Cemindia Projects Limited analyst Q&A

Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the quesƟon-and-answer session. If you have a quesƟon please press * and 1 on your telephone keypad and wait for your turn to ask the quesƟon. If you would like to withdraw your request, you may do so by pressing * and 1 again. The first quesƟon comes from Nikhil Abhyankar from ICICI SecuriƟes. Yes, sir. Thanks for the opportunity. You have reported very strong robust execuƟon growth in the H1 itself. And also, the margins are already above 9% in H1. So, will you be revising your guidance for FY23? Based on which guidance you are talking?

Revenue EBITDA and order inflow, sir.

I think, we'll maintain the same, which is around INR 7,000-core-plus in the top line. We hope that EBITDA will be just 10% above this end of the year.

And sir, order inflow pipeline, order inflow, sir? Order, so far, we have secured close to INR 5,000 crore, INR 4,800 crore. And as we said that few jobs, L1 and there are some prospects. So hopefully, end of the year, it will be around INR 8,000-crore-plus total order inflow in this year. ITD CementaƟon India limited 5 09.11.2023

Okay. What is the quantum of the L1 order that you're siƫng in?

Sorry, can you come again?

What is the value of the L1 order?

L1 order is about INR 650 crores.

INR 650 crores. Sir, now moving to order inflow in H2. So where are the opportuniƟes, what are the opportuniƟes that you're looking at and that is it first.

The opportunity, we have few marine jobs in Bangladesh. The tenders are now under preparaƟon and hopefully by end of this year we'll be able to submit our bid. And few marine job already have quoted for JSW and Adani as well. We are pursuing some job in Odisha for a big port, new port being developed. We have also some hydroelectric job pursuing at Karnataka. And there are jobs from ArcelorMiƩal in Hazira. So, it’s the mix of various segment, like marine, the building and the metros. Altogether, I think around INR 13,000 crore, INR 14,000 crores of job is under the pipeline now.

Okay. Sir, just a final quesƟon. Pump storage hydro projects are geƫng a lot of tracƟon and lot of companies are announcing their plans. So, are we thinking of developing any capabiliƟes in this segment? Actually, we are in this segment, and we have done, few very challenging jobs in this segment before. In Meghalaya we have done, and we are also pursuing a similar kind of job now. So, yes, we are there, very much there. ITD CementaƟon India limited 6 09.11.2023

Sir, are there any discussions with any of the IPPs or developers?

Yes. We are discussing.

Thank you and all the very best sir. Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from Bajrang Bafna from Sunidhi SecuriƟes. CongratulaƟons for a good set of numbers. So, my first quesƟon pertains to the average execuƟon of the exisƟng order book we are siƫng on, let's say, INR 22,000 crores of order book and we have a visibility of, let's say, another INR 3,000-4,000 crore to flow during this financial year in the second half. So, considering, what could be the average execuƟon cycle and what sort of growth on this base of INR 7,000 crore execuƟon this year we can expect or, let's say, FY25-26? Some strategy or the guidance or the thought process of the management will be really appreciated. And my second quesƟon is the visibility on the, like you are moving more and more towards slightly, the projects where margins are high and the compeƟƟon is low, like marine and some complex jobs where, which is not the business of other companies where you can run a beƩer margin. So, the trajectory maybe next 2-3 year perspecƟve, where we can move from, let’s say this 10% to maybe towards 12%, 13%? Is it something the management is thinking from next 2, 3 years perspecƟve? So that's the second quesƟon from my side. And some sense on the improvement in the working capital cycle that probably how we are looking at, and some thought process on that will be appreciated. That's all from my side. Thank you.

Okay. I think many things you have asked in just one quesƟon. Good. So, I'll try to address one-by-one. This year, the revenue so far, we have done around INR 3,500 crores. So, this Q3 and Q4 will be definitely a liƩle bit more than that. So, hopefully INR 7,000-crore-plus, I mean, we'll definitely achieve. Going forward to next year, we can think about around 20%, 25% growth in top line, because work in hand what we have now they are fairly big, like Ganga expressway, as you know, INR 5,000 crore, and project for Navy, we had ITD CementaƟon India limited 7 09.11.2023 project worth of INR 3,200 crores. Bangalore Metro and Chennai Metro as well. So, big Ɵcket jobs. So, revenue-wise, we should be able to achieve around 25% more than this year. Regarding further from next year onwards, our focus will remain for the bigger jobs. The idea is do less number of project, but each project should be bigger. Bigger in the sense, INR 1,000 crore, INR 2,000 crore in that range. And that gives us lot of leverage to properly efficiently execute that we have seen. That is why we are also targeƟng job, which has got turnkey sort of things, like electromechanical, crane and many other things, not only civil. And our focus also will remain on the green energy because a lot of emphasized being given by the government and some private sector on the green energy, on hydrogen. So, big plants are being set up by the local entrepreneurs. We are focusing on that. We're also focusing in neighboring countries for the marine work at least. And there are some inquiries which are quite encouraging. So that is what I can say about the execuƟon for next one or two years. Regarding working capital, Prasad, if you can address that.

