Rating Rationale
July 31, 2020 | Mumbai
Greatship India Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.375 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA-/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facility of Greatship India Limited (Greatship).
 
The rating continues to reflect the company's healthy business risk profile, with a young, technologically-advanced and diverse fleet owned. Based on existing contracts, the 4 rigs and 19 support vessels would remain deployed for 90% and 80% days of fiscal 2021, respectively. Contracts for two of the four rigs of Greatship would be getting over in January and April 2021. Furthermore, expected cut in capital expenditure in the exploration and production (E&P) space because of the steep fall in crude prices, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, would keep charter rates in the lower range for new contracts. However, CRISIL expects minimal impact on the profitability of Greatship as the two rigs nearing contract expiry were anyways contracted at very low charter rates. Additionally, while the redeployment risk would be low given that the rigs are mainly used for ongoing production activities, any delay in redeployment would be a key rating sensitivity factor.
 
The financial risk profile continues to remain comfortable, driven by comfortable capital structure and very healthy liquidity. As on March 31, 2020, the gearing was 0.72 time while Rs. 1,052 crore of liquidity was maintained; sufficient to meet near-term debt obligation. Greatship is part of the Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd (GESCO) group that has a conservative risk management policy in place, wherein a stress test is conducted on a quarterly basis to ensure sufficient cash availability to meet the debt repayment in the coming three years, under a stressed earnings scenario.
 
The rating also reflects the company's strong operational and financial linkages with its parent, GESCO. Greatship continues to remain of strategic importance to its parent. These strengths are, however, partially offset by the volatility in operating performance over the medium term, caused by susceptibility of charter rates to fluctuations in crude oil prices, which are inherently volatile.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Greatship and its subsidiaries as these are in similar lines of business and have strong operational and financial linkages. Furthermore, CRISIL factors in expected operational and financial support from GESCO to Greatship, given the latter's strategic importance to the parent.
 
CRISIL has treated preference shares of Rs 379 crore (including preference dividend), provided by GESCO, as debt as these carry a fixed dividend payment and will be redeemed by fiscal 2029.

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:
* Young, technologically advanced and diverse fleet: The company has 19 offshore-support vessels (8 anchor-handling tug cum supply vessels, 4 platform supply vessels, 2 multi-purpose platform supply and support vessels and 5 remotely operated, vehicle-support vessels), and 4 jack-up rigs. It strategically maintains a young and technologically advanced fleet, which has better functionality and operating efficiency than older vessels. Average age of the offshore support vessels and rigs (around 10 years as on March 31, 2020) is significantly lower than the industry average.
 
* Strategic importance to, and financial linkages with GESCO: The parent has invested about Rs 1,700 crore (including preference shares) in Greatship as on March 31, 2020, which accounts for about 25% of GESCO's networth at consolidated level. Revenue from Greatship accounted for 22% of the parent's consolidated revenue in fiscal 2020 and the proportion is expected to remain at a similar level over the medium term. Given the strategic importance to GESCO, CRISIL believes the parent will continue to provide business, management, and financial support to Greatship.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile: Greatship's financial risk profile is driven by comfortable gearing and adequate liquidity. As on March 31, 2020, the outstanding debt in the books (including preference shares) was Rs 2,037 crore, resulting in a gearing of 0.72 time. While cash accrual could remain under some pressure over the near term, the company nonetheless has adequate cash flows and existing liquidity to meet its contractual debt obligation of Rs 170-230 crore over fiscals 2021-2023. With no capex planned in the near term, no fresh debt is expected to be availed.
 
Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility of charter rates to inherent volatility in crude oil prices: Profitability and cash flows in the offshore business depend on the offshore charter rates, which are influenced by offshore and deep-water expenditure by oil majors. Offshore and deep-water block investments, which are larger than those in onshore blocks, are highly sensitive to crude oil prices. With a slowdown in global oil and gas E&P capex, as a result of sharp fall in crude prices, demand for offshore equipment has declined. Consequently, charter rates for offshore vessels and rigs have fallen by more than 50% over the past three years. Going forward, charter rates could continue to remain under pressure, because of a steep fall in crude prices caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This could thus keep the operating margin of the company under check, as the operating cost generally remains stable.
Liquidity Strong

Greatship has adequate cash and cash equivalent of Rs 1,052 crore as on March 31, 2020. While cash accrual could remain low over the near term, the cash balance maintained would be adequate to meet its contractual debt obligation of Rs 170-230 crore over fiscals 2021-2023. Greatship has received financial support from its parent, GESCO, in the past and is expected to continue to receive support during exigencies. Furthermore, Greatship has sufficient gearing headroom to contract additional debt, if required. 

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Greatship's credit risk profile will be supported by adequate revenue visibility, healthy liquidity, and continued support from the parent.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained revival in rig charter rates to $70,000 per day and above
* Uptick in the shipping business of the parent, resulting in significant improvement in its operating performance and credit risk profile

Downward factors
* Sustained fall in rig charter rates to below $25,000 per day
* Higher-than-expected under-utilisation of vessels or rigs owned, weakening cash accrual and debt protection metrics
* Reduced parental support or deterioration in the overall credit risk profile
About the Company

Greatship was incorporated in 2002, as a wholly owned subsidiary of GESCO. Along with its subsidiaries, Greatship provides services in the offshore energy E&P domain, and has presence in the offshore oilfield logistics support services, offshore construction services and offshore drilling services segments.

GESCO, set up in 1948, is the largest private sector shipping company in India. It operates in the offshore oilfield services segment through Greatship. In the shipping business, GESCO owns 46 vessels (33 tankers and 13 dry bulk carriers) with a combined capacity of 37 lakh dead weight tonnage (as on March 31, 2020).

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Operating income Rs crore 815 892
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore -65 -8
PAT margin % -7.9 -0.9
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.72 0.78
Adjusted interest coverage Times 2.20 2.70

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs crore) Complexity Levels Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Working Capital Demand Loan@ NA NA NA 375 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
@Interchangeable between non-fund-based facilities such as bank guarantee and letter of credit
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entity Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Greatship Global Energy Services Pte. Ltd., Singapore Full Strong operational and financial linkages
Greatship Global Offshore Services Pte. Ltd., Singapore Full Strong operational and financial linkages
Greatship (UK) Ltd., United Kingdom Full Strong operational and financial linkages
Greatship Oilfield Services Ltd, India Full Strong operational and financial linkages
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  375.00  CRISIL AA-/Stable      20-06-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable  27-03-18  CRISIL AA/Negative  29-06-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  CRISIL AA/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
Working Capital Demand Loan@ 375 CRISIL AA-/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan@ 375 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Total 375 -- Total 375 --
@Interchangeable between non-fund-based facilities such as bank guarantee and letter of credit
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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