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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
11-May-23

Analyst
Muhammad Noor Ul Haq
noorulhaq@pacra.com
+92-42-35869504
www.pacra.com

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This press release is being transmitted for the sole purpose of dissemination through print/electronic media. The press release may be used in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof with due credit to PACRA

PACRA Maintains Entity Ratings of Sitara Petroleum Service Limited

Rating Type Entity
Current
(11-May-23 )
Previous
(11-May-22 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term A- A-
Short Term A2 A2
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

The ratings reflect the strong business profile of Sitara Petroleum Service Limited. Sponsors of the Company are in the business for over three decades, reflecting their business acumen. The company is primarily engaged in two business segments namely i) Trading & distribution of POL products and ii) Fleet logistic services to various OMCs. Trading segment is further split into retail and bulk units. Under the retail side, the company operates a network of ~52 retail stations which is mainly spread out in the Punjab region whereas, under the bulk segment the company provides POL product directly to customers. Company’s prime profits are being generated from the trading & distribution business. It carries ~86.0% share in the gross profit. The vast majority (~90%) of the fleet logistic revenue generated by the company is derived from its group company, Gas and Oil Company (GO). The Company’s financial risk profile is characterized by adequate leveraged capital structure. This along with improved cashflows help manage the financial risk. Adequate coverages lend support to financial profile. Management, being cognizant of the current industry situation, is embarking on functionalizing an Oil Marketing company to augment and diversify its revenue stream.
The ratings are dependent on the management's ability to sustain its business volumes while holding the margins. Sustaining the business and financial profile along with improvement in the governance framework would be vital for the ratings. Meanwhile, financial transparency is considered paramount.

About the Entity
Sitara petroleum Service Limited was incorporated in Jul’12. The company is 98% owned by Mr. Tahir Iqbal, who is a chairman and CEO of the company. Mr. Tahir Iqbal has done bachelors in Civil Engineering from University of Engineering & Technology Lahore. He is a veteran of the retail & oil transportation sector with rich experience in the field spanning for more than 3 decades. Mr. Tahir is supported by a team of experienced personnel. The company has a seven-member board (including CEO). Board comprises two executives, three non-executives and two independent directors. The board has formulated two committees, i) Board Audit Committee and ii) Board Human Resource & Remuneration Committee.

The primary function of PACRA is to evaluate the capacity and willingness of an entity to honor its obligations. Our ratings reflect an independent, professional and impartial assessment of the risks associated with a particular instrument or an entity. PACRA's comprehensive offerings include instrument and entity credit ratings, insurer financial strength ratings, fund ratings, asset manager ratings and real estate gradings. PACRA opinion is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, in as much as it does not comment on the security's market price or suitability for a particular investor.