Yes. In fact, there is a lot of efficiency that we are reporƟng on our working capital cycle as well. Net working capital is today less than 90 days. While, there are obviously opportuniƟes to improve the working capital cycle. I don't think there is a significant improvement possible beyond this level. So, 80, 85 days, I think is a very robust and healthy net working capital cycle. But our endeavor will be to wherever possible to improve the cycle further.

Okay. Sir, just one sense that we want to get now. Most of the players who are there in the industry, in the infrastructure side, they are struggling to get BG limits at the right cosƟng, like we were even bearing that a lot of being 2% or maybe 2.5% kind of the BG cost for geƫng those lines from the banking channel. So, what is the interest rate that we are paying on BG currently? And some sense on that because it is a major porƟon of our interest cost as well. So, some guidance on that will be really helpful.

Well, the guarantee commission that we pay generally varies from 0.7%, 0.8%. And it depends on the value and the tenure of the bank guarantee. So, especially for the guarantees that we provide in foreign countries where there is more than one bank involved. The bank guarantee commission would tend to be a bit higher, but it's in the range of about, say, 1% or thereabouts, 0.8% to 1% or thereabouts. ITD CementaƟon India limited 8 09.11.2023

Great. Okay. Thank you very much. And I think this is a very compeƟƟve rate because offlate whenever we are meeƟng with a lot of companies, they're all struggling for geƫng this BG limits at the right cosƟng. So, this is really challenging, and it is really happening to know that we are geƫng most compeƟƟve rate in the industry, at least for this BG is concerned. Thank you, sir.

Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from PraƟk Kothari from Unique PMS. PraƟk Kothari We're currently already at about INR 7,000 crore, INR 7,500 crore run rate. We'll be at INR 10,000 crore very soon. So, if you can talk about internally, what are we doing, or how are we preparing to execute and scale. This is something which we have not obviously done in the past. So, how is our preparaƟon going internally?

Well, we are seriously concerned about our internal capability. If I can define, we address one-by-one. First of all, technical capability, that's not an issue because we have got experienced people and through experience, they are quite knowledgeable in the business what we are. We have to build up some new team for the overseas. So, what we are doing now, we have already worked in Myanmar. We are working in Colombo. We are working in Bangladesh. So, there is a core team. So, we’re trying to invest some more team with the exisƟng core team. So that by other 6-7 months Ɵme, they become trained. The most important part is the support system, because we have to support the execuƟon from logisƟcs, from finance and from whatever do you say. So, those area we are strengthening. And the plant machinery is not a problem because nowadays you get the required plant machinery, either you can buy it or you can hire it. Those things are preƩy available. So, where we stuck up mostly is the boƩom force, the labor force, work man. And that is a common problem for all the companies in our industry. So, we are trying to migrate from most of the manual work to the mechanical work. That is one area. And second area, how to educate this labor force, how to keep them, how to conƟnue them in our company, what sort of iniƟaƟve we should take. So, we’re really focusing on that. So, these are some of the area, I mean, things we are doing to increase our capability. ITD CementaƟon India limited 9 09.11.2023 PraƟk Kothari Correct. Fair enough. And, sir, earlier I think we had planned for about INR 150 crore, INR 200 crores of Capex this year and I think they've already done INR 240 crores in first half itself. So, any change in plans? Are we acceleraƟng something for the execuƟon coming up there, if you can highlight there?

Yes, I think the Capex was more of this last year or so because of we have to invest a lot trench cuƩer and tunnel boring machine for the metro jobs that we have secured. But going forward, we don't expect that that much of Capex will be involved. Because whatever we have already, that can be used for the next project. And for the marine, we already have our adequate plant and machinery. There will be some, but not to this extent. PraƟk Kothari Okay. So, large part of whatever investments we have to make for next, taking into account next 18 months, 24 months, we have already begun that, and it will only be minor going forward.

