Rating Rationale
February 14, 2019 | Mumbai
Total Transport Systems Limited
Long term rating downgraded to 'CRISIL BB/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.44 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reassigned)
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 Total Transport Systems Limited (TTSL) to 'CRISIL BB/Stable' from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' and reassigned its rating on the short-term bank facilities to 'CRISIL A4+'.
 
The downgrade reflects deterioration in working capital cycle, as reflected in high gross current asset (GCA) days of 90 days as on December 2018 as against 59 days in fiscal 2017, on account of increase in debtor days to 89 days from previous levels of 45-60 days, leading to pressure on liquidity. High bank limit utilization means no cushion in liquidity is available if working capital cycle stretched further.
 
The rating continues to reflect TTSL's moderate business risk profile marked by established presence of the company in the freight forwarding industry and strong customer base developed under the aegis of an experienced management. The company also has a moderately conservative capital structure, moderate debt protection metrics; it is expected to improve its cash accruals driven by stabilization of its high-margin air cargo transport business. These rating strengths are partially offset by TTSL's stretched liquidity on account of moderate scale of operations, and exposure to intense competition and to variations in the economic cycles.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established presence in freight forwarding industry:
TTSL was incorporated in 1994 and has been engaged in freight forwarding for about 20 years.  The company benefits from promoters experience in the industry and their business relationship with major carriers. The company is a non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) with 18 offices all over India and one office each in Nepal & Bhutan. TTSL has positioned itself as end-to-end logistics solutions provider offering services such as consolidation of LCL cargo, FCL and de-consolidation. In freight forwarding business, the company handles 1500-2000 containers per month pan India. CRISIL believes that company will continue to benefit from the established presence of the company in freight forwarding business over the medium term.
 
* Moderate financial risk profile:
The company has moderate financial risk profile marked by comfortable networth and debt protection metrics. The net worth of the company has improved to Rs. 37.7 cr in fiscal 18 from Rs. 12.2 cr in fiscal 17. Also its debt protection metrics is comfortable with interest coverage and NCATD of 5.72 times and 0.58 times as on March 31, 2018 respectively. In the absence of any debt driven capex plans, the debt protection metrics are expected to improve over the medium term. The company's gearing at 0.41 time.
 
Weakness:
* Exposure to intense competition in freight forwarding and logistics industry:
TTSL operates in the highly competitive and fragmented logistics industry. The entry barriers in the business are low, and numerous players operate in the industry. Large players provide end to end logistics solutions to their customers, while small players restrict themselves to certain segments of the industry. The company has strong and established relationship with its customers.
 
* Exposure to variations in the economic cycles:
The key segment of the company, freight forwarding is directly linked to India's global export and import (EXIM) position. Any adverse economic cycle will negatively affect the performance of the freight forwarders. Volumes have dropped significantly and the freight rates fell to their lowest levels in the past. As the country integrates itself with the rest of the world, the globalization of trade will drive the growth in the EXIM market, thus benefiting the key business segments of the company. CRISIL believes that TTSL's revenue and profitability will remain exposed to variations in economic cycles.
Liquidity

* High bank limit utilisation
Bank limits are fully utilized for the past twelve months ended December, 2018. CRISIL believes that bank limit utilization is expected to remain high on account of large working capital requirement.
 
* Cash accrual sufficient to meet debt obligation 
Cash accrual are expected to be over Rs 8-9 crore which are sufficient against no major term debt obligations over the medium term. In addition, it will be act as cushion to the liquidity of the company.
 
* Healthy current ratio
Current ratio is healthy at 2.21 times as on March 31, 2018.
 
* Support from promoters in form of infusion of unsecured loan or equity
The promoters are likely to extend support in the form of equity and unsecured loans to the company to meet its working capital requirements and repayment obligations

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that TTSL will continue to benefit from the experience of its promoters in the logistics industry, and from its financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to Positive if there is substantial improvement in the company's scale of operations and operating margins leading to improvement in cash accruals and alleviation in pressure on liquidity. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to Negative in case the company operating margin declines, or its capital structure weakens because of large, debt-funded capital expenditure.

About the Company

TTSL was set up in 1994. It is a logistics service provider involved in MTO (multimodal transport operations). It provides logistics services such as consolidation of LCL (less than container load), FCL (full container load), and de-consolidation.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2018 2017
Operating income Rs crore 207.98 199.65
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 8.02 5.59
PAT margins % 3.86 2.80
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.41 1.71
Interest coverage Times 5.54 3.13

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 16.25 CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Dec-2019 1.50 CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 11.24 CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 15.01 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  28.99  CRISIL BB/Stable          29-11-17  CRISIL BB+/Stable  26-08-16  CRISIL BB+/Negative  CRISIL BBB-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  15.01  CRISIL A4+    --    --    --  26-08-16  CRISIL A4+  CRISIL A3 
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 15.01 CRISIL A4+ Cash Credit 10 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Cash Credit 16.25 CRISIL BB/Stable Proposed Cash Credit Limit 31 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 11.24 CRISIL BB/Stable Term Loan 3 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Term Loan 1.5 CRISIL BB/Stable -- 0 --
Total 44 -- Total 44 --
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 Commercial Vehicle Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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