Rating Rationale
May 26, 2020 | Mumbai
Hero Solar Energy Private Limited
'CRISIL A+/Negative' assigned to NCD
 
Rating Action
Rs.100 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL A+/Negative (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned 'CRISIL A+/Negative' rating to the Rs.100 crore proposed non-convertible debentures of Hero Solar Energy Private Limited (HSEPL; a part of the HFE Global group).

The rating factors in strong resourcefulness and likely financial and managerial support of the Hero group through Hero Future Energies Pvt Ltd (HFEPL)'s parent companies -- Bahadur Chand Investment Pvt Ltd (BCIPL) and Brijmohan Lal Om Prakash Partnership (BMOP). HFEPL's diversified renewable project portfolio and improving leverage at renewables' holding companies post recent fund infusion of US$ 150 million (around Rs 1,100 crore) by Masdar. These strengths are partially offset by residual project execution risks and inherent risks associated with renewable energy projects being executed by its subsidiaries.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of HFEPL, its two holding companies viz Hero Future Energies Asia Pte Ltd and Hero Future Energies Global Plc and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Hero Wind Energy Pvt Ltd (HWEPL) and HSEPL along with all special purpose vehicles (SPVs) established as subsidiaries of HWEPL and HSEPL for undertaking wind and solar energy projects, respectively. The consolidated entity is referred to as the HFE Global group. All entities consolidated under the HFE Global group are given in Annexure - List of entities consolidated.

CRISIL has used its parent notch-up framework to factor in the extent of support to the group from the Hero promoter group entities, including BCIPL and BMOP. These two companies together indirectly hold the entire Hero group's stake of in HFE Global 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
* Strong managerial and financial support from the Hero group
The HFE Global group is majority owned, directly or indirectly, by the promoters of the Hero group, BCIPL and BMOP. These entities draw strength from their 20.00% and 13.99% stakes, respectively, in HMC.
 
The HFE Global group leads one of the key growth initiatives (renewable energy) for the Hero group. Both BCIPL and BMOP have funded the initial equity requirement for the renewable energy assets. While, lately, the group has resorted to external funding, renewables venture remains strategically important to the Hero group and will continue to receive support. Criticality is also reflected in the group lending its core brand, Hero, to the renewables vertical and presence of the Munjal family members on the board of group companies, including HFEPL. The Munjal family members are expected to continue on the board representing majority participation.
 
CRISIL centrally factors in expectation of continued financial and managerial support that the HFE Global group receives from the Hero promoter group entities. Any change in this understanding shall be a rating sensitivity factor.
 
* Moderate financial risk profile of HFE global group with control on leverage
The HFE Global group raises short-term debt on holding companies to meet its commitments towards under-construction projects and provides need-based support to renewable SPVs. This short-term debt is deleveraged through regular equity raises and internal accrual. The HFE Global group has a policy of not leveraging beyond a total debt: equity ratio of 0.7-0.8 time. While leverage increased to over 1.0 time in September 2019 due to delay in equity raising plans; in line with earlier articulations, the HFE Global group raised USD 150 million (around Rs 1,100 crore) from Masdar in October-November 2019, which has reduced leverage to 0.6 time with holding company debt coming down to about Rs 1,500 crore and equity being increased to Rs 2,600 crore.
 
* Diverse operational portfolio
The HFE Global group benefits from a diverse operational renewable portfolio of wind capacity of over 580 megawatt (MW) in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh; and solar capacity of over 950 MW in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, Rajasthan as on March 1, 2020. The group has commissioned solar capacity of 300 MW during fiscal 2020. This has also increased share of central counterparty, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), in the operational portfolio of the group to 38% in March 2020 from 23% from March 2019.
 
The operational portfolio has long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with more than 5 distribution companies (discoms) including state discoms of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, several private industrial and commercial customers and SECI. Diversification of assets in terms of location and presence of stronger counterparties reduce associated credit risks.
 
Weaknesses
* Lower market cover for the rating category    
In assessment of BCIPL and BMOP, CRISIL has consolidated a portion of debt at the holding company levels within the HFE Global group. Market cover for the consolidated debt stands at around 3.9 times as of May 2020. The market cover of the consolidated debt has declined primarily over past 12 ' 18 months on account of impact of transition of industry to new emission norms and general consumption and business activity slowdown due to measures taken for containment of COVID-19 pandemic. CRISIL believes the cover, though improved from previous levels in March 2020 is still below desired levels and future movement in the market cover of BCIPL and BMOP will be a key monitorable.
 