Exactly. Except Bangladesh project, which is already we have secured and it is not Capex. Basically, you have to rent some big machinery for a duraƟon of 6-7 months’ Ɵme. So otherwise, large amount of Capex, what we have invested already that will yield our result. We don't expect much investment now. PraƟk Kothari Got it. Fair enough. And sir, one of the previous parƟcipant answer, you did menƟon that now our focus would be to do less number of jobs but do very large INR 1,000-crore-plus. Is it also fair to assume that the compeƟƟon in that segment is lower than usually what we see at a lower order rate of INR 200 crore, INR 300 crore, INR 500 crores order?

Exactly. If you see, now if you have a airport tender, and the value is INR 300 crore to INR 400 crores, you'll find 10 parƟcipants there. For the same airport terminal building, if it cosƟng INR 2,000 crore, it will hardly come down to 3 or 5 parƟcipants, in that way also. And good for us that we are able to get qualified ourselves because for whatever work we have done. So definitely, the Ɵckets is big, the compeƟƟon is less. ITD CementaƟon India limited 10 09.11.2023 PraƟk Kothari Got it. So, my last quesƟon to Prasad sir, if you can highlight any further provisions that we have made this quarter? And also, in a standalone cash flow, we see this INR 9 crores of loss from some unincorporated enƟty, if you can highlight what is that regarding?

No, we haven't done. What we would have done is a normal expected credit loss provisions. So, there is nothing really any addiƟonal provision that we have carried out in this quarter. PraƟk Kothari Correct. And the loss from unincorporated enƟty?

So, that is something that we had done in Q1. I don't think we have done anything in Q2 right now. So, maybe you're looking at the six-month balance sheet or the cash flows, there it will get reflected because it is for the half year and not for this quarter in parƟcular. PraƟk Kothari Fair enough. Thank you and all the best sir.

Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from Siddarth Shah from MK Ventures. Yes. So, thank you for the opportunity and congratulaƟons on great set of numbers. Sir, in your opening remarks, you menƟoned that second half was normally much higher than the first half. For example, last year, you had INR 3,000 crores in second half and INR 2,000 crores in first half, so 60-40 type of raƟo. But the current year guidance is sƟll around INR 7,000 crores, and you already done INR 3,500 crores in first half. And also, all the projects are taking off well. Just to understand, is this quite conservaƟve or this is what is pracƟcally possible or what is? So, some comments on this would be very helpful, sir. ITD CementaƟon India limited 11 09.11.2023 Yes, I think you have rightly picked up the comments what I made. I want to emphasize that whatever guideline we have given, that is definitely we'll be able to achieve that. We definitely try to achieve more, but someƟmes those numbers also varies year-by-year, it may not be same this year. Last year, 50% more, this year it maybe a liƩle bit less on that. So, what I try to emphasize, the INR 7,000-core-plus definitely will be achieved this year.

Sure, sir. That's helpful. And the second quesƟon is similar quesƟon to one of the previous parƟcipants, that going forward, all this provisioning of Bangalore project and all has been taken. So, from next year onwards, what kind of margins are you guys internally working on. Is it 12%, 13% margin possible in the next two-three years or we should kind of expect 10% of margin going forward?

See, so far, Ɵll few quarters back, our margin is to be around 8% to 9%, 8.5% EBITDA, which has come to close to 10% now. So ,beyond that, if you have to do one you have to really get the job at a beƩer price. So, we have to be in the compeƟƟon also. So, yes, 10%-plus and how much we can go beyond that has to be seen based on the nature of job and what price are geƫng the job, what is the compeƟƟon etc.

Sure, sir. And sir, last quesƟon is on the debt part. If you can just highlight what is the net debt of the company now as on date?

Net debt of the company as of September end is about INR 460 crores.

Ok sir. That’s it from my side. Thank you and all the best sir. Thank you Siddarth. ITD CementaƟon India limited 12 09.11.2023 Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from Laha Nirvana from Laha Professional Investor. Hi. Thank you for the opportunity. Sir, I wanted to understand because general elecƟons will be there in Q1 of next financial year. So, just like in the road sector, there is usually some slowdown. In our line of business, do you anƟcipate any kind of execuƟon slowdown?

