Product Quantum (Rs. Cr) Long Term Rating Short Term Rating
Bank Loan Ratings 47.00 ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned -
Bank Loan Ratings 53.00 - ACUITE A4+ | Assigned
Total Outstanding 100.00 - -
Total Withdrawn 0.00 - -
 
Rating Rationale

­Acuité has assigned its long-term rating of ‘ACUITE BB+’ (read as ACUITE double B plus) and its short-term rating of 'ACUITE A4+' (read as ACUITE A four plus) on Rs. 100.00 Cr. bank facilities of Mehra and Company (MAC). The outlook is ‘Stable’.

Rationale for rating assigned
The rating assigned takes into consideration the stable growth in the operating performance of the firm supported by moderate order book position providing sound revenue visibility over the medium term. The rating is further supported by the long-standing experience of the management in the construction industry. However, the rating is constrained on account of moderate financial risk profile, intensive working capital operations of the firm and risks pertaining to competition due to the tender-based nature of operations. The rating also notes the firm's partnership structure, including the risk of capital withdrawal.


About the Company

­Established in 1964, Mehra and Company (MAC) is a Maharashtra-based, family-owned business engaged in civil construction activities. The firm undertakes government contracts for building roads, bridges, highways, and water infrastructure for authorities such as PWD, MSIDC, NHAI, and others. The current partners of the firm are Mr. Shailendra Mahendraprasad Mehra and Mr. Dhirendra Mahendraprasad Mehra.

 
Unsupported Rating
­Not Applicable
 
Analytical Approach

­Acuité has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of MAC to arrive at the rating.

 
Key Rating Drivers

Strengths

­Established track record of operations and experienced management
MAC is an EPC contractor working majorly on government tenders for construction works. The entity was incorporated in 1964 and over the years the entity has gained extensive experience in the construction business. Founded by Mr. Mahendraprasad Mehra, the firm is currently operated by his sons, Mr. Shailendra Mehra and Mr. Dhirendra Mehra who have long standing experience in the construction sector for almost three decades and have established healthy relationships with their stakeholders. The firm initially undertook civil construction contracts for the PWD in the Jalna and Aurangabad regions. In 2009, it diversified into irrigation projects, and since 2018, it has entered into several joint ventures with reputed EPC players (like V P Sethi Constructions Pvt Ltd, Courage Infra Pvt Ltd, Altis group, Wonder Construction, etc.) in the region, enabling it to participate in higher-category project bids.

Growing scale of operations supported by moderate outstanding order book
The operating revenue of the firm moderated from Rs. 123.39 Cr. in FY24 to Rs. 101.90 Cr. in FY25, which is majorly driven by the project milestone stages. However, the operating margin of the firm stood improved at 13.17 percent in FY25 (11.67 percent in FY24), on account of improving cost efficiency. Further, the firm has clocked gross revenue of Rs. 90.44 Cr. in 9MFY26 (Rs. 55.97 Cr. in 9MFY25) on account of timely execution of the orders and targets to record revenue of ~Rs. 140 Cr. in FY26. Additionally, the firm has an outstanding order book of ~Rs. 288.19 Cr. (2.80 times of FY25 revenue) (including Rs. 24 Cr. of L1 tenders in process as of Dec 2025), providing sound revenue visibility in the near to medium term.
Going ahead, timely execution of existing orders and strong growth in order book remains a key rating monitorable.


Weaknesses

­Moderate financial risk profile
While the net worth of the firm continues to grow with Rs 42.65 Cr. as on March 31, 2025 (Rs. 33.36 Cr. as on March 31, 2024) on account of accretion of profits to reserves and infusion of funds by the partners, however, the elevated debt levels (consisting of long-term debt of Rs. 25.84 Cr. (majorly equipment loans), working capital borrowings of Rs. 12.42 Cr. and unsecured loans infused by promoters and related parties of Rs. 12.42 Cr.), keeps the gearing (debt-equity) moderate at 1.30 times in FY25 (1.20 times in FY24). Further, the coverage indicators stood moderate with debt service coverage ratio of 1.98 times and interest coverage ratio of 2.08 times for FY25. Moreover, debt-EBITDA stood elevated at 3.53 times as on March 31, 2025 (2.41 times as on March 31, 2024).
Going forward, the financial risk profile is expected to remain in similar levels on account of steady cash accruals and no major debt-funded capex plans.

