Rating Rationale
August 28, 2019 | Mumbai
Avantel Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.38 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3' ratings on the bank facilities of Avantel Limited (Avantel).
 
The ratings continue to reflect Avantel's established position in the satellite communication systems and radio frequency (RF) products market, supported by its promoters' extensive experience and established client relationships. The ratings also factor in the company's strong research and development (R&D) base, and robust financial risk profile because of healthy capital structure and debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by modest scale of operations, large working capital requirement, and exposure to risks inherent in tender-based business.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position backed by the promoters' extensive experience and healthy client relationships
Avantel provides customised solutions through process-oriented design and development, and manufactures wireless and satellite communication products. Established track record of over two decades in the electronics and telecom equipment business has enabled the company to offer a unique combination of embedded systems and related software used in the defence sector, as well as RF systems used in the civilian telecom segment.
 
* Experienced and qualified management and strong R&D facility
Founder and managing director, Dr A Vidyasagar, has experience of around two decades in the industry. The company derives core business strength from its in-house R&D capabilities.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile
Networth was moderate at Rs 43.04 crore while gearing was nil and total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio was low at 0.1 time, as on March 31, 2019. Interest coverage ratio was healthy at 25.8 times in fiscal 2019.
 
Weaknesses
* Large working capital requirement
Gross current assets were at 240 days as on March 31, 2019, because of moderate inventory (mainly work-in-progress) and sizeable receivables of 24 days and 120 days, respectively.
 
* Small scale of operations
Scale of operations was modest, as indicated by operating income of Rs 50.8 crore in fiscal 2019. While the company faces limited competition as it operates in the niche defence supplies segment, its modest scale limits ability to bid for projects beyond a certain size.
 
* Exposure to risk inherent in tender-based business
The defence segment accounts for over 80% of the company's revenue, exposing it to revenue concentration risk. Also, as majority of the business is tender-driven, revenue and profitability depend on the ability to bid successfully.

Liquidity: Adequate
Avantel has adequate liquidity driven by moderate net cash accrual, estimated at Rs 6-7 crore per annum, against NIL term debt obligations. Also the company has access to fund based limits of Rs.12 crore, which were not utilized over the 12 months ended July, 2019. Furthermore, it had unencumbered cash & cash equivalents of about Rs 10 crore as of March 31, 2019. CRISIL expects internal accruals, cash & cash equivalents and unutilized bank lines to be sufficient to meet its capital expenditure as well as incremental working capital requirements.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Avantel will continue to benefit from its established presence in the satellite communication systems business and the promoters' extensive industry experience.
 
Rating Sensitivity factor
Upward factor
* Operating margin sustaining above 28% along with stable revenue growth
* Significant improvement in the flow of orders and their efficient execution, strengthening the business risk profile
 
Downward factor
* Drop in operating margin to below 15% and sharp decline in revenue
* Weakening of capital structure and debt protection metrics on account of stretch in working capital cycle or large, unanticipated capital expenditure.

About the Company

Avantel was set up in 1990 in Hyderabad as a private limited company by Dr A Vidyasagar and his family members, and was reconstituted as a public limited company in 1994. The company specialises in RF/microwave subsystems, digital radios, and satellite communication systems, and offers related software solutions and services. It supplies mainly to defence establishments and allied departments in the public and private sectors. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 Units 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 50.76 51.9
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 9.51 17.3
PAT margin % 18.7 33.3
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times NA NA
Interest coverage Times 25.81 30.84

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 A3
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 12 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Inland/Import Letter of Credit NA NA NA 6 CRISIL A3
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  12.00  CRISIL BBB-/Stable      11-06-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  22-09-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  22-08-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  CRISIL BBB-/Stable 
            05-06-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  26.00  CRISIL A3      11-06-18  CRISIL A3  22-09-17  CRISIL A3  22-08-16  CRISIL A3  CRISIL A3 
            05-06-18  CRISIL A3           
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 A3 Bank Guarantee 20 CRISIL A3
Cash Credit 12 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Cash Credit 12 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Inland/Import Letter of Credit 6 CRISIL A3 Inland/Import Letter of Credit 6 CRISIL A3
Total 38 -- Total 38 --
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 Bank Loan Ratings

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