Rating Rationale
September 04, 2024 | Mumbai
Alphageo (India) Limited
'CRISIL A3+' assigned to Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.75 Crore
Short Term RatingCRISIL A3+ (Assigned)
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 assigned its CRISIL A3+ rating to the short-term bank facility of Alphageo (India) Ltd (AGL; part of the Alphageo group).

 

The rating reflects the extensive experience of the promoters in the onshore seismic survey services business, the established market position of the group and its healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by volatility in cash flow owing to seasonality in operations, modest business performance and susceptibility to risks inherent in tender-based business and unfavourable government policies.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its rating, CRISIL Ratings has combined the business and financial risk profiles of AGL and its subsidiaries, Alphageo International Ltd (Dubai) and Alphageo Offshore Services Pvt Ltd. These entities are collectively referred to as the Alphageo group.

 

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 market position: The Alphageo group is the largest onshore seismic survey services provider for oil exploration and production (E&P) companies in India, with a track record of more than three decades. Strong execution capability and adoption of latest technology have ensured constant flow of orders. Healthy relationships with key clients, such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd and Oil India Ltd, will continue to support the business.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: Capital structure was strong, as reflected in large networth of Rs 283.15 crore and nil debt as on March 31, 2024. Debt protection metrics were robust, as indicated by interest coverage ratio of 59.39 times in fiscal 2024. The interest coverage ratio is expected above 20 times over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Volatility in cash flow owing to seasonal operations: Seismic data acquisition slows down during monsoons as weather conditions impede the movement of labour, material and equipment, and affect the quality of data. Hence, bulk of the revenue comes in the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal while the third quarter sees execution in small proportion. Thus, cash flow is susceptible to seasonality.

 

  • Modest business performance: Performance has moderated in the four fiscals through 2024 because of lack of tenders released by the government for seismic data collection and increased competition. Revenue declined to Rs 98.6 crore in fiscal 2024 from Rs 267 crore in fiscal 2020 and the operating margin also moderated. Though new tenders are expected to be floated in fiscal 2025, ability to win the tenders and execute orders, contributing to the topline and profitability, will remain monitorable.

 

  • Susceptibility to risks inherent in tender-based business and to government policies: Despite moderate medium-term revenue visibility, growth will remain dependent on the ability to win orders, government policies and investment decisions. Any policy change or lower spending on E&P (probably owing to lower crude prices) may impact revenue and profitability.

Liquidity: Adequate

Cash accrual is expected at Rs 16-17 crore per fiscal against nil debt obligation over the medium term. High cash and bank balance above Rs 100 crore as on March 31, 2024, supports the liquidity. Low gearing and healthy networth support financial flexibility, and will cushion liquidity in case of adverse conditions or downturns in the business.

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Upward factors:

  • Improvement in the order book with orders above Rs 600 crore, providing revenue visibility
  • Increase in revenue above Rs 300 crore and healthy profitability

 

Downward factors:

  • Net cash accrual below Rs 10 crore on account of decline in revenue or operating profit
  • Large, debt-funded capital expenditure weakening the capital structure
  • Stretched working capital cycle constraining liquidity and financial risk profile

About the Group

Incorporated in 1987, AIL provides seismic survey services to oil E&P companies. Incorporated as a private limited company, it was reconstituted as a public limited company in 1989. The company came out with its initial public offer in 1994. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. AIL is promoted by Mr Dinesh Alla and his family members and is based in Hyderabad.

 

Alphageo International Ltd is based in Dubai and undertakes seismic survey activities.

 

Alphageo Offshore Services Pvt Ltd was incorporated in April 2018 to undertake offshore and transition zone geophysical services.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the group achieved revenue and profit after tax of Rs 29.53 crore and Rs 4.02 crore, respectively, as against revenue and net loss of Rs 8.60 crore and Rs 3.23 crore, respectively, in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs crore

98.67

65.95

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

1.05

12.99

PAT margin

%

1.06

19.7

Adjusted debt / adjusted networth

Times

-

-

Interest coverage

Times

59.39

12.64

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 the instrument Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs.Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA  Proposed Bank Guarantee  NA  NA  NA  75 NA  CRISIL A3+ 

Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated

Extent of Consolidation

Rationale for Consolidation

Alphageo (India) Ltd

Full

Parent

Alphageo International Ltd (Dubai)

Full

Subsidiary and similar business

Alphageo Offshore Services Pvt Ltd

Full

Subsidiary and similar business

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT   --   -- 29-03-23 Withdrawn 02-12-22 CRISIL BBB+/Negative 30-11-21 CRISIL BBB+/Stable CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 75.0 CRISIL A3+   -- 29-03-23 Withdrawn 02-12-22 CRISIL A2 30-11-21 CRISIL A2 CRISIL A2
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Proposed Bank Guarantee 75 Not Applicable CRISIL A3+
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Upstream Oil and Gas Sector
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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