Rating Rationale
January 31, 2020 | Mumbai
Xplore-Tech Services Private Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.60 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Xplore-Tech Services Private Limited (XTSPL; a part of the Fusion group).
 
The rating continues to reflect the extensive experience of the Fusion group's promoters, high operational efficiencies backed by multi-location delivery centres, and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by risks related to stabilisation and integration of operations in the group's new acquisitions, and exposure to intense competition and regulatory policies of customer countries regarding off-shoring of work.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of XTSPL, its wholly owned subsidiaries -- Fusion BPO Services Pvt Ltd, Canada, and O'Currance Inc, Utah; and step-down subsidiaries: 3611507 Canada Inc, Vital Solutions Inc, the USA, Fusion BPO Services S.A. DE. C.V, El Salvador, Fusion BPO Services, Jamaica, Fusion BPO Services Phils Inc, the Philippines and Support Save LLC, USA, Verso Group UK Ltd -- and Ameridial Inc, USA. This is because all these entities, collectively referred to as the Fusion group, have common promoters and strong operational and financial links. Furthermore, all the entities provide business process outsourcing (BPO) services either through on-shore, off-shore, or near-shore sites, and service delivery centres.

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 the promoters
Longstanding presence has enabled the promoters and co-founders, Mr Pankaj Dhanuka and Mr Kishore Saraogi, to ramp up scale through inorganic growth and expand geographical presence by setting up multiple delivery centres in various countries. The promoters have also turned around the acquisitions by achieving operational synergies at a consolidated level.

* Strong operational efficiencies, backed by multi-location delivery centres
Operational efficiencies are supported by presence across multiple sites and countries such as India, Canada, the Philippines, the USA, El Salvador, and Jamaica, which helps the group to offer customers the comfort of a native English-speaking workforce, along with a relatively better cultural alignment compared to offshore centres.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile
Financial risk profile has been adequate and should remain so over the medium term too. Networth increased to Rs 196.00 crore as on March 31, 2019 (without adjusting for intangible assets), from Rs 168.57 crore as on March 31, 2018, because of steady accretion to reserve; thus, gearing has been comfortable and  peaked at 0.46 time during the six fiscals through 2019, despite the significant debt-funded acquisition. Debt protection metrics were strong, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt of 8.10 times and 0.56 time, respectively, in fiscal 2019.
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to risks related to stabilisation and integration of operations of new acquisitions
The group has followed a policy of inorganic growth through acquisitions made over the years, which provides loyal customer base and entry into new markets. However, acquisitions have its incubatory phase pertaining to business and operational synergies, which has a bearing on the profitability of the group. Also the acquisition size has been increasing over the period. Therefore, future size of acquisition along with its impact on capital structure due to any debt addition will remain key sensitivity factor.
 
* Susceptibility to intense competition and regulatory policies of customer countries
Around 95% of the group's revenue comes from the BPO segment, which is intensively competitive not only in India but also in the international markets where the group has delivery centres. International competition has also increased due to emergence of alternative BPO destinations such as the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala, Russia, Hungary, Poland, the Caribbean countries, and the Czech Republic. Additionally, the group remains exposed to the policies of customer countries regarding offshoring of work and BPO companies with parent companies located abroad. Further, as the group continues to expand by way of acquisition of companies, it will also remained exposed to risk related to retention of the clients going forward along with organic growth from existing companies. Therefore, organic growth along with sustenance of newly acquired customers amidst intense competition will remain key sensitivity factor.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity has been healthy and may remain so going forward too. Cash accrual is projected at Rs 52-55 crore (Rs 47 crore in fiscal 2019) per annum over the medium term, more than sufficient to meet the yearly maturing debt of Rs 8.5 crore (Rs 8.5 crore); the surplus cash will be used as working capital. Thus, utilisation of the bank limit worth Rs 62.45 crore was moderate and averaged 45% during the 12 months through December 2019. Current ratio was strong at 1.82 times as on March 31, 2019.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Fusion group will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of the promoters, and healthy financial risk profile.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
 Upward factors
* Stabilisation and improvement of newly acquired company, resulting in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization  ratio of more than 15% along with steady organic business
* Accumulation of cash accrual due to not incurring any large, debt-funded capital expenditure (capex)

Downward factors
* Steep decline in revenue and profitability, leading to cash accrual of less than Rs 35 crore
* Any larger-than-expected, or debt-funded capex or acquisition, or significant increase in yearly maturing debt.

About the Company

XTSPL, incorporated in February 2004, is a Kolkata-based company that provides services such as voice- and non-voice-based BPOs, internet marketing, web development, technical support, and software development. Majority of revenue comes from the BPO segment. The group caters to the telecom, banking and financial, media, and automotive industries. Mr Pankaj Dhanuka and Mr Kishore Saraogi are the promoters.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2019* 2018
Revenue Rs crore 412.63 294.73
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 28.24 34.47
PAT margin % 6.8 11.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.43 0.3
Interest coverage Times 8.1 13.9
*Estimated
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
NA Foreign Currency Term Loan NA NA June-2024 48 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Working Capital facility NA NA NA 12 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entity Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Fusion BPO Services Pvt Ltd, Canada 100% 100% owned subsidiary of XTSPL
O'Currance Inc, Utah 100% 100% owned subsidiary of XTSPL
3611507 Canada Inc 100% Step down subsidiary of 100% owned subsidiary
Vital Solutions Inc, USA 100% Step down subsidiary of 100% owned subsidiary
Fusion BPO Services S.A. DE. C.V, El Salvador 100% Step down subsidiary of 100% owned subsidiary
Fusion BPO Services, Jamaica 100% Step down subsidiary of 100% owned subsidiary
Fusion BPO Services Phils Inc, Philippines 100% Step down subsidiary of 100% owned subsidiary
Support Save LLC, USA 100% Step down subsidiary of 100% owned subsidiary
Ameridial Inc, USA 100% Step down subsidiary of 100% owned subsidiary
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  60.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable          03-10-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  21-06-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable  Suspended 
                29-09-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  12-05-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable   
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
Foreign Currency Term Loan 48 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Foreign Currency Term Loan 60 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 12 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 60 -- Total 60 --
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 Software Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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