Product Quantum (Rs. Cr) Long Term Rating Short Term Rating
Bank Loan Ratings 125.00 - ACUITE A3+ | Assigned
Bank Loan Ratings 75.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable | Assigned -
Total Outstanding Quantum (Rs. Cr) 200.00 - -
Total Withdrawn Quantum (Rs. Cr) 0.00 - -
 
Rating Rationale
Acuité has assigned its long term rating of ‘ACUITÉ BBB’ (read as ACUITE triple B) and short term rating of 'ACUITE A3+' (read as ACUITE A three plus) on the Rs 200.00 Cr. bank facilities of Shah Coal Private Limited (SCPL). The outlook is ‘Stable’.

Rational for Rating
The ratings reflect group’s healthy business profile supported by its diversified customer base which includes reputed corporates like Hindalco industries Ltd, ACC Ltd, Northern Coalfields Ltd, Ambuja Cement amongst others. The rating also reflects the extensive experience of its promoter in the coal trading and transportation business which is also reflected through the its large order book for the transportation business resulting in healthy and sustained revenue growth. These rating strengths are however, partially offset by the high working capital intensity, susceptibility of operating profit margin to volatility in fuel prices and intense competition in the industry and proclivity towards trading in risk assets.

About Company
Mumbai based Shah Coal Private Limited (SCPL) was incorporated in 1997, It trades in imported coal. It also provides logistics and consultancy services to its customers for domestic coal procurement. The company imports coal mainly from Indonesia, South Africa, USA and Australia and sells in the domestic market. The company is promoted by Mr. Vinay Shah and Mr. Ketan Shah, who have more than three decades of experience in the coal trading business. SCPL has a wholly owned subsidiary, Pan Asia Resources DMCC, based in Dubai, UAE and is engaged in trading of imported coal.
 
About the Group
Mumbai based Aarti Logistic Private Limited was Incorporated in 2002, ALPL is involved in coal logistics business and is promoted by Mr. Vinay Shah and Mr. Ketan Shah. It has operational linkages with its sister company, Shah Coal Private Limited (SCPL), which is involved in coal trading and logistics business.
 

Analytical Approach

Extent of Consolidation
•Full Consolidation
Rationale for Consolidation or Parent / Group / Govt. Support
Acuité has consolidated the financial and business risk profiles of Shah Coal Private Limited (SCPL), Aarti Logistics Private Limited (ALPL) and hereinafter referred to as Shah group on account of their common management, strong operational and financial linkages of the business segments and the nature of business to arrive at this rating.

Key Rating Drivers

Strengths
>Promoter’s extensive experience in logistics industry; established track record of operations in importing and trading of coal
Shah Group has been in the coal trading business since 1997, Mr. Vinay Shah and Mr. Ketan Shah, (promoters), look after the day-to-day operations of the group. Over the years the promoters have forayed into logistics business and the provide transportation service from the coal fields to the customers location. The company has recently also secured contracts to undertake the transportation and logistics of coal from the mine. Their presence of more than three decades of experience in the coal trading business has enabled the promoter to establish healthy relationships with its customers. The key customers of the group include reputed customer namely Hindalco industries Ltd, ACC Ltd, Northern Coalfields Ltd , Ambuja Cement amongst others. The group reported an operating income grew by ~43% to Rs.478.50 Crore in FY2022 (Prov) from Rs.335.21 crore in FY2021..
Acuité believes that Shah group will continue to derive benefits from the vast experience of its promoters and the established relationships with its key customers.

­>Healthy Financial Risk Profile
The financial risk profile of the company stood healthy marked by healthy net worth, moderate gearing and debt protection metrics. The tangible net worth stood at Rs.210.77 crore as on 31 March, 2022 (Prov) as against Rs.179.36 crore as on 31 March, 2021 and Rs.156.87 crore as on 31 March, 2020. The improvement in net worth is attributable to healthy accretion to reserves, which inturn has been healthy due to sustained improvement in its scale of operations. The total debt of the company stood at Rs.116.88 crore includes Rs.43.52 crore of long term debt, Rs.39.64 crore of short term debt, Rs.9.50 crore of unsecured loans.. The gearing (debt to equity) stood at 0.55 times as on 31 March, 2022 (Prov) as compared to
0.19 times as on 31 March, 2021. The group has a capex plan to procure additional fleet of the truck, which is likely to lead to additional debt of Rs.12.50 crore over the medium term. As a result of the capex plan, the gearing levels are likely to moderate to around 0.26 times as on March 31, 2024. The moderate gearing and healthy profitability levels have resulted in healthy coverage ratios. The interest Coverage Ratio stood at 7.32 times for FY2022 (Prov) as against 7.14 times for FY2021 and 8.89 times for FY2020. Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) stood at 2.78 times in FY2022 (Prov) as against 2.26 times in FY2021 and 2.66 times in FY2020. Total outside Liabilities/Total Net Worth (TOL/TNW) stood at 1.02 times as on 31 March, 2022 (Prov) as against 0.69 times as on 31 March, 2021. Net Cash Accruals to Total Debt (NCA/TD) stood at 0.39 times for FY2022 (Prov) as against 0.93 times for FY2021.
Acuite expects the financial risk profile to remain healthy over the medium term on account of healthy capital structure and stable operations of the group.
Weaknesses
­>Moderate Working Capital Management
The working capital management of the company is moderate marked by GCA days of 108 days in FY2022 (Prov) as against 143 days in FY2021 and 123 days in FY2020. The group’s working capital cycle elongated on account of the high receivable period. The group has consciously adopted a policy to reduce the open inventory levels. The risk of volatility in price of coal is mitigated by absence of any open inventory and prior settlement of price between the buyer and the seller. Moreover, the foreign exchange risk associated with the import of coal is managed by presence of hedging policies adopted by the company.
Acuite expects the operations of the company to remain working capital moderate over the medium.

