Rating Rationale
November 17, 2020 | Mumbai
Photon Energy Systems Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL BB- / Stable / CRISIL A4+ '
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.70 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BB-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Photon Energy Systems Limited (PESL) at 'CRISIL BB-/stable/CRISIL A4+'.
 
The rating continues to reflect promoters' extensive experience in the industry, and its longstanding relationships with customers and moderate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital intensive operations and susceptibility of profitability to volatility in raw material prices.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of PESL and Photon Solar Power Pvt Ltd (PSPPL). Both entities, together referred to as the Photon group, have common management, operational synergies as they are in similar businesses, and significant financial linkages.

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
Strengths: 
* Established presence in solar energy systems market aided by promoter's extensive industry experience:
Photon has been manufacturing solar water heating systems and solar photovoltaic modules for more than a decade. The company's operations span five states in India. Furthermore, to leverage upon its established market position, Photon has ventured into executing turnkey projects in the space of solar energy system and, over the medium term, plans to focus on off-grid projects as well. Photon's Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model will support its plans to increase scale of operations significantly. The promoters' extensive experience in providing end-to-end solutions, its established relationship with customers and suppliers and Photon's geographical reach will support in marketing as well as managing the business.
 
* Moderate financial risk profile:
Financial risk is marked by healthy networth, comfortable capital structure and adequate debt protection metrics.
Networth remains healthy at Rs. 46 Cr as on March 31, 2020. With steady profitability expected, networth is expected to be around Rs. 50 Cr over the medium term Capital structure is marked by gearing and TOLTNW of 0.92 times and 1.89 times as on March 31, 2020. Debt protection metrics remain adequate with interest coverage of 2.96 times for FY20.
 
Weaknesses:
* Working capital intensive operations:
Operations remain working capital intensive as indicated by gross current asset (GCA) days of 268 days as on March 31, 2020. GCA days is contributed by debtor days of 156 and inventory of 27 days. Given the nature of the business, operations are expected to remain working capital intensive.
 
* Susceptibility of turnover and margins to volatility in raw material prices and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates:
Although the long-term demand and growth prospects for the industry are bright, CRISIL believes that there could be medium-term imbalances in the demand-supply situation, with many players, especially in Asia, setting up fresh capacities, resulting in surplus solar cell production. Furthermore, the group is also exposed to fluctuations in forex rates with majority of the components being imported.
Liquidity Stretched

Liquidity profile is marked by healthy cushion between net cash accruals and repayment obligations and high bank limit utilization.
Photon group has generated cash accruals of Rs. 9.95 Cr against repayment obligations of Rs. 4.50 Cr for FY20. It is expected to generate sufficient cash accruals to meet repayment obligations over the medium term. Bank limit utilization remains high with average utilization of 98 % for the past 12 months ending June 2020. Current ratio remains healthy above 1.5 times as on March 31, 2020.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Photon group will continue to benefit from its promoters' extensive industry experience, and its longstanding customer relationships.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factor
* Revenue above Rs. 100 Cr while operating profitability is maintained above 15 %
* Moderation in bank limit utilization with improvement in working capital cycle
 
Downward factor
* Interest coverage below 2 times
* Large debt funded capital expenditure that weakens the financial risk profile
About the Group

Photon Group was set up by Mr N Purushottam Reddy and his family members in 1995. The group manufactures and assembles solar energy systems and has solar power plants. Manufacturing facility of the group is located in Hyderabad.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31*   2020 2019
Operating income Rs crore 72.5 72.7
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 4.07 4.57
PAT margins % 5.6 6.3
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.38 0.49
Interest coverage Times 4.15 2.97
*Standalone numbers of Photon Energy Systems Limited
*FY20 numbers are provisional

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. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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 % Maturity date Issue Size (Rs Crore) Complexity levels Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 6.00 NA CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 16.00 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 30.00 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Proposed long term bank loan facility NA NA NA 18.00 NA CRISIL BB-/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Photon Energy Systems Limited Full Same line of business and is a parent company of PSPPL
Photon Solar Power Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business and is a subsidiary of PESL
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  24.00  CRISIL BB-/Stable      07-08-19  CRISIL BB-/Stable  29-03-18  CRISIL B+/Stable      CRISIL B-/Stable 
            28-06-19  CRISIL BB-/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  46.00  CRISIL A4+      07-08-19  CRISIL A4+  29-03-18  CRISIL A4      CRISIL A4 
            28-06-19  CRISIL A4+           
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
 
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Name of Lender Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee Dena Bank 16 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit Dena Bank 6 CRISIL BB-/Stable
Letter of Credit Dena Bank 30 CRISIL A4+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility Not Applicable 18 CRISIL BB-/Stable

This Annexure has been updated on 2-Sep-2021 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 18-Aug-2021 received from the rated entity.

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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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