Rating Rationale
July 06, 2020 | Mumbai
Skeiron Renewable Energy Amidyala Limited
Rating continues on 'Watch Negative'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.357.74 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB- (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications')
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 Skeiron Renewable Energy Amidyala Limited (SREAL) continues on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'.

The rating continues to factor in likely delay in resolution of issue related to renegotiation of terms of the power purchase agreement (PPA), as against the earlier expectation of March 2020. SREAL, in the interim, received payments at Rs 2.43 per unit as against tariff of Rs 4.84 per unit. While it provided some support to the overall liquidity position, cash flows remains insufficient to meet the entire debt servicing obligations, thereby making the company to continue to depend on funding support from its promoters to service debt.

The rating also reflects sub-par operational performance with plant load factor (PLF) lower than P90 levels in fiscal 2020, due to instances of grid curtailment. PLF and cash flows remain exposed to risk of grid curtailments, as seen in the previous fiscal.

SREAL has earlier sought moratorium on debt servicing till end May 2020 which was approved by consortium lenders, however management had decided to forgo the moratorium and made payment till June 2020 through project cash flows and promoter support.  Liquidity position continues to be supported by one quarter of undisbursed DSRA and expected need based support from promoters.

CRISIL will resolve the watch once clarity emerges on the PPA renegotiation issues. Sustenance of any adverse recommendation by APERC towards reduction in tariff can materially impact the credit profile.

The rating continues to reflect strong parentage of the company, by virtue of it being a part of the Greenko group and instances of fund infusion of about Rs 123 crore over fiscals 2019 to June 2020.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has considered the credit risk profile of SREAL on standalone basis. SREAL enjoys financial flexibility being part of Greenko Group and shall receive support from promoters in case of cash flow mismatch.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Financial flexibility being part of the Greenko Group:
SREAL continues to enjoy strong financial flexibility, being part of the Greenko group. Over fiscal 2019 till June 2020, the group has infused about Rs 123 crore to service debt obligation, thus lending comfort to the overall credit profile.

 The group has a diversified renewable portfolio of about 4.2 gigawatt (GW) of operational capacities across 14 states and about 8 GW of capacities under construction. Of the 4.2 GW operational portfolio, about 1.6 GW capacity is installed in AP. Of this, about 0.5 GW has been tied-up with NTPC where, based on discussion with management CRISIL understands that, payments are being received on timely basis and liquidity is supported by DSRA and surplus cash. Balance of around 1.1 GW is exposed to AP discom, and largely covered under domestic / international bonds. The bonds shall have bullet repayments and only interest servicing obligations over medium term.

 As on March 31, 2019, overall leverage (debt to tangible networth) at Greenko Energy Holdings; the ultimate holding company, remains elevated, along with weak debt protection metrics. Capital structure may remain highly leveraged, owing to the large capital expenditure (capex) undertaken towards solar, wind, pumped storage and evacuation projects, which are at early stages. However, backing from strong promoters such as GIC Pvt Ltd, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Greenko Ventures Ltd, and the group's ability to raise funds, as seen in the past, strengthens overall financial flexibility. The promoters have infused around $230 million in the past, and are in process of infusing funds about $824 million, to fund capex and acquisition, if any, over the next two years.

 Based on the discussion with the management, CRISIL understands that SREAL shall continue to enjoy financial flexibility from being part of the Greenko Group.

 Weaknesses:
* Subdued PLF levels: The company has a track record of 36 months of operations as of May 2020. During fiscal 2018, PLF was impacted by teething issues and variation in wind patterns. The PLF improved to about 26.2% in fiscal 2019, from 18.7% in fiscal 2018, but remained below the P90 levels of 30.9%. Further in fiscal 2020, the PLF levels were around 22%; impacted due to lower grid availability, given the instances of grid curtailment for offtake of the wind power. The company continues to remain exposed to the grid curtailment risk and operating performance close to P90 levels will remain a key rating monitorable.

