Rating Rationale
March 16, 2022 | Mumbai
Sistema Smart Technologies Limited
Rating downgraded to 'CRISIL B- / Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.175 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL B-/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BB-/Stable')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has downgraded its rating on the long-term bank facility of Sistema Smart Technologies Limited (SSTL) to ‘CRISIL B-/Stable’ from ‘CRISIL BB-/Stable’.

 

The rating downgrade follows a similar rating action by S&P Global Ratings (S&P Global) on SSTL’s parent, Sistema PJSFC (Sistema). On March 7, 2022, S&P Global had downgraded the ratings of Sistema along with other Russian corporates to “CCC-“, while placing them on CreditWatch with negative implications. This is due to uncertainty around their technical ability to make timely payments to creditors, due to measures imposed by the Russian government amid the ongoing military conflict, irrespective of their financial capacity to pay.

 

The rating reflects the modest scale of operations and below-average financial risk profile of the company. These weaknesses are partially offset by the strong financial support SSTL receives from the parent and group entities.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has taken a standalone approach while arriving at the rating for SSTL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Weaknesses:

  • Modest scale of operations:

Post demerger of the wireless division, SSTL has modest business operations in India. The small scale is reflected in revenue of Rs 6.0 crore and Rs 14.1 crore for fiscals 2021 and 2020, respectively. The company is providing managed services of Wifi in universities on long-term basis, participating in system integration projects for various organisations, and providing shared services to Asia-Pacific subsidiaries. Its scale of operations will remain modest over the medium term.

 

  • Below-average financial risk profile:

While operating as a telecom service provider, SSTL had raised sizeable funds through debt and equity for network and distribution expansion, and to meet large customer acquisition costs. Huge losses in telecom operations led to weak debt protection metrics and erosion of networth. While there is no external debt now, the company had to rely on financial support from the parent, which infused Rs 14,169 crore through preference shares in the seven fiscals through 2018 to reduce SSTL’s debt and support capital expenditure. These shares carry a coupon of 0.01% and are repayable after 10 years. The financial risk profile of SSTL is expected to remain subdued over the medium term.

 

Strength:

  • Strong financial support from the parent and group entity:

Insitel Services Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned group company of Sistema, has infused preference share capital of Rs 14,169 crore into SSTL in several tranches till fiscal 2018, enabling the latter to meet its debt obligation and cover operating losses. It has also provided cash margins of Rs 190 crore for the bank guarantees of SSTL. The company has no external debt outstanding. Sistema has also provided a corporate guarantee for the bank facility rated by CRISIL Ratings. Continued support from the group remains a key rating sensitivity factor.

Liquidity: Stretched

Due to modest operations, company reported negative cash accrual for fiscal 2021. Liquidity has been supported vide fund infusion from the parent in the past. Unencumbered cash and equivalents were Rs 6 crore as on December 31, 2021. The absence of external debt obligations supports liquidity.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes SSTL will continue to benefit from the financial support available from Sistema and group entities.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Significant and sustained increase in revenue to over Rs 50 crore along with healthy profitability
  • Upward revision in the ratings of S&P Global on Sistema

 

Downward factors:

  • Invocation of bank guarantees and dues remaining outstanding for more than 30 days
  • Any contingent liability crystallising and significantly impacting financial risk profile

About the Company

SSTL (formerly, Sistema Shyam Teleservices Ltd) is majority-owned by Sistema (75.6%), and the Government of Russia (22.8%). The company had demerged its wireless business, which it operated under the MTS brand, into Reliance Communications (RCom) for a 10% stake in RCom. SSTL now undertakes managed services of Wifi in universities on long-term basis, participates in system integration projects for various organisations, and provides shared services to Asia-Pacific subsidiaries of the Sistema group.

 

Sistema is a Russia-based holding company. The Sistema group has diverse business interests, including telecom, technology, banking, tourism, retail, and mass media.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2021

2020

Revenue

Rs Crore

6

14

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs Crore

-2276

-2080

PAT margin

%

NM

NM

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

NM

NM

Interest coverage

Times

NM

NM

NM-Not meaningful

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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) Complexity level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 175 NA CRISIL B-/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities ST   --   --   --   --   -- Withdrawn
Non-Fund Based Facilities LT 175.0 CRISIL B-/Stable   -- 22-01-21 CRISIL BB-/Stable   -- 28-11-19 CRISIL BB-/Stable CRISIL BB-/Stable
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 175 CRISIL B-/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Mobile Telephony Services

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