Intensive working capital operations
The working capital operations of the firm stood intensive marked by gross current assets (GCA) of 206 days in FY25 (148 days in FY24), majorly driven by inventory and higher other current assets. The firm has extended significant advances (~38 percent of its net worth of FY25) to related parties and others, recovery of which is monitorable. Further, the inventory days stood increased to 83 days in FY25 from 51 days in FY24 on account of higher work in process. Moreover, the debtor’s collection period stood efficient at 28 days in FY25 (22 days in FY24) and the creditor days stood at 54 days in FY25 (98 days in FY24).

Exposure to intense competition, tender-based operations and geographical concentration risks
The infrastructure is a fragmented industry with a presence of large players pan India where subcontracting & project specific partnerships for technical/financial reasons are common. The revenue and profitability for tendering based operations depends entirely on the ability to win tenders wherein entities face intense competition, thus requiring them to bid aggressively to procure contracts and restrict the operating margin to a moderate level. Moreover, susceptibility of raw material pricing again keeps profitability margins vulnerable and shall remain key rating sensitivity. Further, the firm has a limited presence that to only in the state of Maharashtra which makes it susceptible to concentration risks, however, the management anticipates expanding into other geographies like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the near to medium term.

Inherent risk of capital withdrawal by partners
MAC's constitution as a partnership firm is exposed to discrete risks, including the possibility of withdrawal of capital by the partners and limited flexibility to raise the funds vis-a-vis a limited company. However, in the last three years, there has been no instance of any capital withdrawal by the partners. Moreover, the partner's have infused funds in the form of unsecured loans to support the growing operations of the firm. Further, in order to mitigate this risk, the partners have also proposed to change the constitution of the firm to private limited company in the near to medium term.

Rating Sensitivities

Potential triggers (individual or collective) for an upward rating action:
  • ­Improvement in operating performance supported by order book growth leading to generation of net cash accruals above Rs. 16 Cr.
  • Improvement in working capital intensity
Potential triggers (individual or collective) for a downward rating action:
  • ­Increase in debt levels, thereby, debt-EBITDA remaining above 3.50 times
  • Decline in scale of operations or profitability margins
Liquidity Position
Adequate

­­The firm’s liquidity position is adequate marked by sufficient cash accruals of Rs. 7.42 Cr. in FY25 as against maturing debt obligations of Rs. 5.00 Cr. for the same period. Going forward, the cash accruals are expected to be in the range of Rs. 10-15 Cr. for the period FY26 and FY27 against maturing debt obligations in the range of Rs. 6-10 Cr. for the same period. The working capital limits are marked by moderately high utilizations of fund-based limit of ~90 percent for the last six months ended Dec 2025, and the outstanding non-fund-based limits stood moderate at Rs. 28.68 Cr. (out of sanctioned limits of Rs. 53 Cr.) as on Feb 22, 2026. Further, the current ratio stood comfortable at 1.43 times in FY25 (1.61 times in FY24), and the cash and bank balances stood at Rs. 9.10 Cr. as on March 31, 2025. Moreover, the partners and related parties have infused ~Rs. 10 Cr. in FY26 in the form of unsecured loans in order to support the growing business operations.

 
Outlook: Stable
­
 
Other Factors affecting Rating
­None
 

Particulars Unit FY 25 (Actual) FY 24 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr. 101.90 123.39
PAT Rs. Cr. 3.83 6.77
PAT Margin (%) 3.76 5.49
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 1.30 1.20
PBDIT/Interest Times 2.08 3.78
Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable)
­None
 
Any other information
­None
 
Applicable Criteria
• 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


Rating History :
­Not Applicable
 

Lender’s Name ISIN Facilities Date Of Issuance Coupon Rate Maturity Date Quantum
(Rs. Cr.)
Complexity Level Rating
H D F C Bank Limited Not avl. / Not appl. Bank Guarantee (BLR) Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 53.00 Simple ACUITE A4+ | Assigned
H D F C Bank Limited Not avl. / Not appl. Cash Credit Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 20.00 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned
Not Applicable Not avl. / Not appl. Proposed Long Term Bank Facility Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 25.00 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned
H D F C Bank Limited Not avl. / Not appl. Working Capital Demand Loan (WCDL) Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 2.00 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned

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