>High customer concentration risks
Shah group’s is exposed to high customer concentration, while the company enjoys a long standing relationship with its key customers Hindalco industries Ltd, ACC Ltd, Northern Coalfields Ltd, Ambuja Cement and many others. The company is engaged in the trading of imported coal and transportation business backed by the orders received. Any decline in offtake from its customers will have a huge impact on the company’s sales volume.
Acuité believes that, however, the customer concentration is mitigated to some extent by the established relationship of the company with its customers since its inception.

>Competitive and regulated industry
Coal being a commodity has demonstrated significant volatility in its prices in the past. Imported coal prices are also governed by global demand-supply factors. The coal trading and transport industry is highly fragmented, with a large number of players, due to the low entry barriers. This has restricted the growth in the company’s margins in these segments. Also, the industry is highly regulated, with the ministry of coal governing its operations in the country. Any adverse regulations would impact the operations of the company. Shah Coal group may face challenges if receivables exceed usance of letters of credit. Furthermore, the business risk profile remains exposed to fluctuations in coal prices and the regulatory policies of the government.
Acuité believes that any change in regulations and policies could have an adverse impact on the business risk profile of the group and expects the profitability position of the firm to remain modest over the medium term

 
Rating Sensitivities
  • Substantial and sustainable increase in revenue and profitability
  • Significant improvement in the working capital cycle
 
Material Covenants
­None.
 
Liquidity Position: Adequate
The company’s liquidity position is adequate marked by sufficient net cash accruals against its maturing debt obligations. The company has net cash accruals in the range of Rs.31.61- Rs.45.47 Crore from FY 2021- 2022 against its maturing debt obligations in the range of Rs.10.45- Rs.24.22 crore in the same tenure. In addition, it is expected to generate a sufficient cash accrual in the range of Rs.54.84-67.90 crores against the maturing repayment obligations of around Rs.18.64-21.04 crore over the medium term. The working capital management of the company is intensive marked by GCA days of 108 days in FY2022 (Prov) as against 143 days in FY2021.  The average bank limit utilization in SCPL for fund based for the past 06 months ending June 2022 is ~ 40.00 percent for all the three banks and for Non fund based is around ~80%-85%. The average bank Limit utilization in ALPL for fund based for the past 06 months ending June 2022 is ~45.62 percent.
Acuite believes that the liquidity of the group is likely to remain adequate over the medium term on account of healthy cash accrual and no major repayments over the medium term.
 
Outlook: Stable
Acuité believes that Shah Group will maintain a ‘Stable’ outlook over the medium term on account of long track of operations and established relations with its customers and suppliers. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive', in case of increasing repeat orders from well diversified customer base and improvement in realization per tonne leading to higher-than-expected revenues and profitability leading to improvement in financial risk profile. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case Shah group witnesses any stretch in its working capital management or larger than expected debt- funded capital expenditure leading to deterioration of its financial risk profile particularly its liquidity.
 
Other Factors affecting Rating
­None
 

Particulars Unit FY 22 (Provisional) FY 21 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr. 478.50 335.21
PAT Rs. Cr. 31.40 22.49
PAT Margin (%) 6.56 6.71
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 0.55 0.19
PBDIT/Interest Times 7.32 7.14
Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable)
­None
 
Any Other Information
­Standalone figures 
 
Particulars Unit FY2022 (Provisional)  FY2021 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr 460.83 315.95
PAT Rs. Cr 29.81 19.44
PAT Margin % 6.47 6.15
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 0.61 0.21
PBDIT/Interest Times 7.15 6.63
 
Applicable Criteria
• Application Of Financial Ratios And Adjustments: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-53.htm
• Consolidation Of Companies: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-60.htm
• Default Recognition: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-52.htm
• Service Sector: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-50.htm
• Trading Entitie: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-61.htm

Note on Complexity Levels of the Rated Instrument
https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-55.htm
Rating History :
­Not applicable
 

Lender’s Name ISIN Facilities Date Of Issuance Coupon Rate Maturity Date Quantum (Rs. Cr.) Rating
Canara Bank Not Applicable Bank Guarantee (BLR) Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 40.00 ACUITE A3+ | Assigned
Punjab National Bank Not Applicable Bank Guarantee (BLR) Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 30.00 ACUITE A3+ | Assigned
Kotak Mahindra Bank Not Applicable Bank Guarantee (BLR) Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 5.00 ACUITE A3+ | Assigned
Yes Bank Ltd Not Applicable Dropline Overdraft Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 5.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable | Assigned
Kotak Mahindra Bank Not Applicable Dropline Overdraft Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 38.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable | Assigned
Union Bank of India Not Applicable Letter of Credit Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 50.00 ACUITE A3+ | Assigned
Punjab National Bank Not Applicable Overdraft Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 8.33 ACUITE BBB | Stable | Assigned
Canara Bank Not Applicable Overdraft Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 5.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable | Assigned
Not Applicable Not Applicable Proposed Long Term Bank Facility Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 18.67 ACUITE BBB | Stable | Assigned
  • ­Canara Bank: Bank Guarantee is interchangeable with Letter of Credit
  • Punjab National Bank: Bank Guarantee is interchangeable with Letter of Credit
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank: Dropline Overdraft is interchangeable with Overdraft and Cash Credit
  • Kotak Mahindra Bank: Bank Guarantee is interchangeable with Letter of Credit

Contacts
Analytical Rating Desk
About Acuité Ratings & Research

Acuité Ratings & Research Limitedwww.acuite.in