* Exposure to inherent risks associated with renewable energy generation
The plant load factor (PLF) for wind and solar power projects is exposed to variability in climatic conditions, and equipment- and evacuation-related risks. Given that the sensitivity of cash flow of a wind or solar power project is the highest for the PLF, these risks could severely impair debt-servicing and free cash flow. Hence, PLF, adequacy of cash accrual, and the dividend-paying capability of the SPVs will continuously be monitored.
 
* Exposure to project risks associated with large wind and solar power capacity additions planned over the medium term
The HFE Global group currently has about 500 MW of wind and solar power projects under various stages of implementation as of May 2020, out of a total portfolio of more than 2 gigawatt. CRISIL will continue to monitor the under-implementation projects, which may be exposed to risks such as delays in land acquisition, financial closure and clearances, and power evacuation risks.
Liquidity Adequate

The HFE Global group is expected to have cash flow for debt servicing of over Rs 1,400 crore in fiscal 2021 which adequately covers its long-term debt obligation of around Rs 1,200 crore. In addition, group has cash and equivalent of more than Rs 800 crore on consolidated basis as on May 6, 2020 (including around Rs 110 crore encumbered cash at projects SPVs in form of DSRA/MMRA/Margin money for BG).
   
Liquidity at renewable holding companies is driven by estimated cash accrual of more than Rs 125 crore in fiscal 2021 against debt obligations of around Rs 1,300 crore (including Rs 470 crore repayment due in May and June 2020) in the same period. The holding companies are expected to receive cash flow against management and development services provided to underlying SPVs worth Rs 100 crore and have unencumbered cash of around Rs 100 crore as on May 6, 2020. Also, the holding companies have around Rs 430 crore cash earmarked for servicing part of the above Rs 1300 crore debt servicing in fiscal 2021. The companies are expected to draw balance equity of $30 million (around Rs 220 crore) raised at its overseas parent. Additionally, HFEPL's holding companies are in process of obtaining medium-term debt facilities to support liquidity and debt servicing of May and June 2020. HFEPL's holding companies will be able to meet these refinancing obligations over medium term given their financial flexibilities including established relationships in capital markets and support from parent entities (BCIPL and BMOP), if required.

Outlook: Negative

Market cover of BCIPL and BMOP (HFEPL's parent companies) is currently below desired levels. Negative delay reflects expectation of prolonged deferral in improvement of market cover.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
* Material improvement in parents' viz. BCIPL and BMOP, debt cover from the current.9 times
* Material improvement in the operational mix of the overall portfolio and sustained operational performance that is better than P90 level

Downward Factors
* Prolonged delay improvement of  parents' market cover from current levels of 3.9 times
* Change in support from BCIPL and BMOP.

About the Company

HSEPL, a wholly owned subsidiary of HFEPL (the green energy venture of the Hero group) is the solar project holding company of the group in India. HSEPL has commissioned/implemented solar capacity of around 900 MW in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Key Financial Indicators - HFEPL (Consolidated; CRISIL Adjusted Numbers)
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 1,132 638
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore -525 -206
PAT Margin % -46 -32
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times NM NM
Interest coverage Times 1.06* 1.06
*Adjusted for Rs.124 crore non-cash finance expenses on compulsorily convertible preference shares

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 with Outlook
NA Non-Convertible Debentures* NA NA NA 100 CRISIL A+/Negative
*Yet to be Placed
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Hero Future Energies Asia Pte Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Hero Future Energies Global Plc. Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Hiriyur) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Hero Solar Energy Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Hero Wind Energy Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Hero Rooftop Energy Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Anantapur) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Pratapgarh) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Ratlam) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Satara) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Devgarh) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Manvi) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Jaisalmer) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Kurnool) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Bhavnagar) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Piploda) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Bableshwar) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Chitradurga) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Dhar) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Tumkur) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Ludhiana) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Bhadla) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Jaipur) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Wind Power (Tuticorin) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Gulbarga) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Bellary) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Rajkot (Gujarat) Solar Energy Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Vayu Urja Bharat Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Sirsa) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Kadappa) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Clean Solar Power (Konch) Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
Waneep Solar Pvt Ltd Full Same line of business; Same management and common treasury
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
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  0.00
26-05-20 
CRISIL A+/Negative    --    --    --    --  -- 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating Criteria for Power Generation Utilities
Criteria for rating solar power projects
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
Criteria for rating entities belonging to homogenous groups
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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