Rating Rationale
February 25, 2025 | Mumbai
Vinod H Patel
Long-term rating downgraded to 'Crisil BB/Stable'; Short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.69.1 Crore
Long Term RatingCrisil BB/Stable (Downgraded from 'Crisil BB+/Stable')
Short Term RatingCrisil A4+ (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 downgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Vinod H Patel (VHP) to Crisil BB/Stable’ from ‘Crisil BB+/Stable’ and has reaffirmed its ‘Crisil A4+’ rating on the short-term bank facilities.

 

The rating downgrade factors in the weakening in the business and financial risk profiles of the firm. The business risk profile was impacted in fiscal 2025 owing to slowdown in execution of ongoing contracts. Revenue has remained lower than expected and is expected below Rs 200 crore in fiscal 2025, as against Rs 280.15 crore in fiscal 2024. The financial risk profile will weaken in fiscal 2025 constrained by the expected decline in debt coverage indicators, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted networth ratios expected at less than 2 times and below 0.10 time, respectively, in fiscal 2025 (3.39 times and 0.27 time, respectively, in fiscal 2024).

 

The ratings reflect the extensive experience of the partners in the construction industry and the healthy order book of the firm, ensuring medium-term revenue visibility. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to risks inherent in tender-based business and significant geographic concentration in revenue.

Analytical Approach

Crisil Ratings has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of VHP.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the partners: The partners, Mr Vinod H Patel, Mr Meet Vinod Patel and Ms Urmila Vinod Patel, have experience of over three decades in the construction industry. They have a track record of successfully executing projects, such as construction of sewerage and water tanks, laying of pipelines and other water supply projects, which has helped the firm clock steady revenue growth. Timely execution of orders, along with stable operating profitability, will strengthen the market position.

 

  • Healthy order book: VHP had orders worth Rs 265.91 crore as on February 4, 2025. The firm has applied for three contracts worth Rs 431.53 crore, which will strengthen the order book. Getting the envisaged orders and timely execution of the order book remain key monitorables.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to risks inherent in tender-based business: Revenue and profitability entirely depend on the ability to win tenders. Because of intense competition, players have to bid aggressively to get contracts, which restricts the operating margin. Also, owing to cyclicality inherent in the construction industry, the ability to maintain profitability through operating efficiency becomes critical. In the absence of adequate new orders and slowdown in execution, revenue is expected to fall below Rs 200 crore in fiscal 2025 from Rs 280.15 crore in fiscal 2024. The firm has achieved revenue of Rs 98 crore as of January 2025.

 

  • Geographic concentration in revenue: Operations are limited to Gujarat. Major contracts received by the firm are from Gujarat Water Supply and Sewage Board for laying and commissioning of pipeline. Diversification of the order book, both geographically and customer-wise, will be key monitorable over the medium term.

Liquidity: Adequate

Expected net cash accrual of Rs 2.5-5.0 crore per fiscal will comfortably cover annual term debt obligation of Rs 0.25-0.50 crore over the medium term, and surplus will aid liquidity. Bank limit utilisation was high at 92.62% for the 12 months through January 2024.  

Outlook: Stable

Crisil Ratings believes VHP will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of the partners and their established relationships with clients.

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Upward factors

  • Steady growth in revenue and increase in operating margin leading to cash accrual above Rs 4 crore
  • Significant improvement in the financial risk profile

 

Downward factors

  • Stretched working capital cycle weakening the liquidity and financial risk profile, with gross current assets above 200 days
  • Decline in revenue or operating margin leading to cash accrual below Rs 2 crore

About the Firm

VHP was set up in 1991 as a proprietorship firm. In September 2020, the firm was reconstituted as a partnership. VHP undertakes construction of pipelines, sewerage, water tanks and other water supply projects for various government of Gujarat entities. The firm is a class AA civil contractor and is promoted by Mr Vinod Haribhai Patel.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit 

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs.Crore

280.15

249.60

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs.Crore

6.66

4.81

PAT margin

%

2.38

1.93

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.76

1.09

Interest coverage

Times

3.39

3.32

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 48.70 NA Crisil A4+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 10.00 NA Crisil BB/Stable
NA Overdraft Facility NA NA NA 9.30 NA Crisil BB/Stable
NA Proposed Non Fund based limits NA NA NA 1.10 NA Crisil A4+
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 19.3 Crisil BB/Stable   --   -- 27-12-23 Crisil BB+/Stable 25-05-22 Crisil BB+/Stable Crisil B /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*
      --   --   -- 21-12-23 Crisil BB+/Stable 29-04-22 Crisil B /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* --
      --   --   -- 19-05-23 Crisil BB+/Stable   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 49.8 Crisil A4+   --   -- 27-12-23 Crisil A4+ 25-05-22 Crisil A4+ Crisil A4 (Issuer Not Cooperating)*
      --   --   -- 21-12-23 Crisil A4+ 29-04-22 Crisil A4 (Issuer Not Cooperating)* --
      --   --   -- 19-05-23 Crisil A4+   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 27.5 Bank of Baroda Crisil A4+
Bank Guarantee 8.9 AU Small Finance Bank Limited Crisil A4+
Bank Guarantee 12.3 The Mehsana Urban Co-Op. Bank Limited Crisil A4+
Cash Credit 10 Bank of Baroda Crisil BB/Stable
Overdraft Facility 8.3 The Mehsana Urban Co-Op. Bank Limited Crisil BB/Stable
Overdraft Facility 1 AU Small Finance Bank Limited Crisil BB/Stable
Proposed Non Fund based limits 1.1 Not Applicable Crisil A4+
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Criteria for manufacturing, trading and corporate services sector (including approach for financial ratios)
Basics of Ratings (including default recognition, assessing information adequacy)

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