Rating Rationale
August 20, 2019 | Mumbai
L&T Shipbuilding Limited
Long term bank rating continues on 'Watch Positive'  
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.3000 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA- (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.1331 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL's rating on the long-term bank facilities of L&T Shipbuilding Limited (LTSB) continue to be on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications'. CRISIL has reaffirmed its rating on the short-term bank facilities of LTSB at 'CRISIL A1+' and the non-convertible debentures guaranteed by Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T; rated 'CRISIL AAA/FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') at 'CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable'.

CRISIL had placed the long-term bank facilities' rating on watch following the announcement of a merger of LTSB with L&T; the merger is expected to improve the credit risk profile of LTSB. The scheme of amalgamation, filed in July 2019, is pending regulatory and NCLT approvals. Further, the approvals from L&T's shareholders, LTSB's debenture holders and creditors is also awaited. The merger is already approved by the board of directors of L&T and bankers of both L&T and LTSB. The ratings will be removed from watch and an appropriate rating action taken once there is further clarity on the merger.

The ratings on the bank facilities continue to factor in strong financial, technical, and management support from L&T and the high strategic importance to L&T, given the importance of the defence sector in the latter's growth plans. These strengths are partially offset by slower-than-expected ramp-up in revenue, resulting in continued losses.

The rating on the non-convertible debentures continues to reflect the unconditional and irrevocable guarantee from L&T, and the trustee-administered payment mechanism. As per this mechanism, the trustee can invoke the guarantee if LTSB does not deposit the requisite amount in a designated account two business days before the due date. On invocation of the guarantee, L&T will fund the account one business day before the due date, ensuring payment is made on time. The rating thus reflects the credit strength of the guarantor, L&T.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings on the bank facilities, CRISIL has applied its parent notch-up framework to factor in the extent of distress support available from the parent. CRISIL has treated preference shares subscribed by L&T as 100% equity because the shares have a long tenure with residual maturity of 15 years.

For arriving at the ratings on the non-convertible debentures, CRISIL has applied its criteria on rating instruments backed by guarantees.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Strong financial, technical, and management support from, and high strategic importance to, L&T
The company is likely to benefit from the healthy growth prospects for the ship-building industry on account of various government initiatives to make defence vessels in India. Furthermore, L&T has a track record of supporting LTSB and has subscribed to preference shares of Rs 2,478.2 crore in addition to providing unsecured loans of Rs 454.5 crore, as of March 31, 2019. CRISIL believes the support from L&T will continue on account of the strategic importance of the subsidiary.
 
The company derives significant benefits from L&T's 100 per cent equity ownership, and financial support in the form of regular infusions to support debt repayment and any operational cash gaps. Furthermore, considering L&T's experience across the ship-building value chain in Indian defence shipyards, LTSB is likely to capitalise on the opportunity to cater to demand from the Indian Navy. Given the strategic importance to L&T, support from the parent through fund infusion should continue over the medium term.
 
Weakness:
* Slower-than-expected ramp-up of ship-building projects 
Since commencement of commercial operations, ramp-up of the shipyard has been slower than expected primarily on account of lack of orders in the defence sector. Orders should increase over the medium term driven by government initiatives to revamp the sector. Healthy orders, providing revenue visibility will be a key rating sensitivity factor. However, current losses remain a key constraining factor.
 
Outlook: Stable (on debentures guaranteed by L&T)
The outlook is based on CRISIL's rating outlook on L&T's debt instruments and bank facilities. Any change in the rating outlook on L&T will lead to a corresponding change in the rating outlook on the debt instrument guaranteed by L&T.
Liquidity

Liquidity remains adequate due to support from the parent to meet operating and financial obligations. At a standalone level, the company has been incurring operating losses and interest payments are met through parent support in the form of inter-corporate deposits and preference shares. Parent support should continue to meet liquidity requirement whenever required.

