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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
30-Mar-20

Analyst
Kanwal Ejaz
kanwal.ejaz@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 Saif Power Limited

Rating Type Entity
Current
(30-Mar-20 )
Previous
(02-Oct-19 )
Action Maintain Maintain
Long Term A+ A+
Short Term A1 A1
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

Saif Power Limited (Saif Power) runs 225MW Combined Cycle Thermal Power Plant at Sahiwal. The ratings reflect the strong business profile of Saif Power emanating from the demand risk covered under PPA signed between NTDC and the company. Meanwhile, the Implementation Agreement provides sovereign guarantee for cashflows, given adherence to agreed performance benchmarks. Nevertheless, delayed payments from the power purchaser remained a challenge. Despite higher receivable days the entity managed to sustain its financial strength. The ratings incorporate low operational risk, a result of established performance credentials of GE - the O&M operator. The company produced ~100% of the electricity through gas during 9MCY19. Fuel supply risk is considered adequate as they procure Pipeline Quality Gas from SNGPL with good credit terms. Moreover, the company has arrangement in place to procure High-Speed Diesel (HSD), the backup fuel, from Shell Pakistan. Short term borrowing lines are available and mainly used to fund any short-fall in working capital requirements.There is ample cushion available in short-term lines. Given the liquidity situation, utilization is imputed to go up. Settlement of overdue receivables is crucial. The company has an outstanding long term debt of PKR 1,796mln as at end-Sep19, payable till end of March 2020 . Sound financial profile of Saif Group, the major sponsor, provides comfort to the ratings
Sustained good financial discipline and upholding strong operational performance in line with agreed performance levels remain important. Accumulation of circular debt would pose threat to the company’s ability to continue with this practice. However, the management ably supported by sponsors’ remains committed to sustain improvement in management of commercial obligations and timely debt repayments.

About the Entity
Saif Power, established in 2004, is an Independent Power Producer operating under the Power Policy 2002. SPL is operating a Combined Cycle thermal power plant on build-own-operate (BOO) basis with a gross capacity of 225 MW. Saif Power's plant commenced operations on April 30, 2010. Saif Power was listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange in December 2014. Saif Holdings Limited, with ~51% stake, is the majority shareholder of the company followed by Orastar Limited (~17%), and Habib Bank Limited (~4%).
The project capital structure comprises 24% equity and 76% debt. Project related debt was PKR 12,907mln. The tenor of the debt was 10 years with Forty (40) consecutive quarterly payments, started from Jun-2010 (entire debt will be settled by Mar-2020). Mark-up rate on the borrowed amount is 3-month KIBOR + 3%. By the end- Sep 19, total principal outstanding is ~PKR 1,796mln.
The seven-member Board of Directors (BoD), excluding CEO, comprises six representatives of the sponsoring family and one independent director. Nominees of Saif Group are experienced professionals. Ms. Hoor Yousafzai chairs the board. The Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sohail H Hydari, had been associated with the company since inception. He is assisted by an experienced team.

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.