Not really. I think because of elecƟon, there'll be a lot of pressure to do more work. So, because of elecƟon, I don't see that will affect our work. In fact new tenders or new projects which come up tendering, but the orders that we have already received or have been awarded to us, we don't expect any slowdown in the execuƟon of the projects that we have on hand.

Okay. And for orders also, sir, do you anƟcipate a slowdown? And if you do, then do you expect it to be a transient phenomenon which will take it normalized in from Q2, Q3 onwards next year?

Generally, there may be a liƩle bit of. I'm not saying there definitely will be a slowdown, but there could be a bit of slow down or postponement in some of the tenders which come up for bidding. But that would obviously be a temporary phenomenon, when the elecƟons are through, I mean, the focus on infrastructure would remain. And I don't think it is going to impact the industry in the long run.

Okay. All right. And in Sikkim recently there was a cloud burst and flood which kind of caused a lot of destrucƟon. So, we are doing those tunnel projects in Rangpo. So, was there any impact on our project or is there going to be any impact in future? So, touchwood, there was no damage to, for any structure or any sort of, I mean, problem we faced. The only thing that few days the work was stopped, that too only for three, four days. So, we are able to manage. I don't see that there's any issue with that. ITD CementaƟon India limited 13 09.11.2023

Okay. That is very nice to hear, sir. And on cash flows and debt. So, we have done a lot of CapEx as was already discussed. Now, I noƟced that our operaƟng cash flows are quite healthy in half year. So, I think going forward also, we can hope to generate this kind of operaƟng cash flow. So, are we planning to become net debt free anyƟme soon, Prasad, sir?

No. I don't think we'll be able to be debt free at least in this financial year or in the next financial year. This business is working capital intensive to some extent. So, while we are trying to manage or ensure that the debt doesn't go out of hand in our balance sheet. I really don't see us becoming a net debt free in this financial year or the next financial year.

Okay, sir. In that case, can you help me understand the interest rate trajectory. So, I think you have short- term working capital loans, long-term loans, and the non-fund based limits that you take. So, can you guide the interest rates that we should assume for this, so that we can sort of esƟmate the interest costs that will come?

Well, I can indicate the interest rates that are being charged to us presently. Now, going forward, we'll have to see, it depends on many factors. So, for our working capital debt, the interest rate would vary typically from 9%, 9.5% to maybe 10.5% or 11%. For term debt, the interest rates are sƟll lower than that, maybe in higher single-digits.

Okay. And for our BG limit, you said maximum 1%? It's around 1%. It typically depends on the bank which we are dealing with and the tenure of the bank guarantee and the locaƟon where it is issued. So, there are mulƟple factors will influence the charges that we pay. But it's around 1%, maybe someƟmes a liƩle higher than 1% or many Ɵmes lower than 1% as well. ITD CementaƟon India limited 14 09.11.2023

Okay. All right. And final quesƟon, sir, from my side, is that the CapEx that we have done INR 238 crores. Can you help me understand towards what this CapEx has gone towards? Because I'm not very familiar with the kind of machinery that you're using. So, it'll be very helpful if you can outline, like, what are the kind of machines we have got with this and why a buy decision versus a leasing decision, so some color on that so that we understand beƩer.

Look, at Chennai metro, we had to do a construcƟon called diaphragm wall, which is verƟcal wall below the ground, which goes around 30, 35 meters. And in most of the cases, you have to do the wall through soil. But typically in Chennai metro, it is rock. In rock, whenever you try to do such work, you require a special machine, which is called trench cuƩer. Hardly we had in India before. So, we had to have 9 trench cuƩer mobilized. To answer your second quesƟon, out of that 4 we have bought and 5 is buyback or rental sort of things.

What is the cost for each machine?

It will vary around INR 40 crore plus-minus each machine. And supporƟng the trench cuƩer there are some other small equipment, and we bought few piling rigs as well. And another one, the important thing is the Tunnel Boring Machine. We bought one tunnel boring machine for the Chennai metro. So, tunnel boring machine, trench cuƩer and few piling rigs. These are the equipment we have purchased out of the CapEx.

Okay. That's helpful, sir. Final two quesƟons follow-up on this. The four trench cuƩers. You said INR 40 crore per trench cuƩer, right? Yes, around that.

Okay. And the tunnel boring machine would be how much? ITD CementaƟon India limited 15 09.11.2023 The tunnel boring machine, there is a cost of procurement and there's some refurbishment cost as well. So, each tunnel boring machine could cost between, say, INR 30 crore and INR 40 crores.

