Rating Rationale
June 30, 2017 | Mumbai
NBCC (India) Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1600 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of NBCC (India) Ltd (NBCC; formerly National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited).
 
The rating continues to reflect the company's strong market position in the project management consultancy (PMC) segment and robust financial risk profile because of healthy capital structure and liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to saleability of real estate projects, and modest operating profitability.
 
CRISIL has also assessed the impact of acquisition of 50% of Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd's (HSCL's) shares in April 2017. CRISIL believes the acquisition will not have any material impact on the company's credit risk profile as HSCL's balance sheet has been restructured and now stands debt-free.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of NBCC and all subsidiaries, except NBCC RK Millen and Jamal NBCC International (PTY) Ltd as these companies did not have any transactions and losses in these companies have already been provided for by NBCC.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong market position in the PMC segment: Strong market position is underpinned by the company's status as a public works organisation (PWO), which enables it to secure orders from central and state government entities on a nomination basis rather than through competitive bidding. The company's focus on quality and execution of projects has resulted in repeat orders from customers. The order book increased to around Rs 69650 crore as on February 28, 2017, from around Rs 35000 crore as on March 31, 2016. Following the successful implementation of the Moti Bagh project, NBCC is now undertaking redevelopment of four other large projects. Redevelopment projects have relatively higher margins and the company is likely to undertake more such projects in the future. Moreover, NBCC's own funding requirement in these projects is around 1% of project cost as these projects function on a self-sustaining business model. NBCC is also designated as an implementing agency for several government schemes such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
* Robust financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is driven by healthy capital structure and liquidity. Networth is large at Rs 1695 crore (provisional) as on March 31, 2017. Cash accrual is estimated at around Rs 190 crore in fiscal 2017 against nil debt. Moreover, cash and cash equivalent of over Rs 1200 crore as on February 28, 2017, led to healthy liquidity. Despite being in the highly capital-intensive construction space, NBCC has a negative working capital cycle on account of its business model of executing PMC projects against customer advances. This also led to sizeable liquid surplus, which generates large non-operating cash flow on a regular basis.
 
Weakness
* Exposure to risks related to saleability of real estate projects: NBCC continues to face saleability and implementation risks in the real estate segment, as witnessed in the three years through fiscal 2017, during which income from real estate fell considerably. Weak demand led to slower pace of land acquisition and postponing of some slow-moving projects. The company is not expected to scale up operations in the real estate business over the medium term and will focus on completing existing projects.
 
* Modest operating profitability: Operating margin of around 6% is modest for the rating category primarily due to moderate margins in the PMC business (over 90% of total revenue) because of limited value addition. While profitability is modest, it is stable given the company's strong track record. Margin is expected to improve gradually with increased contribution from high margin redevelopment projects over the medium term.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes NBCC will continue to benefit over the medium term from healthy revenue growth and strong financial risk profile.
 
Upside scenario:
* Sustained growth in order book coupled with successful execution of orders, providing medium term revenue visibility while maintaining profitability and working capital cycle
 
Downside scenario:
* Decline in revenue and profitability
* Delay in completion/sale of real estate projects
* Weakening of working capital cycle or liquidity

About the Company

NBCC, incorporated in 1960, is a central government enterprise under the ministry of urban development and is a Schedule 'A' Navratna company. It was set up as a project management consultant to undertake civil and industrial infrastructure projects for central and state governments. Under this arrangement, projects are awarded on a nomination basis to NBCC, which it assigns to third-party contractors. NBCC also secures jobs on tender basis from government and public sector clients, and develops commercial and residential real estate projects.
 
NBCC (on consolidated basis) reported (as per IND AS) a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 355 crore on an operating income of Rs 6313 crore for fiscal 2017, vis-a-vis a PAT of Rs 289 crore on an operating income of Rs 5826 crore for fiscal 2016.

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 crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1500.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Proposed Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 100.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1600  CRISIL AA/Stable    No Rating Change  27-06-16  CRISIL AA/Stable  11-05-15  CRISIL AA-/Positive    No Rating Change  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 1500 CRISIL AA/Stable Bank Guarantee 1500 CRISIL AA/Stable
Proposed Bank Guarantee 100 CRISIL AA/Stable Proposed Bank Guarantee 100 CRISIL AA/Stable
Total 1600 -- Total 1600 --
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Entities Based on Government Support

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