downside scenario
* Lower-than-expected cash flow from the existing as well as newly acquired assets impacting DSCR and liquidity of the group
* Large debt-funded acquisition
 
Upside scenario
* Improved liquidity of the group
* Better than expected cash flow from existing as well as newly acquired assets resulting in higher DSCR
* Infusion of equity leading to significant improvement in the financial risk profile of the group.

About the Group

Leap Green, incorporated in October 2006, is a wind-power generation company with capacity of 523 MW (including SPVs) as on March 31, 2017. In December 2016, the group acquired 75 MW capacity in Tamil Nadu which is under group captive model and overall capacity increased to 523 MW. In fiscal 2018, Leap Green has completed the acquisition of Inox Assets 236 MW from IRL and IRJL and total capacity has increased to about 760 MW. JP Morgan's Asian Infrastructure & Related Resources Opportunity Fund (AIRRO) held 84% equity stake in Leap Green as on March 31, 2017, and the remaining was held by founding directors, Mr Rajeev Akshay, Mr Dev Anand V, Mr Srihari Balakrishnan, and Mr Narain Karthikeyan, directly or through their companies. Leap Green is managed by Mr  Rajeev Akshay (managing director) and Mr  Dev Anand V (executive director).

Key Financial Indicators - Consolidated
As on / for the period ended March 31   2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 404 325
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 36 0.3
PAT margins % 9.0 0.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 1.55 1.30
Interest coverage Times 2.07 1.63

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
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-May-20 31 CRISIL B/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Name of the company Type of consolidation
Leap Green Energy Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Maple Renewable Power Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Olive Ecopower Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Clover Energy Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Lotus Clean Power Venture Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Tulip Renewable Powertech Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Violet Green Power Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Iris Ecopower Venture Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Orchid Renewable Powertech Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Citron Ecopower Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
IVY Ecoenergy India Private Ltd Full consolidation
Vanilla Clean power Private Ltd Full consolidation
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  31.00  CRISIL B/Stable      27-04-18  CRISIL BB+/Stable  10-11-17  CRISIL BB-/Watch Developing  30-12-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  CRISIL A-/Stable 
            09-02-18  CRISIL BB-/Watch Developing  11-08-17  CRISIL BB-/Watch Developing  13-10-16  CRISIL BBB/Negative   
                28-04-17  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative  06-04-16  CRISIL BBB+/Stable   
                05-01-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable       
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
Term Loan 31 CRISIL B/Stable Term Loan 31 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Total 31 -- Total 31 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Power Generation Utilities
Criteria for rating wind power projects
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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