Okay. And we hope to uƟlize this machine across the mulƟple projects. We are working on tunnel projects plus metro projects, I think. So, uƟlizaƟon you think will not be a challenge for both the trench cuƩers and the TBM machine that we have bought?

Yes. We have to uƟlize them. There are visibility. That is what is the business. I mean, you have to uƟlize them.

Right, sir. Sir, many congratulaƟons on this quarter, it was really heartening to see 10% EBITDA. And really wishing that in the coming years, you can cross INR 10,000 crore with much higher EBITDA margins and keep doing the excellent high level technical work that the enƟre team is doing. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from Aman Soni, an Individual Investor. Hello. Good aŌernoon, everyone. I'm joining the con call for the first Ɵme. I have a couple of quesƟon, I’ll go one by one. My first quesƟon was on the margin profile. I understand that, the company does different orders from NHAI to Marine and all other things. So, which kind of orders provide a beƩer margin? And if you can quanƟfy that, that would be great. ITD CementaƟon India limited 16 09.11.2023 Well, typically, our experience has been that underground metro and marine projects give us beƩer margins. There would typically each project comes with its own set of complexiƟes. So, the margin profile would differ from project to project, but our margins are certainly higher on these two segments as compared to the other segments that we work in.

Okay. Alright. And, one more thing, reading your previous con-call that you menƟoned something about INR 29 crore provisioning that you did. So, what was it during the current quarter?

Nothing. There was no provisioning. This was in the Q1, for one of the elevated metro projects, we have taken a hit of INR 29 crores in Q1. There is nothing in Q2.

Okay. And secondly, my last quesƟon is on the tax rate. So, in the past couple of quarters, I see the tax rate hovers around someƟmes 40%, 45%. So, what should be the number going forward? What can we expect?

No. On a standalone basis the tax rate is around 25%, so there's no change in that. But the results that we declared has a mix of our standalone profit as well as the profit that we record on some of the joint venture projects that we have. And that is why there is a change in the tax rate. But going forward, I think it should be in the range of 25%, 26%.

25%, 26%. Okay. And one last thing, I read in the opening remarks, you detailing out different projects and their compleƟon period. So, I can see that some other companies in their investor presentaƟon usually give what the percentage which is completed along with the project name. So, would it be possible to share that in the coming quarters in the investor presentaƟon? There are about 50, 60 projects that we are execuƟng, but that's a good input that we have received from you. We'll see how we can factor that in the presentaƟon going forward. ITD CementaƟon India limited 17 09.11.2023

Yes, I understand. Basically, it would be great if iniƟally you can just start off with maybe 50%, 60% of whatever your top orders are, and that would be very much helpful.

Ok That’s all. Thank you so much.

Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from Sameer Deshpande from Fairdeal Investments. Hello. Good evening, sir. And congratulaƟons for the excellent set of results you have produced over the last 6 months. So, actually, I heard the net debt is around INR 460 crores or 260 crores?

INR 460 crore.

INR 460 crore?

Yes.

Because in the balance sheet, if I go for the consolidated balance sheet, the gross loans are around INR 750 crores, and cash and bank balances it’s totaling around INR 500 crores. So, it comes to INR 250 crores net debt. ITD CementaƟon India limited 18 09.11.2023 No, the gross rate number is correct. We have taken some of the deposits are earmarked against some of the guarantees that have been issued. So, we have already considered the unencumbered deposits for working out the net debt. And according to that, the net debt works out to about INR 460 crores.

Okay. So, it is quite comfortable considering the industry situaƟon. And we have managed our working capital also very well. As you menƟoned, less than 90 days is quite commendable. And, you menƟoned regarding this mariƟme projects, and this underground metros are the most profitable part of our total business. So, in that demand, that mariƟme order contributes, I think, more than 50% of our order book or 40%?

It is now close to 40%.

Which is around INR 7,800 crores out of INR 22,000 crores. Okay. It's quite good. Business is picking up well and we hope the execuƟon also will be good in the second half.

Yes, that is what is expected.

Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from Kaushik Poddar from KB Capital Markets Pvt Ltd. See, with your turnover going up sharply, say, 20%, 25%. Do you see the margin also growing up, EBITDA margin? EBITDA margin, yes, you are right because there are some fixed cost which doesn't get proporƟonately changed. So theoreƟcally, it should go up. ITD CementaƟon India limited 19 09.11.2023

And to what level do you see in 2025? See, right now, I think you are around 10.6% or 10.7%. So, can we think of, say, 11%, 11.5% this year and next year?

Yes. Actually, the margin also is a funcƟon of compeƟƟon. You have to seek some job as a lower margin. So that is also a way. So yes, 10%-plus, let us see how best we can do in the next year.

Okay. And do you see with the elecƟon being a few months away or something, there will be a kind of freeze in new orders?

Yeah, expected around the elecƟon Ɵme there'll be, but whatever work we have only secured, and whatever we are expecƟng from the L1, I don't see whatever we have given the guidelines will be affected.

Okay. So, even with the elecƟon being, say, four-five months away, do you sƟll see the 20%, 25% growth for next year? I mean, that should not be a problem because of the orders are at hand, that's what you're saying?

Yes, you're right.

Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, if you have any quesƟons, please press * and 1 on your telephone keypad. Next quesƟon comes from Kunal Patudia, an Individual Investor. CongratulaƟons, sir, for the fantasƟc results. And hope to get the guidelines also net for the balance of the six months. Sir, I wanted to ask about the arbitraƟon awards that we have in our hand, and do we expect any cash flow from any of these awards in this financial year? ITD CementaƟon India limited 20 09.11.2023 Yes. Kunal, you are most welcome. Thank you for joining this con-call. Yes, we have got a few arbitraƟon award. One, is from Kolkata airport, which was a joint venture of our parent company. The discussions are going on. So, we expect that some result will come out soon. I mean, when I say soon, maybe three-four months’ Ɵme. And another one award we have from the Noida authority, which is around INR 40-odd- crores. So, now the authority has gone to the court challenging the award. But normally, if the arbitraƟon award are there, you can expect that the court order also will be favorable to us. So, these are the two arbitraƟon awards we are now pursuing.

So, what will be the value of the cash flow that you're expecƟng?

From the arbitraƟon?

Yes, from the arbitraƟon.

For the Noida, it is quite defined, because it is around INR 40 crores. But for Kolkata airport, the discussions are going on. So, we really want to see that how well it goes out. So, we don't want to comment on that, but Noida is around INR 40 crore will look at it.

Right, sir. So, if you could give me a breakup of the revenue that you expect from Ganga expressway, Chennai metro and Varsha project for next six months? Ganga expressway, there should be around INR 152 crore to INR 200 crore per month. Typically metro job INR 40 crore to INR 50 crore per month for each metro job. That is the staƟsƟc. We don't go into such details. ITD CementaƟon India limited 21 09.11.2023

And sir, Varsha marine project?

Varsha marine project is a liƩle bit early because we are sƟll in the planning stage. It depends upon where we do the dredging, because we can do the dredging in the monsoon, before the next monsoon starts. Or we may go to dredging aŌer the next month to start. So, the whole thing will depend upon the dredging progress. At this moment, I don't have the right number to share with you.

Right, sir. So, for Ganga expressway, you said INR 900 crore revenue was booked in this quarter. Am I correct, sir?

No. You are wrong. So far we have done INR 900 crores from the incepƟon.

Okay. This is the total execuƟon. Okay. Understood. So, one more thing I wanted to understand. We are giving, paying royalty to our parent company, ITD Thai, and we are also giving dividends. Can the company consider a share buyback, which is more tax efficient for retail and small investors?

I don't have the answer for that today. This is our discussion strategy. So, I won't be able to comment on that, right now.

Right, sir. Sir, last quesƟon. Any bill discounƟng for vendors or your contractors or financing, like L&T does with L&T Finance? Have we Ɵed up with any NBFC or is there anything in pipeline that we are looking to do it? We have such faciliƟes from a few of our banks. ITD CementaƟon India limited 22 09.11.2023 Thank you, sir. Next is a follow-up quesƟon from Bajrang Bafna from Sunidhi SecuriƟes.

Thanks for the opportunity. Sir, on the Bangalore metro is there anything leŌ? Because I think most of the provisions has already been done. Any revenue which is yet to be booked or any more provisions required? And can we expect some sort of the total loss that we booked over last any maybe one to two year kind of Ɵme frame? It’s upwards of INR 150 crores, if I recollect it right. So, any possibility of geƫng this money back to some seƩlement or some arbitraƟon. So, some guidance on that will be really helpful, sir.