About the Company

LTSB, a wholly owned subsidiary of L&T, was set up to develop a shipyard for construction and repair of defence and commercial vessels and to establish a minor port with annual container handling capacity of 1.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units. The project in Kattupalli, Tamil Nadu, is primarily for building vessels for Indian and foreign navies, and the Indian Coast Guard, and undertaking ship repair. The port meant to cater to container cargo of varied industries was sold to Adani Ports And Special Economic Zone Limited, the proceeds of which was used to reduce debt in in fiscal 2017. The original project cost of Rs 3,375 crore was to be funded in a debt-to-equity ratio of 75:25. However, the project cost increased to Rs 3,989 crore because of widening of the scope of work. The cost overrun was primarily funded by L&T through equity. LTSB commenced operations in December 2012.

For fiscal 2019, net loss was Rs 415 crore on reported revenue of Rs 522 crore, against net loss of Rs 442 crore on reported revenue of Rs 731 crore in fiscal 2018.
 
About the Guarantor
Set up in 1938 by Mr H H Larsen and Mr S K Toubro, L&T was incorporated in 1946, and was reconstituted as a public limited company in 1950. L&T is one of Asia's largest vertically integrated engineering and construction conglomerates, with a strong market position across segments such as infrastructure, power, hydrocarbons, heavy engineering, defence engineering, electrical and automation, information technology, technology services, metallurgical and material handling, and machinery and industrial products. It undertakes infrastructure developmental projects (roads, metro rail, and power and transmission lines) largely through special-purpose vehicles, L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Limited, L&T Power Development Limited, and L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad.
 
In fiscal 2019, on a standalone basis, net profit was Rs 6,677 crore on revenue of Rs 86,988 crore, against net profit of Rs 5,387 crore on revenue of Rs 74,612 crore in fiscal 2018.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Reported Revenue Rs crore 606 736
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore -415 -441
PAT Margin % -68.5 -60.0
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth* Times -7.20 66.31
Interest coverage* Times -0.03 -0.43
*CRISIL-adjusted (preference shares treated as equity)

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.Cr)
Rating Assigned with Outlook
INE054O07017 Non-Convertible Debentures 25-Oct-2012 9.10% 25-Oct-2023 260 CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable
INE054O07025 Non-Convertible Debentures 25-Oct-2012 9.10% 25- Oct -2024 260 CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable
INE054O07033 Non-Convertible Debentures 25-Oct-2012 9.10% 25- Oct -2025 260 CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable
INE054O07041 Non-Convertible Debentures 25-Oct-2012 9.10% 25- Oct -2026 260 CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable
INE054O07058 Non-Convertible Debentures 25-Oct-2012 9.10% 25- Oct -2027 291 CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable
NA Fund-Based Facilities NA NA NA 425 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive
NA Non-Fund Based Limit NA NA NA 975 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 800 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive
NA Proposed Non Fund based limits NA NA NA 800 CRISIL A1+
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
Commercial Paper  ST    --  27-02-19  Withdrawn  22-02-18  CRISIL A1+  03-02-17  CRISIL A1+  22-12-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  1331.00
20-08-19 
CRISIL AAA(SO) 21-05-19  CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable  22-02-18  CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable  03-02-17  CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable  22-12-16  CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable  CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable 
        27-02-19  CRISIL AAA(SO)/Stable               
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1225.00  CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive  21-05-19  CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive  22-02-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable  03-02-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable  22-12-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
        27-02-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable               
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1775.00  CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive CRISIL A1+/Watch Positive  21-05-19  CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive/ CRISIL A1+  22-02-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  03-02-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  22-12-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
        27-02-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+               
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
Fund-Based Facilities 425 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive Fund-Based Facilities 425 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive
Non-Fund Based Limit 975 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive Non-Fund Based Limit 975 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 800 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 800 CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive
Proposed Non Fund based limits 800 CRISIL A1+ Proposed Non Fund based limits 800 CRISIL A1+
Total 3000 -- Total 3000 --
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
Rating Criteria for Construction Industry
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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