Rating Rationale
April 10, 2017 | Mumbai
Tripura Natural Gas Company Limited
Issuer not cooperating, based on best-available information; Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.17 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating; Rating Reaffirmed)*
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
 
Please note that the rating(s) are based on best available information with the credit rating agency: the entity whose debt is being published via this press release did not provide the requisite information needed to conduct the rating exercise and is therefore classified as 'non cooperative'.

Non Cooperation by Issuer
CRISIL has been consistently following up with Tripura Natural Gas Company Ltd (TNGCL) for information through letters and emails, apart from telephonic communication. CRISIL had, through a director letter dated November 21, 2016, and senior director letter dated December 22, 2016 informed the company of the extant guidelines and requested for cooperation. However, the issuer remains non-cooperative.

'The investors, lenders and all other market participants should exercise due caution while using the rating assigned/reviewed with the suffix 'ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'. These ratings lack a forward looking component as it is arrived at without any management interaction and is based on best available or limited or dated information on the company.
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its rating on the long-term bank loan facility of TNGCL at 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable'.

The rating continues to reflect TNGCL's monopoly in the distribution of compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) in Tripura, and its steady and assured supply of gas, backed by an agreement with its key promoter, GAIL India Ltd (GAIL; rated 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), and the managerial and technical support that it receives from GAIL. These strengths are partially offset by the geographical concentration in the company's revenue profile.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Monopoly in distribution of CNG and PNG in Tripura: TNGCL is the sole distributor of CNG in Tripura and also has sole distribution rights to supply PNG to customers whose demand is below 50,000 standard cubic metres per day (SCMD). Thus, TNGCL is well-placed to tap the expected growth in the gas sector. The company has undertaken aggressive network expansion programmes by identifying areas to set up integrated networks, which will involve CNG stations, gas distribution lines, and grids for setting up the PNG network.
 
* Steady and assured gas supply, backed by GAIL's managerial and technical support: TNGCL has access to low-cost natural gas, which strengthens its business risk profile. The company has secured an allocation of 1.3 million SCMD of gas under the administered price mechanism from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, of which it is currently utilising 96,000 SCMD. Also, TNGCL is a JV between GAIL (49%), Tripura Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (25.5%), and AGCL (25.5%). GAIL is among India's leading players in the oil and gas segment, with strong business and financial risk profiles. Also, AGCL is Assam's leading player in gas distribution.
 
Weakness
* Exposure to risks related to geographical concentration thereby constraining revenue profile: Incorporated in 1990, TNGCL has expanded operations and achieved revenue of Rs.56.94 crore and net profit of Rs.13.97 crore in fiscal 2016. TNGCL has not yet reached mature phase of operations and needs to ramp up its network. Moreover, operations are concentrated mainly in Tripura and primarily around Agartala. Since Tripura is a sparsely populated state and with restricted industrial activity, the scope for significant revenue growth is limited. The resilience of a player with larger scale of operations to external shocks is significantly higher than that of a player, such as TNGCL, with smaller operations. Business risk profile should remain constrained over the medium term by geographical concentration in revenue profile.
 
Outlook: Stable 
CRISIL believes TNGCL will maintain its business profile over the medium term, backed by secure gas supplies and its monopoly in CNG and PNG distribution in Tripura. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if revenue increases and financial risk profile and profitability is stable. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if low network tariff and compression charges, or delays in realisation of receivables exerting pressure on operating margin weakens business risk profile. Large unexpected debt-funded capex weakening financial risk profile, may also result in a 'Negative' outlook.

About the Company

TNGCL is a joint venture between GAIL (49%), Tripura Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (25.5%), and Assam Gas Company Ltd (25.5%). The company, incorporated in July 1990, distributes CNG and PNG in Agartala (Tripura).
 
In fiscal 2016, net profit was Rs 13.97 crore (Rs 7.85 crore in fiscal 2015) on net sales of Rs 56.61 crore (Rs 49.44 crore).

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 Term Loan NA NA 31-Mar-2020 17 CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  17-08-15  CRISIL BBB+/Stable    No Rating Change  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Term Loan 17 CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ Issuer Not Cooperating Term Loan 17 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 17 -- Total 17 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Framework for Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Upstream Oil and Gas Sector

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