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| Product | Quantum (Rs. Cr) | Long Term Rating | Short Term Rating |
| Non Convertible Debentures (NCD) | 3000.00 | ACUITE AA | Stable | Reaffirmed | - |
| Total Outstanding Quantum (Rs. Cr) | 3000.00 | - | - |
| Rating Rationale |
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Acuité has reaffirmed the long-term rating of ‘ACUITE AA ’ (read as ACUITE double A) on the Rs.3000.00 crore Non-Convertible Debentures of Gujarat State Investments Limited (GSIL). The outlook is ‘Stable’.
Rationale for rating reaffirmation The rating continues to be driven by the strong parentage, strategic importance of GSIL towards the Government of Gujarat (GoG) indicated by timely support for servicing its coupon payment and redemption of NCD. Further, the rating draws comfort from improved financial profile of GSIL marked by redemption of some of its NCDs. Further, GSIL has been receiving revenue grants from GoG for servicing its coupon payments. |
| About the Company |
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Gujarat State Investments Limited (GSIL) was incorporated on January 29, 1988 and is wholly owned by Government of Gujarat (GoG). GSIL is the investment arm of GoG and has both quoted and unquoted investments. The company is managed by a Board, which comprises senior bureaucrats from Government of Gujarat. Presently, Mr. J P Gupta IAS is the Chairman and Ms. Arti Kanwar IAS Secretary (Economic Affairs) to the Government of Gujarat) is the Managing Director. GSIL is registered with RBI as a Core Investment Company (CIC). The rated Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) amounting to Rs.6000.00 Cr., issued by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) were transferred to GSIL through the Novation method.Currently the NCDs of Rs. 3000 Cr. are outstanding.
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| Unsupported Rating |
| Not Applicable |
| Analytical Approach |
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Acuité has considered the standalone financial and business risk profile of GSIL while also taking into account a strong support from Government of Gujarat (GoG) through state budgetary support for servicing of the rated NCDs in addition to the 100% ownership of GSIL.
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Key Rating Drivers
| Strengths |
| Direct Support from GoG for servicing of NCDs
As per the Financial Realignment Plan of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPC) which is approved by GoG and GSPC via Government Resolution (GR) dated 26 July, 2018 and the latter’s board resolution dated 31 July,2018 respectively, the NCDs amounting to Rs. 6000 Cr. have been transferred to GSIL. GSIL has executed the call option for the perpetuity NCDs and hence the maturity along coupon rate has been revised. As per the GR, GoG will support GSIL for payment towards interest and principal repayment on the rated NCDs and necessary budgetary provision in the state budget for meeting these requirements are made by the Department of Energy & Petrochemicals every year. The rating assigned on the NCDs factors in such strong and direct support from the state government. Being a registered CIC, GSIL’s revenue is highly dependent on the performance of the companies wherein GSIL has invested. The revenue stream of GSIL is by way of dividends or interest received from the invested companies. Hence, the rating centrally factors in the support from GoG to GSIL for servicing the interest and principal repayment of the NCDs being transferred from GSPC. Acuité believes that the support from GoG to GSIL for the said debt servicing will be available in the form of grants or loans and advances made through state budgetary allocations in the subsequent years. Strategic Importance of GSIL to Government of Gujarat GSIL, wholly owned by Government of Gujarat, is a holding company for various investments of Government of Gujarat. The company is registered as a CIC by Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It has investments in several listed state PSUs like Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company Limited (GNFC), Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Limited (GACL), and Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Company Limited (GSFC) to name a few. The Board of Directors of GSIL comprises senior bureaucrats from the state government. GSIL has an investment portfolio of Rs. 5009 Cr. as per the book value as on March 31, 2023. GSIL has earned dividends and interest income worth Rs.93.12 Cr. in FY2023 as against Rs. 82.92 Cr. in the previous year. Further, GSIL has been receiving revenue grants from GoG for servicing its coupon towards the outstanding NCDs. Acuité believes that GSIL is of strategic importance to GoG given its investment portfolio of PSUs and its status as a funding vehicle for various investments and commitments of the state government. Healthy fiscal profile of Government of Gujarat Gujarat has one of the strongest fiscal profiles among the states of India. It has demonstrated a strong ability to attract investments from foreign as well as domestic companies. The state's annual GDP growth from 2012-13 to 2021-22 at current prices averaged above 12 per cent. This growth