Rating Rationale
July 30, 2019 | Mumbai
Avaada Solarise Energy Private Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.890 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Long Term Rating Provisional CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable^
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
^A prefix of 'Provisional' indicates that the rating centrally factors in the strength of specific structures, and will be supported by certain critical documentation by the issuer, without which the rating would either have been different or not assigned ab initio. This is in compliance with a May 6, 2015 directive by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, 'Standardising the term, rating symbol, and manner of disclosure with regards to conditional/ provisional/ in-principle ratings assigned by credit rating agencies.
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Avaada Solarise Energy Private limited (ASoEPL) continues to reflect low offtake risk due to revenue visibility from long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), low implementation risk due to infrastructural benefits of being located in solar park and experienced promoter. These rating strengths are partially offset by inherent project execution risks, though partly offset being part of a solar park and dependence on favourable climatic conditions for power generation.
 
On July 25, 2019, CRISIL had assigned its 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable' rating to the long-term bank facility of ASoEPL. CRISIL had also assigned its 'Provisional CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable' rating to the letter of credit (LC) facility of ASoEPL based on the proposed unconditional and irrevocable letter of comfort (LOC) of REC Ltd (REC ltd; rated 'CRISIL AAA/Stable '). The LOC will be valid for 15 months. The Provisional rating will be converted after receiving the final documents in line with the structure submitted to CRISIL.
 
For assigning Provisional rating, CRISIL has seen draft of LOC document shared by company. In addition, CRISIL has relied on management representations highlighted in subsequent sections below.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating on the LC, CRISIL has applied its criteria on rating instruments backed by guarantees.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Revenue visibility from long term PPA with BESCOM: Company has signed a 25-year PPA with BESCOM wherein it will supply entire power generated from its 150 MW (AC) solar plant at a fixed tariff (Rs 2.92 per unit). The presence of long term agreement mitigates off take risk post commissioning of the project.
 
* Low implementation risk due to infrastructural benefits of being located in solar park: The project is located in Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka. Being a part of a solar park relatively mitigates specific implementation risks related to land acquisition and transmission evacuation infrastructure. In the current project, the land is already acquired, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) is already tied up with Avaada Energy pvt ltd, parent company and the transmission and evacuation infrastructure is also complete.
 
* Experienced promoter in renewable industry:
Avaada group is promoted by Mr Vineet Mittal. He was also co-founder and one of the promoter of Welspun Energy Pvt Ltd, and is experienced in timely commissioning of more than 1 Giga Watt (GW) of renewable projects. In 2017, Welspun Energy was acquired by Tata Power for the consideration of $1.4 billion.  
 
* Proposed LC to be backed by unconditional and irrevocable LOC from REC: The rating on ASoEPL's letter of credit is based on the strength of the unconditional and irrevocable LOC which will be provided by REC ltd. The LOC will cover the entire amount of the instrument, and their tenure will be co-terminus. As per the draft LOC, REC Ltd will be the primary obligor, and undertake to make all guaranteed payments without any deductions.
 
Weaknesses
* Inherent project execution risk: Scheduled commercial operations date of the project is in December 2019, according to terms and conditions of the PPA. However, the presence of clauses such as liquidated damages and reduction in tariff to 80% of the applicable tariff in case of a delay in project commissioning pose major risks during the construction phase.
 
* Modest debt servicing coverage ratio (DSCR) post commissioning: Project is expected to have modest DSCR post commissioning of around 1.2x times. Additionally, company will have only 1 quarter of DSRA post commissioning and 2nd quarter DSRA shall be created within 12 months of COD. Hence, liquidity may remain constraint at the start of operation.
 
* Dependence on favourable climatic conditions for power generation: Generation of solar power depends on favourable climatic conditions and is exposed to inherent risks associated with solar radiation in the long term. Variation in solar intensity could reduce operating PLF, thus impairing debt-servicing ability.
Liquidity

Liquidity is expected to be adequate driven by expected net cash accruals of around Rs 7 crore in fiscal 2020 (scheduled commercial operation date (SCOD) in December 2019) and ~Rs 27 crore in fiscal 2021. The company has no debt repayments in fiscal 2020 and ~Rs 8.2 crore in fiscal 2021.
 
Key Management representations
* LOC will be provided by REC Ltd and LC and LOC will be co-terminus
* LC will be fully hedged from day 1 for its full maturity & quantum
* Letter of comfort (LOC) guarantee amount will be decided such that LC amount (in USD) times hedged rate is less than or equal to LOC amount.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes ASoEPL will benefit over medium term from its limited offtake risk because of the long term PPA and experience of the promoters in timely completion of project.
 
Upside scenario
* Timely completion of project within cost estimates and stabilisation of generation
 
Downside scenario
* Any cost & time overrun for the project
* PLF performance below P90 post commissioning

About the Company

ASoEPL is a special-purpose vehicle owned by Avaada Energy Private Limited (AEPL) (erstwhile Giriraj Renewable Pvt Ltd). It is currently setting up a solar power plant with a capacity of 150 MW in Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka. The total estimated project cost is INR 685 crore which is expected to be funded in a debt to equity ratio of about 3:1. ASoEPL is expected to achieve commercial operations in December 2019. The project is being set up on a Power Purchase Agreement signed with Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) at a tariff of Rs 2.92/Kwh for a period of 25 years. Based on the lender's independent study, P90 PLF (AC) estimates is 24.7%.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore NA NA
Profit after tax Rs crore NA NA
PAT margin % NA NA
Adjusted debt/ Adjusted networth Times NA NA
Interest coverage Times NA NA
*Project in under-construction phase

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 the instrument Date of allotment Coupon Rate Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs crore) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Term Loan NA NA Sep-2040 514.0 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Proposed Letter of Credit NA NA NA 340.0 Provisional CRISIL AAA/(SO)/Stable
NA Proposed working capital facility NA NA NA 13.0 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Proposed Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 22.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Proposed Term Loan NA NA NA 0.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
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  527.50  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  25-07-19  CRISIL BBB-/Stable    --    --    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  362.50  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ Provisional CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable  25-07-19  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ Provisional CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable    --    --    --  -- 
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
Proposed Bank Guarantee 22.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Bank Guarantee 22.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Proposed Letter of Credit 340 Provisional CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable Proposed Letter of Credit 340 Provisional CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable
Proposed Term Loan .5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Proposed Term Loan .5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 13 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Proposed Working Capital Facility 13 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Term Loan 514 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Term Loan 514 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Total 890 -- Total 890 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for rating instruments backed by guarantees
Criteria for rating solar power projects
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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