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The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
28-Jun-24

Analyst
Shujat Ehsanullah Wasim
Shujat.Ehsan@pacra.com
+92-42-35869504
www.pacra.com

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PACRA assigns Initial rating to Lucky Electric Power Company Limited | PPSTS-17 | PKR 5bln | Mar24

Rating Type Debt Instrument
Current
(28-Jun-24 )
Action Initial
Long Term AA
Short Term A1+
Outlook Stable
Rating Watch -

Lucky Electric Power Company Limited ("LEPCL" or "the Company") has set up a 1x660MW (gross) coal-fired power plant. The project achieved COD in March-22 and is successfully connected to and providing electricity to the grid. The primary fuel is Coal; a coal supply agreement is signed with Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), SECMC will provide the coal from its developing Block-II (Phase III), which will be started in Dec 24. The previous tentative month was May-24. The Company has also signed imported coal supply agreement with reputable coal suppliers. Currently, plant is generating electricity through imported coal. The Company has generated a topline of ~PKR 54bln during 6MFY24. Lucky Electric Power Company Limited generated a bottom line of ~PKR 9.1bln during the same period. Comfort is drawn from the experience of O&M contractor, M/s Harbin Electric International Co., Ltd. -P.R. China (HEI), which has taken over the plant from previous operator from Mar-23. Going forward, the Company’s main focus would be to keep the plant operational. The Company has currently procured short-term financing facilities aggregating to ~PKR 18,249mln which are ~76% utilized as of Dec-2023. The cumulative short-term borrowings stand at ~PKR 38,823mln as of Dec-2023. Additionally, as at Dec-23, the Company has outstanding debt instruments amounting to PKR 25bln for operational needs. PPSTS-17 was issued in replacement of PPSTS-13.
The financial strength and experience in the energy chain of the sponsoring company Lucky Cement – are considered positive for the ratings. However, considering the unusual increase in working capital requirement due to the significant devaluation of PKR, supply chain issues and tariff adjustments, LEPCL is striving to manage its need. The offtake agreement is with CPPA-G, which will, upon the plant’s availability as per the contract, provide capacity payments even if no purchase order is placed. The Government of Pakistan has given a payment guarantee against dues from CPPA G.

About the Entity
LEPCL, incorporated in Pakistan on June 13, 2014 as public unlisted company at Port Qasim, Karachi, Sindh. Lucky Cement Limited owns 100% shareholding of LEPCL. Lucky Cement Limited stands as the flagship company of Yunus Brothers Group. The Company’s board comprises seven directors, including CEO, all the board members represent Lucky Cement. Mr. Muhammad Ali Tabba, the Chairman, has been associated with the Group in different capacities for nearly three decades and is currently chairing the Board with his visionary leadership.

About the Instrument
LEPCL has issued a rated, unsecured, unlisted, privately placed, short-term Sukuk Lucky Electric Power Company Limited | PPSTS-17 | PKR 5bln | Mar24 (“PPSTS-17”) of PKR 5,000mln (inclusive of green option of PKR 2,000mln) on 26th March, 2024. PPSTS-17 was issued in rollover of PPSTS-13 amounting PKR 5,000mln which matured on 27th March, 2024. The tenor of the instrument is 6 months. The purpose of the instrument is to be utilized by the Company to meet its working capital requirements. PPSTS-17 carries a profit rate of 6MK+ 25bps. Profit and principal will be realized at the time of maturity.

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.