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| Product | Quantum (Rs. Cr) | Long Term Rating | Short Term Rating |
| Bank Loan Ratings | 8.00 | ACUITE BB- | Stable | Downgraded | - |
| Bank Loan Ratings | 13.00 | - | ACUITE A4+ | Reaffirmed |
| Total Outstanding Quantum (Rs. Cr) | 21.00 | - | - |
| Total Withdrawn Quantum (Rs. Cr) | 0.00 | - | - |
| Rating Rationale |
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Acuité has downgraded its long term rating to ‘ACUITE BB-’ (read as ACUITE Double B 'minus') from ‘ACUITE BB’ (read as ACUITE Double B) and reaffirmed its short term rating to ‘ACUITE A4+’ (read as ACUITE A four 'plus') on the Rs.21.00 Cr bank facilities of Krishna Constructions (KC). The outlook is ‘Stable’. Rationale for the rating The rating downgrade and revision in outlook is in view of significant moderation in operating performance marked by sharp decline in revenues and elongation in working capital cycle. The revenue has been continuously declining over the last 3 years ending FY2022 to Rs.18.81 Cr from Rs.24.30 Cr in FY2020. Gross current asset (GCA) days stood at 607 days as on March 31, 2022 as against 486 days as on March 31, 2021.Partners has withdrawn capital from the capital account of Rs. 0.35 Cr in FY 2022.
The rating continues to factor in its extensive experience of the promoters in the civil construction industry. These strengths are partially constrained by small scale of operations in the civil construction industry with revenues of Rs.18.81 Cr in FY2022, a slow-moving order book coupled with susceptibility to tender-based operations amid intense competition, high geographical concentration in orders, below-average financial risk profile and stretched working capital cycle. |
| About the Firm |
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KC was established in 2008, as a partnership firm by Mr. Chidipothu Krishna Murthy along with his son, Mr.Chidipothu Karthik. The firm is a Special Class I civil contractor for executing government Works of Roads and Buildings R&B, Panchayat Raj, National Highways Development Road works of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. Its registered office is located at Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). The firm participates in tenders issued by Public Works Department PWD and other government departments of Andhra pradesh and Telangana. The contracts awarded are related to and Cement Concrete (CC) roads and Bituminous Surface Treatment (BT), culverts and Bridges.
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| Analytical Approach |
| Acuité has considered the standalone business and financial risk profile of KC to arrive at the rating. |
Key Rating Drivers
| Strengths |
KC is a partnership firm started by Mr. Chidipothu Krishna Murthy and his son in Mr.Chidipothu Karthik in 2008. Managing partner, Mr. Chidipothu Krishna Murthy has been in this line of business for over three decades through his association with other individual firms. The longstanding presence in the industry, continuous execution and timely deliverables have supported in regular orders, though modest. The firm has an unexecuted order book position of Rs. 38 Cr, which provides limited revenue visibility for the medium term. Acuité believes that KC will continue to benefit from partners’ extensive experience in the civil construction industry is expected to keep the business risk profile moderate over the medium term.
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| Weaknesses |
The financial risk profile of the firm has remained below-average with moderate capital structure and debt protection metrics. The net worth of the company stood at Rs.14.79 Cr and Rs.13.91 Cr as on March 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively. The gearing of the firm stood at 1.31 times as on March 31, 2022 against 1.19 times as on March 31, 2021. Debt protection metrics – Interest coverage ratio and debt service coverage ratio stood at 1.83 times and 1.48 times as on March 31, 2022 respectively as against 1.87 times and 1.27 times as on March 31, 2021 respectively. The debt to EBITDA of the firm stood at 4.63 times as on March 31, 2022 as against 3.65 times as on March 31, 2021. Acuité believes that the financial risk profile of the company would improve supported by increase in accruals in the medium term
KC’s working capital cycle is intensive as reflected by its high gross current assets (GCA) days at 602 days as on March 31, 2022 as against 486 days as on March 31, 2021. The GCA days are high as a result of high inventory/work in progress(WIP) days. Inventory days stood at 575 days as on March 31, 2022 as against 418 days as on March 31, 2021. Subsequently, the payable period stood at 86 days as on March 31, 2022 as against 20 days as on March 31, 2021 respectively. The debtor days stood at 5 days as on March 31, 2022 as against 4 days as on March 31, 2021. Further, the average bank limit utilization in the last eight months ended November, 22 remained at ~93 percent for fund based and 63 percent for non-fund based limits. Acuité believes that the operations of the KC will remain working capital intensive over the medium term.
KC is into the business of civil construction. This particular sector is marked by the presence of several mid to big size players. KC faces intense competition from the other players in the sectors. Risk become more pronounced as tendering is based on minimum amount of biding of contracts.
Partners had withdrawn capital from the capital account of Rs. 0.35 Cr in FY 2022. KC is exposed to risk of capital withdrawal considering its partnership constitution.
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| Rating Sensitivities |
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| Material covenants |
| None |
| Liquidity Position: Adequate |
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The firm has generated adequate net cash accruals to service its debt obligations. The net cash accruals stood at Rs.1.90 Cr in FY2022 as against the repayment of Rs.0.55 Cr for the same period and expected to generate cash accruals in the range of Rs.2.63- 3.28 Cr. against CPLTD of Rs.0.65- 0.85 Cr. over the medium term. Unencumbered cash and bank balances stood at Rs. 29.52 Cr as on March 31, 2022. The current ratio of the company stood at 2.94 times as on March 31, 2022. Acuité believes that KC’s liquidity will remain sufficient over the medium term backed by repayment of its debt obligations and improving accruals. The fund based bank limits utilization of KC is 93 percent for fund based respectively for the past 8 months ending November 2022. Acuité believes that the liquidity of the company is likely to remain adequate over the medium term on account of adequate cash accrual against no major debt repayments and absence of any debt funded capex plans.
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| Outlook: Stable |
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Acuité believes KC will maintain a 'Stable' outlook in the medium term on account of its experienced management and moderate financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of substantial growth in revenues with timely execution of orders. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case the firm registers lower-than-expected revenues or withdrawal of capital by partners.
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| Other Factors affecting Rating |
| None |
| Particulars | Unit | FY 22 (Actual) | FY 21 (Actual) |
| Operating Income | Rs. Cr. | 18.81 | 19.34 |
| PAT | Rs. Cr. | 1.03 | 1.10 |
| PAT Margin | (%) | 5.47 | 5.68 |
| Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth | Times | 1.31 | 1.19 |
| PBDIT/Interest | Times | 1.83 | 1.87 |
| Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable) |
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KC's rating was downgraded and migrated to ‘ISSUER NON COOPERATING” status with CARE through its rating rationale dated June 20, 2022. The reason provided by CARE is nonfurnishing of information by KC.
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| Any other information |
| None |
| 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 |
| Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument |
| 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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