Rating Rationale
July 26, 2019 | Mumbai
R.P.P Infra Projects Limited
Ratings downgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.270 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BBB/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A3+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of R.P.P Infra Projects Limited (RPPIPL) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+' from 'CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+'.

The rating downgrade reflects continued stretch in working capital cycle and lower-than- expected cash accruals in fiscal 2019. RPPIPL's working capital cycle continued to remain stretched with gross current assets of ~300 days as on March 31, 2019, against earlier expectation of improvement to around 250 days. It is expected to remain at similar levels over the medium term. This coupled with lower-than-expected cash accruals and non-commensurate increase in limits, led to stretch in liquidity evident from full utilization of bank lines over the past 12 months, with instances of overdrawals for few days.  Moreover, withdrawal of committed unsecured loans by promoters also impacted the company's liquidity. 

The ratings continue to reflect the promoters' extensive experience in the construction industry, order book providing revenue visibility, and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations, and exposure to intense competition in the fragmented industry and to risks inherent in tender-based business.

Analytical Approach

Unsecured loans of Rs.41.30 crore as on March 31, 2019, from promoters have been treated as neither debt nor equity as they are likely to be maintained in the balance sheet over the medium term.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Promoters' extensive experience in the civil construction business:
RPPIPL benefits from its promoters' experience of over three decades in the civil construction industry and their understanding of the dynamics of the business. RPPIPL has diversified its presence into various sectors such as roads, irrigation, building, and substation, leading to steady increase in revenue over last four fiscals. Orders of Rs 1,944 crore as on June 15, 2019, to be executed in 24-36 months provide strong revenue visibility.

* Strong financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is supported by strong networth of Rs 245.93 crore, and comfortable total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio of 1.37 times, as on March 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics were adequate, reflected in interest coverage of 3.03 times and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio of 0.31 time for fiscal 2019. Financial profile is expected to remain at similar level over the medium term.

Weaknesses:
* Working capital-intensive operations:
RPPIPL had gross current assets of ~300 days as on March 31, 2019, because of high inventory of 134 days and stretched receivables of 103 days. Also, need to provide earnest money, security deposit and margin money for bank guarantee, increases working capital requirement, leading to full utilisation of bank line. With steady revenue growth in fiscal 2020, incremental working capital requirement will be high and its efficient management will remain critical.

* Exposure to intense competition in fragmented industry and to risks inherent in tender-based business: As RPPIPL's sales are predominantly tender-based, revenue depends on ability to bid successfully for tenders. Competition from major players, as well as many local and small unorganised players, constrains profitability. Moreover, about 40 per cent of its orders are from projects in Tamil Nadu, which makes the company a regional player, susceptible to slowdown in tenders for that region or changes in the state government's policies.
Liquidity

RPPIPL has stretched liquidity indicated by full utilization of bank lines on account of high working capital intensity.  The fund based limits of Rs.88.47 crore, is fully utilised over the 12 months ended May 2019, with instances of overdrawals. Hence, it will need additional bank lines to fund its incremental working capital requirements. The company generated cash accruals of Rs. 30 crores in fiscal 2019 and is expected to generate cash accruals of about Rs.35-40 crore in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021, against long term repayment obligations of Rs.17.48 crore in fiscal 2020 and Rs 17.03 crore in fiscal 2021.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes RPPIPL will continue to benefit from its promoters' extensive industry experience and financial profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if liquidity improves, supported by increase in accruals and improvement in working capital cycle, along with sustained capital structure. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a significant decline in cash accrual, or further stretch in working capital cycle, weakens the financial risk profile and liquidity.

About the Company

RPPIPL was set up in 1995 as a private limited company - R.P.P Construction Private Limited. The company is managed by Mr. R. P. Arulsundaram and his wife Mrs. A Nithya. The company undertakes civil construction projects for roads, bridges, irrigation, buildings and power projects for primarily government departments. The company is listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs. Cr. 584.27 500.34
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. 24.35 13.50
PAT Margins % 4.2 2.7
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.37 0.41
Interest coverage Times 3.03 3.73

Status of non cooperation with previous CRA:
Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA: R.P.P Infra Projects Limited has not cooperated with Brickworks Ratings which has classified it as issuer not cooperative vide release dated January 22, 2019. The reason provided by Brickworks Ratings is non-furnishing of information for monitoring of ratings.

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 204.49 CRISIL A4+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 58.47 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Jan-2022 5 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Proposed  Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 2.04 CRISIL A4+
 
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  63.47  CRISIL BB+/Stable      11-09-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable          Suspended 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  206.53  CRISIL A4+      11-09-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+          Suspended 
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 204.49 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee 204.49 CRISIL A3+
Cash Credit 58.47 CRISIL BB+/Stable Cash Credit 58.47 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Long Term Loan 5 CRISIL BB+/Stable Long Term Loan 5 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Proposed Bank Guarantee 2.04 CRISIL A4+ Proposed Bank Guarantee 2.04 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Total 270 -- Total 270 --
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
The Rating Process

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