* High counterparty credit risk: SREAL is exposed to high counterparty risk, because of the weak credit risk profile of Southern Power Distribution Company of AP (APSPDCL, rated 'CRISIL BB-/Stable'). Liquidity profile of the company had stretched, with receivables increasing to 9 months, from about 3-4 months in fiscal 2018. Also, APSPDCL was making payment after deducting the amount equivalent to GBI benefit (50 paise per unit) available to SREAL since February 2017. However, the discom had released payments at Rs 2.43 per unit since December 2019 and the company has received about Rs 114 crore over December to March 2020. While it provided some support to the overall liquidity position, cash flows remains insufficient to meet the entire debt servicing obligations, thereby making the company to continue to depend on funding support from its promoters to service debt. The debt servicing for June 2020 was met from realization of discom receivable and receipt of GBI payments. Receivables position was about Rs 210 crore till March 2020. Timely realisation of payments remains a key monitorable.

 * Exposure to tariff renegotiation risk: On September 24, 2019, the honorable High Court of AP put a stay order on appointment of the HLNC and directed the developers and state discoms to approach APERC to resolve the tariff issue. Timely resolution of the tariff issue and implementation of the same by the state discom will remain a key rating monitorable.

* Exposure to inherent risk of variability in wind speed and pattern: Cash flow of wind power projects is sensitive to PLF, operating cost and interest rate. Among these, sensitivity is highest to PLF, which is inherently unpredictable as wind power projects depend on wind patterns. Variation in wind speed and pattern could reduce the operating PLF, thus impairing debt servicing ability.
Liquidity Stretched

Liquidity has been impacted by significant delay in payments owing to the ongoing PPA related issues and deduction of the amount equivalent to GBI by APSPDCL. Consequently, the debt servicing was met through timely infusion of funds from the promoters. Discom had released payments at Rs 2.43 per unit from December 2019 to March 2020, which supports liquidity to certain extent.  SREAL also has undisbursed DSRA of one quarter which lends some comfort to the liquidity. However, as the resolution of the PPA related issue may face further delays, the cash flows will remain insufficient to meet the entire debt servicing obligations and the company will continue to depend on funding support from its promoters to service debt.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Resolution of the ongoing tariff related issue and reinstatement of PPA on existing terms, along with significant improvement in payment cycle, with average receivables ranging from 4 -5 months, on a sustainable basis.
* Sustenance of healthy generation levels above P90 estimates.

Downward factors
* Adverse recommendation on the ongoing PPA tariff renegotiations issue, resulting in tariff significantly below Rs 4.84/unit
* Significant delay in resolution of the PPA renegotiations issues
* Weakening of overall liquidity, owing to further delays in payments from the state discom
* Change in stance of support from Greenko Group.

About the Company

SREAL has set up a 226-megawatt wind power project in AP. The company signed a PPA with APSPDCL for 100% capacity. The estimated project cost of Rs 1,789 crore was funded in a debt-to-equity mix of 80:20. The project was commissioned in June 2017.

Greenko has acquired Skeiron Green Power Pvt Ltd, the holding company of Skeiron Renewable Energy Pvt Ltd, which has a portfolio of 385-MW wind assets. The Greenko group has an operational renewable capacity of about 4.2 GW and under-construction portfolio of about 8 GW. The group is backed by GIC Pvt Ltd (65%), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (16%), and Greenko Ventures Ltd (19%; owned by Mr Anil Kumar Chalamalasetty and Mr Mahesh Kolli).

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 274 151
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs Crore -60 -177
PAT Margin % -0.2 -117.5
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 11.1 7.62
Interest coverage# Times 1.99 0.96
#Includes significant non-cash expenses (such as operations and maintenance expenses, interest on subdebt guarantee commission expenses) and the company has a comfortable DSCR.

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 Cr)
Complexity level Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Term Loan NA NA Jun-34 357.74 NA CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative
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  357.74  CRISIL BBB-/(Watch) Negative  07-04-20  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative  17-10-19  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Developing  04-10-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable    --  -- 
            19-07-19  CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing           
            13-02-19  CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing           
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
Term Loan 357.74 CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative Term Loan 357.74 CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative 
-- 0 -- Term Loan 1073.2 Withdrawn
Total 357.74 -- Total 1430.94 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for rating wind power projects
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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