Rating Rationale
May 26, 2025 | Mumbai
Solex Energy Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'Crisil BBB/Stable/Crisil A3+'; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.620.59 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.320.59 Crore)
Long Term RatingCrisil BBB/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCrisil A3+ (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on Crisil Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

Crisil Ratings has reaffirmed its Crisil BBB/Stable/Crisil A3+ ratings on the bank loan facilities of Solex Energy Limited (SEL).

 

The rating reflects SEL's extensive industry experience of the promoters, significant growth in scale with improving margins, favourable demand outlook for the solar industry, and above-average financial profile. These strengths are partially offset by its susceptibility to increasing competition and volatility in raw material prices & regulatory changes, concentrated order book and risks related to large, planned capex.

Analytical Approach

Crisil Ratings has analyzed business and financial risk profile of SEL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive industry experience of the promoters: The promoters entered into solar modules/panels business in 2007 & has since ramped up operations significantly in last few fiscals. Currently, the company has solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing capacity of 1.5 GW recently enhanced from 700 MW. Company has successfully executed more than 10000+ projects and is currently associated with 24 OEM’s, out of which 2 are international clients. It supplied more than 2 million modules till December 2024 depicting strong execution capabilities.

 

  • Significant growth in scale with improving margins: Scale of operations have increased as witnessed in estimated revenue of Rs. 665 crore in fiscal 2025 improving from Rs. 163 crore in fiscal 2023 . With recent increase in capacity from 700 MW to 1.5 GW (functional from March-25) and healthy orderbook of ~Rs. 1450 crore to be executed in 12-18 months, revenues are expected to improve significantly in fiscal 2026. With improving top line, operating margins also improved to around 10% in fiscal 2025, from 8.3% in fiscal 2023, backed by capacity expansion, tech enabled machinery, lower module rejection rates and reduced production time.

 

  • Favorable demand outlook for the solar industry: SEL will benefit from the growing emphasis on solar power in India and the long-term plans of the government to increase generation from renewable sources. Introduction of protectionist measures by the government, such as basic customs duty (BCD) of 40% and 25% on imported solar modules and solar cells, respectively, from April 2022, and implementation of Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) along with incentives for domestic players under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme increases the competitiveness of domestic modules compared with imported ones. Government-approved schemes such as Kisan Urja Suraksha Utthan Mahabhiyan, Central Public Sector Undertaking, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and rooftop scheme are also expected to drive demand. 

 

  • Above-average financial profile: The financial risk profile is above average, marked by net worth estimated at over Rs 150 crore as on March 31, 2025. With recent and expected debt-funded capex, capital structure remains moderate as reflected in estimated gearing of unity and total outside liabilities to adj tangible net worth (TOL/ANW) of 1.9 times as of March 31, 2025. With planned capex in fiscal 2026, the capital structure is expected to deteriorate but will improve in medium term with increasing accretion. Debt protection metrics are comfortable as reflected in the interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) estimated at around 5.5 times and 0.3 times, respectively, for fiscal 2025 supported by moderate profitability. Debt protection measures are expected to remain at comfortable level over medium term with steady profitability.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to increasing competition and volatility in raw material prices and regulatory changes: The company is exposed to increasing competition on account of large capacity additions being undertaken (and planned) in the domestic market and from Chinese imports. Growth also remains vulnerable to any adverse changes in government policies and tariff barriers. Further, operating margin remains vulnerable to sharp fluctuations in raw material prices, which accounts for 80-82% of the operating income. Also, as majority of the raw material is imported any sharp fluctuation in forex rates affects the company’s profitability.

 

  • Concentrated order book: Majority of the pending orderbook is concentrated with one client. Out of total orderbook of Rs. 1450 crore, around Rs. 1275 crore is from single client. It thus remains exposed to risks associated with fluctuation in demand, negotiating power shift and termination of contract. Though the company has several tie-ups with OEM’s, over the past few years, customer concentration risk is sizeable. Hence, diversification in client base remains a key rating sensitivity factor.

 

  • Risks related to planned capex: SEL is undertaking brownfield expansion to increase the production capacity from 1.5 GW to 4 GW, which is expected to be completed in 6-9 months’. Total project cost is around Rs. 200-210 crore, out of which 75% is debt funded. Timely commissioning of project without any major cost overruns and subsequent offtake of enhanced capacities will remain monitorable.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilization is moderate at around 60% for the past twelve months ended March 2025. Cash accruals are expected to be around Rs 100 crore which are sufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 18-40 crore over the medium term. Current ratio is moderate at 1.22 times on March 31, 2024. Free cash and cash equivalents of Rs. 16.92 crore as on March 31st, 25.

Outlook: Stable

Crisil Ratings believe SEL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoter, and strong execution capabilities supported by increased capacities and healthy orderbook and enquiries.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained improvement in scale of operation and sustenance of operating margin, leading to higher cash accruals
  • Improvement in financial risk profile marked by TOLANW less than 2.2 times on sustained basis.
  • Improved working capital management

 

Downward factor

  • Decline in scale of operations or operating margin, leading to cash accruals of lower than Rs 35 crore.
  • Substantial increase in its working capital requirements or higher debt funded capex, weakening its liquidity & financial profile.

About the Company

Surat based, SEL was initially set up as proprietorship firm “M/s Sun Energy Systems” in 1995, later incorporated as private limited company in 2014 and reconstituted as public limited company in 2018. SEL is engaged in manufacturing monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel modules, solar home and street lights, solar lantern, invertors, water heating systems, etc. and also provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. Its manufacturing facility is at Tadkeshwar, Mandvi, Surat (Gujarat). SEL is promoted by Mr Chetan Sureshchandra Shah (Chairman & Managing Director).
 

The company is listed on the SME Platform of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE Emerge).

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

H1 2025

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs crore

274.16

366.96

163.71

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

13.08

8.73

2.71

PAT margins

%

4.8

2.38

1.66

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

0.55

2.09

1.81

Interest coverage

Times

2.32

2.87

2.44

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 and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

Crisil Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the Crisil Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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) Complexity Levels Rating Outstanding with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 265.00 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 105.00 NA Crisil A3+
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-May-30 21.97 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 30-Sep-32 66.00 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-May-30 7.55 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 28-Feb-27 0.70 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Dec-32 4.37 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 30-Jun-32 150.00 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2025 (History) 2024  2023  2022  Start of 2022
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 515.59 Crisil BBB/Stable 08-05-25 Crisil BBB/Stable   --   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 105.0 Crisil A3+ 08-05-25 Crisil A3+   --   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 150 State Bank of India Crisil BBB/Stable
Cash Credit 60 State Bank of India Crisil BBB/Stable
Cash Credit 55 Bank of Baroda Crisil BBB/Stable
Letter of Credit 70 State Bank of India Crisil A3+
Letter of Credit 35 Bank of Baroda Crisil A3+
Term Loan 150 State Bank of India Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 4.37 Union Bank of India Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 21.97 State Bank of India Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 66 State Bank of India Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 7.55 Bank of Baroda Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 0.7 Bank of Baroda Crisil BBB/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Basics of Ratings (including default recognition, assessing information adequacy)

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