Rating Rationale
July 30, 2019 | Mumbai
Vaishno Associates
Long term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.5.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BB/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reassigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Vaishno Associates (VA; part of the Vaishno group) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' from 'CRISIL BB/Stable' and reassignedits 'CRISIL A4+' short-term rating.
 
The upgrade reflects considerable improvement in VA's business risk profile: backed by improvement in scale of operations along with healthy order book & timely execution of them. Revenue is estimated at Rs 180 crore in fiscal 2019 compared to less than 60 crore in the last three years. Unexecuted orders of Rs 113.00 crore provide medium-term revenue visibility. Operating margin is expected at 12.5-13.5% over the medium term, driven by improvement in topline, backward integration, and timely execution of orders. Financial risk profile has remained strong, with gearing of less than 0.8 time as on March 31, 2019.
 
The ratings factor in the extensive experience of the promoter and the group's comfortable debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by tender-based operations in a fragmented industry and large working capital requirement.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of VA and Vaishno Associates Vidyut Projects LLP (VAVPL). This is because the two entities, together referred to as the Vaishno group, have a common promoter and operational and financial fungibility.

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:
* Extensive experience of promoter in the electrical industry:

Benefits from the five-decade-long experience of the promoter in the heavy electrical equipment and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) industry and expertise in providing turnkey solutions for the installation of power transmission towers, substations, and power distribution systems have led to the group procuring orders from major clients and registering consistent revenue growth. CRISIL believes that management's vast experience will continue to support the business risk profile of company over medium term.

* Healthy revenue visibility:
Unexecuted orders of Rs 113.2 crore as of July 2019'to be executed in the next 12-15 months'provide medium-term revenue visibility. Time taken for execution of orders and payment realisations will continue to be monitored. Furthermore, partners are focusing on geographical diversification of operations with current order book have orders from different states & power utilities.

* Strong financial risk profile:
Financial risk profile is strong, with improved profit after tax margin'followed by low reliance on external debt'and comfortable capital structure, it is expected to remain strong over the medium term. Total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio improved to 2.22 times as on March 31, 2019, from 3.44 times a year earlier. Debt protection metrics are healthy, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios estimated at 8.0 times and 0.97 time, respectively, in fiscal 2019.

Weakness:
* Tender-based nature of operations and volatility in profitability:

The Vaishno group undertakes erecting, planning, and commissioning of electrical lines and power transmission/distribution for turnkey projects under the EPC model. Projects are secured through tenders floated by government or private entities. Intense competition and the tender-based nature of operations may continue to constrain scalability, pricing power, and profitability (estimated at 13-14.0% in fiscal 2019).

* Large working capital requirement:
Operations are working capital-intensive: gross current assets stood at 142 days as on March 31, 2019, driven by large fixed deposits kept as margin money to avail of bank guarantee facility. Inventory and debtors were 34 and 90 days, respectively (112 and 131 days the previous year). Credit of 74 days from suppliers and mobilization advances received from customers relieve some of the pressure on working capital. Commensurate with increase in scale of operations, working capital requirement may increase over the medium term.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate and should remain so over the medium term: net cash accrual, expected at Rs 10.0-12.0 crore each in fiscals 2020 and 2021, should sufficiently cover yearly maturing debt of Rs 0.12 crore. Utilisation of fund-based limit averaged 81% over the 12 months through April 2019.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Vaishno group will continue to benefit from the promoter's extensive experience and healthy order book. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if sizeable revenue and stable profitability strengthen the capital structure. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if stretched working capital cycle, reduced cash accrual, or unanticipated large, debt-funded capital expenditure weakens the financial risk profile, especially liquidity.

About the Group

Set up in 2005 as a proprietorship concern, Jaipur-based VA manufactures structural items, such as low transmission distribution panels, transformer platforms, switches, and other related equipment. Mr RK Babutta is the group's promoter.
 
VAVPL was incorporated in August 2015 to run the EPC business of VA. It undertakes turnkey projects for erecting, planning, and commissioning of electrical lines, power transmission/distribution, alternating current-direct charge conversion, substation projects, grid station, and shifting of utility lines for state electricity boards in Rajasthan.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
As on / for the period ended March 31  Units 2019* 2018
Operating income Rs crore 185.79 55.88
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 25.81 7.74
PAT margins % 16.03 3.46
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.54 1.16
Interest coverage Times 8.0 2.84
*Provisional

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 Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash credit facility NA NA NA 1.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 4.0 CRISIL A4+

Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Vaishno Associates (VA) Fully Consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
Vaishno Associates Vidyut Projects LLP (VAVPL) Fully Consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1.50  CRISIL BB+/Stable      03-05-18  CRISIL BB/Stable  29-05-17  CRISIL BB/Stable      Suspended 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  4.00  CRISIL A4+    --    --    --    --  Suspended 
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
Bank Guarantee 4 CRISIL A4+ Cash Credit 5.5 CRISIL BB/Stable
Cash Credit 1.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 5.5 -- Total 5.5 --
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 rating entities belonging to homogenous groups
The Rating Process

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