Rating Rationale
October 22, 2019 | Mumbai
ABM Knowledgeware Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.22.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2+' ratings on the bank facilities of ABM Knowledgeware Limited (ABM).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the company's established track record in the e-governance information technology (IT) services market and the healthy financial risk profile. Liquidity is strong backed by high unencumbered cash and mutual fund investments, and will remain strong, even if the company undertakes any organic or inorganic expansion. These strengths are partially offset by the moderate scale of operations, exposure to intense competition in the e-governance segment, and large working capital requirement.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the financial and business risk profiles of ABM and its subsidiaries, Instasafe Technologies Pvt Ltd (ITPL) and InstaSafe Inc (ITSI). This is because all these entities, collectively referred to as the ABM group, have a common management and strong operational and financial links.

Please refer Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established track record in the e-governance IT services market: ABM has been providing IT services to government agencies for over two decade, with special focus on e-governance. The company's stablished market position in Maharashtra has helped it successfully implement its customised in-house software products. The annual maintenance and post-implementation contracts received provide further boost to the operating margin.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is healthy, networth was over Rs 153 crore as on March 31, 2019. Even though receivables have been high over the past five years, the company does not rely on external debt due to healthy accrual generation. ABM is expected to remain debt-free over the medium term as internal accrual should sufficiently cover the incremental working capital requirement.
 
Weaknesses:
* Moderate scale amid intense competition: Despite the longstanding presence in the business, ABM's scale is moderate, revenue was around Rs 60.9 crore in fiscal 2019. Out of total order book of Rs 260 crore; ~30-40% is expected to be executed over next 2 years & rest is towards operating & maintenance contract spread across another 4-5 years; thus despite huge order book, revenues are expected to remain in range of Rs.65-80 crore. Moreover, the Indian government's encouragement for e-governance has resulted in renewed interest by IT players in the domestic market. This has led to unlisted and listed players with niche product or service profiles in various segments of the domestic IT sector, leading to intense competition.
 
* Large working capital requirement: Operations are working capital-intensive; gross current assets (GCAs), excluding cash, stood at 220 days as on March 31, 2019, driven by receivables of around 106 days and inventory, including unbilled revenue, of 76 days.

Liquidity: Strong
Liquidity is strong. Despite large working capital requirement, ABM's reliance on bank borrowings is negligible. Net cash accrual, expected at Rs 12.5-14 crore per annum over the medium term, should support liquidity in the absence of any maturing debt. Furthermore, unencumbered cash and bank balance and liquid investments were around Rs 50 crore as on September 30, 2019. Current ratio was around 18 times as on March 31, 2019.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes ABM will continue to benefit from its established market position and healthy financial risk profile, supported by negligible external debt.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factor
* Sustained revenue growth of over 25% per fiscal, with margin of over 30%, leading to higher cash accrual along with meaningful reduction in concentration of revenues from The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM)
* Improvement in the working capital cycle, with GCAs (excluding cash) improving to less than 120 days on a sustained basis
 
Downward factor
* Increase in the working capital requirement, with receivables of over 200 days, debt-funded capital expenditure or acquisition, or high dividend pay-out weakening the financial risk profile, especially liquidity
* Decline in revenue by over 15% or decline in operating margin to below 20%
* Reduction in unencumbered liquid investments/cash balance to below Rs.20 crore

About the Company

Incorporated in 1993, ABM is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. It provides IT services with a focus on e-governance in urban administration, utility, IT enabling citizen/consumer services, and enterprise resource planning practices. Mr Prakash Rane and his family members are the promoters.
 
ITPL provides cloud-based security-as-a-service solutions, which obviate the need for significant investments in hardware and make security imperatives simpler for customers.
 
ITPL has a 100% subsidiary named ITSI in Delaware, USA, especially for executing orders in the country.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31  Units 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 60.9 62.3
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 15.2 14.1
PAT margin % 32.7 29.3
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times NA NA
Interest coverage Times 61.6 57.6

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 crore)
Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 20 CRISIL A2+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 2.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
ABM Knowledgeware Ltd Full Common management and strong operational and financial links
Instasafe Technologies Pvt Ltd Full Common management and strong operational and financial links
InstaSafe Inc Full Common management and strong operational and financial links
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  2.50  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      31-10-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  31-10-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  15-07-16  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  CRISIL BBB+/Negative 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  20.00  CRISIL A2+      31-10-18  CRISIL A2+  31-10-17  CRISIL A2+  15-07-16  CRISIL A2  CRISIL A2 
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 20 CRISIL A2+ Bank Guarantee 20 CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 2.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 2.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 22.5 -- Total 22.5 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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