has been supported by agricultural growth which is supported by crops such as cotton, and oilseeds, among others. Gujarat state’s GSDP accounts for ~7 per cent Nation’s GDP. Gujarat is also one of the leading states in terms of industrial development with a contribution of ~20 per cent to the country’s industrial output. The revenue surplus stood at Rs.9038 Cr. in FY2023-24 (BE) against Rs. 1006 Cr in FY2022-23 (RE). The Debt to GSDP for the state stood at 14.9 per cent for FY2023-24 (BE) vis-à-vis 15 per cent for FY2022-23 (RE). The per capita income at current prices is estimated to be at Rs.2,50,100 for FY 2021-22. The state has attracted investments worth ~Rs. 2,01, 966 Cr. in the form of FDI in for period October 2019- March 2022 third highest in the country after Maharashtra and Karnataka. Gujarat is also one of the states which has shown significant progress in power sector reforms and has reduced the commercial losses in the power sector, thereby lowering the fiscal burden on the state. Acuité believes that Government of Gujarat will maintain its fiscal profile in near to medium term given its fairly diversified economy and its economic infrastructure as compared to most of other states in India. |
| Weaknesses |
| Susceptibility to any changes in the fiscal profile of Gujarat
GSIL’s rating is driven by continued support from GoG. Hence the fiscal profile of Gujarat will be a key rating sensitivity factor influencing the rating. Any significant changes in the rating of GoG due to factors such as prolonged slowdown in industrial activities or challenges faced by Gujarat state in attracting investment due to factors such as socio-economic changes or other such events can have an impact in its fiscal indicators. The influence of adverse macro-economic factors such as cutbacks in capex plans by corporates, and hardening of interest rates may impinge on the investment flows into the state in the near term thereby increasing the pressure on the Government to step up its expenditure plans. This in turn could impact its future fiscal profile & hence influence the rating on the instruments like GSIL’s NCDs which are primarily driven by the rating of Government of Gujarat. Further, timely budget allocation and timely receipt of revenue and capital grants from GoG for servicing the coupon and redemption of the NCDs is another rating sensitivity factor. |
| ESG Factors Relevant for Rating |
| Not Applicable |
| Rating Sensitivities |
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| All Covenants |
| Not Applicable. |
| Liquidity Position |
| Adequate |
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GSIL has received revenue grants of Rs.416.20 Cr. in FY2023 for timely servicing of coupon payments. Further, the liquidity is expected to be supported by GoG in the form of Grants and/or loans for debt servicing of NCDs that has been transferred to GSIL. As per the Government Resolution (GR) dated 26 July 2018, Government of Gujarat (GoG) through state budgetary will support for servicing of the rated NCDs.
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| Outlook: Stable |
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Acuité believes that the outlook on GSIL will remain ‘Stable’ on account of strong support from GoG driven by both strategic importance and moral obligation. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of any improvement in the fiscal profile of the state government. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of any deterioration in the fiscal risk profile of GoG and/or impeding its ability for timely budgetary provisions by the state.
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| Other Factors affecting Rating |
| Not Applicable. |
| Particulars | Unit | FY 23 (Actual) | FY 22 (Actual) |
| Operating Income | Rs. Cr. | 93.12 | 82.92 |
| PAT | Rs. Cr. | 81.16 | 71.16 |
| PAT Margin | (%) | 87.16 | 85.82 |
| Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth | Times | 1.96 | 3.20 |
| PBDIT/Interest | Times | 1.22 | 1.17 |
| Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable) |
| Not Applicable. |
| Any other information |
| None |
| Applicable Criteria |
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• Default Recognition :- https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-52.htm • Non-Banking Financing Entities: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-44.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 |
| Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument |
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In order to inform the investors about complexity of instruments, Acuité has categorized such instruments in three levels: Simple, Complex and Highly Complex. Acuite’ s categorisation of the instruments across the three categories is based on factors like variability of the returns to the investors, uncertainty in cash flow patterns, number of counterparties and general understanding of the instrument by the market. It has to be understood that complexity is different from credit risk and even an instrument categorized as 'Simple' can carry high levels of risk. For more details, please refer Rating Criteria “Complexity Level Of Financial Instruments” on www.acuite.in
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