Well, Bangalore metro, physically all work completed. There are four contracts there. So out of that three contract already taken over by the client, final bill cerƟfied, our cerƟficaƟon is under progress. The fourth one also completed and taking over also is happening. So, what about leŌ out revenue would be hardly few crores, which will come through the final bill. And the provisioning part is almost over. I don't expect there'll be anything further required that I have clarified in the last con-call as well. And we have got a few claims and the addiƟonal work done. We have submiƩed our bill. So, those are under process and some will go for arbitraƟon. And as you know that arbitraƟon process takes Ɵme. We will not be able to comment on the Ɵmeline, but definitely we’re pursuing few claims on our extra items.

So, what is the total cost overrun that we have booked so far in P&L in the Bengaluru project? The total amount Ɵll date.

Bajrang, the numbers are not readily available with us. Maybe we can reconnect offline and discuss this further. Thank you, sir. Next quesƟon comes from Mehul Mehta from Nuvama Wealth. ITD CementaƟon India limited 23 09.11.2023 Mehul Mehta Good evening, team. In terms of CapEx for the first half, I believe, like, what I heard is, INR 238 crores has been so far incurred. So, any guidance for next, I mean, for H2, like, what would it like to be for CapEx? What can we expect?

It will be very less, I mean, first two quarter we had to invest for many things which we have discussed right now. But, going forward, it will be quite less. I don't have the exact number, but it will be much less.

Thank you, sir. Next is a follow-up quesƟon from Sameer Deshpande from Fairdeal Investments.

Thank you for the follow-up quesƟon. I wanted to know what is the amount of advance received against contracts in our current liabiliƟes?

Well, as of the quarter end, the total amount of advances outstanding is about INR 1,300 crores, INR 1,400 crores.

INR 1,300 crores, INR 1,400 crores. Because normally we must be receiving the advances when new contract we are geƫng, we will be receiving certain porƟon as advance. So, it is INR 1,300 crores, INR 1,400 crores. What was the amount last year, any idea on that? No. I wouldn't have the last year’s figure readily available right now.

Okay. Because our unbilled work in progress as on 30th September is around INR 1,540 crores. ITD CementaƟon India limited 24 09.11.2023

Which is up now almost 50% because I take on the 31st March figure last year. So, this year also, because of the new contracts issued, et cetera, in significant way, this figure also must be beƩer. That will help us in quesƟoning our working capital requirements?

No, you're right. And the numbers will be available in our Annual Report and our results are available publicly, so you will be able to look at it. The work in progress is higher because we need to, in the iniƟal periods of any project, aŌer it is awarded, there is a lot of expenditure that we need to incur our mobilizing plant, equipment, materials, etc. And only when the billing cycle starts that we see moderaƟon in the work in progress. And so, I think the growth in the work in progress number is in line with the growth in our order book and our revenue.

Thank you, sir. Next is a follow-up quesƟon from PraƟk Kothari from Unique PMS. PraƟk Kothari Yes. Sir, one comment from you on ports. I mean, we read about Mr. Jindal's comment on the kind of capacity which they expect that India should build, similarly from Adani Ports. Recently this development the US government funding one of your projects. Just your comment, I mean, what kind of pipeline or runway do you see for next few years on the port side?

Yes, port side, there are a lot of capacity deficit we have in our country, either the container cargo or the bulk cargo. When I say bulk cargo, it is iron ore, coal, ete. So, there will be a lot of new terminal, it has to be there in the coming years. And you can see that is geƫng reflected in the Odisha, one by one of the promoters like, Adani, Jindal, ArcelorMiƩal, and many of them are focusing in Odisha to building up the port there. And at the same Ɵme, defense also coming up with a lot of marine jobs in and around the coastline in Ahmedabad and many other places. So, there is a lot of marine job prospect in India going forward. ITD CementaƟon India limited 25 09.11.2023 Thank you, sir. There are no further quesƟons. Now, I hand over the floor to the management for closing comments.

Thank you very much for joining us on this Q2 FY24 earnings call. On behalf of the company, Mr. Basu and myself, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Happy Diwali and prosperous New Year. Look forward to interacƟng with you again aŌer our Q3 results. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes your conference for today. Thank you for your parƟcipaƟon and for using Door Sabha's conference call service. You may disconnect your lines now. Thank you and have a pleasant day.