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| Product | Quantum (Rs. Cr) | Long Term Rating | Short Term Rating |
| Non Convertible Debentures (NCD) | 1200.00 | ACUITE BBB | CE | Stable | Reaffirmed | - |
| Total Outstanding | 1200.00 | - | - |
| Total Withdrawn | 0.00 | - | - |
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Rating Rationale |
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Acuité has reaffirmed its long-term rating to ‘ACUITE BBB (CE)’ (read as ACUITE triple B (Credit Enhancement)) on the Rs. 1200.00 Cr. Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA). The outlook is 'Stable'.
Rationale for the rating The rationale factors the specified scenarios of non-payment of debt (principal and/or interest) due to reasons beyond the control of the issuer vide SEBI circular SEBI/HO/DDHS/DDHS-PoD-3/P/CIR/2024/160 dated November 18, 2024. On February 16, 2026, debt servicing for the listed bonds under ISINs INE01E708032, INE01E708040 and INE01E708057 was initiated by APCRDA for the full due amount of Rs.128.61 Cr.; while payments to most bondholders were processed on schedule, transactions to 11 bondholders aggregating Rs.0.14 Cr. were returned/rejected by their respective banks due to reasons such as incorrect or inactive account numbers, invalid IFSC codes, or accounts being blocked/frozen (The same has been disclosed in the 'Any other information' section of this press release.). The Bond Servicing Account (BSA) held a sufficient balance of Rs.129.41 crore as of the due date, ensuring adequate liquidity to meet the scheduled servicing obligations; the banker and the company have confirmed, with bank statements, that sufficient funds were available in the account for debt servicing. |
| About the Company |
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The erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into the successor states of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana in June 2014 vide the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 act of the Indian Parliament. Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) was formed in 2014 under ‘AP Capital Region Development Act 2014’ and is a statutory body under GoAP. The objectives of APCRDA are planning, coordination, execution, and financing for the development of Amaravati. Amaravati is in Guntur district with an area of ~217 sq. km. and is strategically located within 30 minutes of driving distance of two major urban centres viz. Vijayawada and Guntur.
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| Unsupported Rating |
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ACUITE C
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| Analytical Approach |
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Acuité has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of APCRDA and has factored in support extended by GoAP (through an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee) as well as the presence of the Structured Payment Mechanism including the availability of Debt Service Reserve Account (DSRA) while arriving at the rating.
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| Key Rating Drivers |
| Strengths |
| Unconditional and irrevocable guarantee from GoAP along with a Structured Payment Mechanism
The interest and the principal payments on the NCDs are backed by an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee from the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP). The structure mechanism entails maintenance of Debt Service Reserve Account (DSRA) balance equivalent to total debt servicing obligation of the outstanding bonds for the next 2 quarters and Bond Servicing Account (BSA) balance equivalent to 1.5 times the amount of debt servicing requirement (interest and principal). The DSRA balance has been intact for over an year from September 2024. For the debt obligation due in February 2025 to be made from BSA was replenished ~15 days prior to the due date. For the debt obligation due in May 2025, August 2025 and November 2025 the BSA was replenished ~70-76 days prior to the due date. As confirmed by the banker and the management, the balance in the DSRA (equivalent to two quarters of debt obligation) stood at ~Rs. 250 crore and the balance in the BSA (including FDs) (equivalent to 1.5 quarters of debt obligation) stood at ~Rs. 72 crore as on 25th November 2025. The balance is the BSA account is expected to be increased by ~Rs. 119 crore by November 2025 end as the authority has raised bill to GoAP for the same. The next debt repayment amounting to Rs ~Rs. 125-130 crore is due in February 2025 and will be met through the funds available in the BSA. The continuous adherence to the structured payment mechanism will remain a key rating sensitivity factor. |
| Weaknesses |
| High linkages with the vulnerable fiscal profile of Andhra Pradesh
The positioning of Andhra Pradesh as an attractive major destination for various local and international investors will require significant investments in infrastructure development in Amaravati. High developmental expenditure is required for execution of these mega plans which has been funded largely through long term investments and borrowings from various domestic and international investors. Besides the participation of the private sector through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the State Government is expected to support these development plans through various fiscal sops, equity contributions, soft loans and issuance of guarantees in favor of the lenders to these projects. Acuité believes APCRDA will have a significant dependence on grants from State and Central Government. Timely support from the State Government or any long term equity tie up for timely completion of the projects will remain a key monitorable. The rating factors in support from the State Government to APCRDA in a timely manner. As per Andhra Pradesh State budget, the revenue receipts is estimated at Rs. 2,17,977 Cr. for FY2025-26 (Budget Estimates) as against Rs.1,76,031 Cr. for FY2024-25 (Revised Estimates). The revenue deficit is estimated at Rs. 33,186 Cr. for FY2025-26 (BE) which is 1.8% of the GSDP as against 3.0% of GSDP for FY2024-25 (RE). The gross fiscal deficit to gross state domestic product (GFD to GSDP) is estimated at 4.4 per cent in FY2025-26 (BE) as against 4.6 per cent in FY2024-25 (RE). The influence of adverse macro-economic factors such as cutbacks in capex plans by corporates and improved sops by other States may impinge on the investment flows into the State. Any further slippages in the key fiscal parameters could impact the credit profile of the State. Andhra Pradesh’s ability to attain an improvement in its fiscal parameters also depends on its revenue generation which in turn is linked to its own revenues as well as devolution from Centre. Any further slowdown in investment flows and sluggishness in economic activity may affect its fiscal parameters. The ability to maintain fiscal discipline while facilitating higher GSDP growth will be a key determinant of GoAP’s credit profile, going forward. |
| Assessment of Adequacy of Credit Enhancement under various scenarios including stress scenarios (applicable for ratings factoring specified support considerations with or without the “CE” suffix) |
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The CE structure has been applied considering adequacy and timeliness in the receipt of funds required for debt service, unconditional and irrevocable guarantee from GoAP towards debt obligations of APCRDA. Continuous feedback from the trustee is taken to monitor the timely repayment of the debt obligations.
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| Rating Sensitivities |
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| All Covenants |
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Affirmative Covenants
Negative Covenants |
| Liquidity Position |
| Adequate |
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The liquidity of APCRDA is supported by timely receipt of grants from GoAP for servicing the debt. Further, the liquidity cushion is also available from the DSRA along with the stipulated structure.
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| Outlook: Stable |
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| Other Factors affecting Rating |
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None
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| Particulars | Unit | FY 25 (Provisional) | FY 24 (Actual) |
| Operating Income | Rs. Cr. | 91.25 | 115.37 |
| PAT | Rs. Cr. | 75.95 | 63.45 |
| PAT Margin | (%) | 83.23 | 55.00 |
| Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth | Times | 0.50 | 0.56 |
| PBDIT/Interest | Times | 1132.14 | 0.00 |
| Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable) |
| Not Applicable |
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| Applicable Criteria |
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• Default Recognition :- https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-52.htm • Infrastructure Sector: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-51.htm • Application Of Financial Ratios And Adjustments: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-53.htm • Group And Parent Support: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-47.htm • Explicit Credit Enhancements: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-49.htm • State Government Ratings : https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-26.htm |
| Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument |
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*Annexure 2 - List of Entities (applicable for Consolidation or Parent / Group / Govt. Support) | ||||||
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