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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
24-Mar-21

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 Pakistan Services Limited

Rating Type Entity
Current
(24-Mar-21 )
Previous
(24-Mar-20 )
Action Maintain Downgrade
Long Term A A
Short Term A1 A1
Outlook Negative Negative
Rating Watch Yes Yes

Pakistan Services Limited’s (The Company) has a leading position in the hospitality industry. Hospitality and tourism industry was affected due to outbreak of Covid-19 with associated lockdown and travel restrictions around the globe. Pandemic situation is still underway as third wave is around reflecting uncertainty in the industry. Overall hotels and hospitality industry dynamics started improvement, restrictions were softened and economic activity resumed. Hotel industry is allowed to operate under specific SOPs, which led the Company to achieve limited profitability in 2QFY21 and came back to operating profit level at the half year close. Challenges persists like low occupancy rate and reduction in average daily room rate. As a response to address the challenges, the Company managed to achieve alignment of its cash flows and payables by deferring long term debt which will eventually ease out liquidity pressure for near future. Furthermore, management decision to dispose of non-core assets will supplement the future liquidity position. Capital structure of the Company reflects leveraging with large asset base but on the other hand coverages are weak due to lower cashflows and higher debt servicing cost. Alignment of long-term loan is alleviating this pressure. Financial support from sponsors remains imperative.
Ratings are dependent on effective implementation of envisaged strategy to improve cashflows while maintaining modest leveraging and strengthening coverages. Any significant delay in commencement of new projects and/or further deterioration in margins coupled with low occupancy rate leading to weak coverages and pressure on liquidity, will have a negative impact on ratings. Meanwhile, maintaining sufficient cushion for debt repayment remains crucial. Outlook on the entity is negative while rating watch maintained. In this respect, removal of material uncertainty related to going concern as documented by the external auditors is important.

About the Entity
Pakistan Services Limited was established in 1958 and is quoted on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. It owns and operates Pearl Continental Hotels – the largest hotel chain of the country with 1,526 rooms. The Company has a nine-member BoD, with three independent members. Mr. Sadruddin Hashwani – founder of the Hashoo Group – is the Chairman of the board. He has experience of over 5 decades of managing different businesses. Mr. Murtaza Hashwani acts as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

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.