Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to the NCC Limited Q3 FY25 earnings conference call hosted by JM Financial Institutional Securities Limited. As a reminder, all participant lines will be in the listen-only mode, and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions after the presentation concludes. Should you need assistance during the conference call, please signal an operator by pressing star, then zero on your touch-tone phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Vaibhav Shah from JM Financial Institutional Securities. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Yeah, thank you. On behalf of JM Financial, I welcome everybody to Q1 FY25 earnings conference call of NCC Limited. We have from the management today, Sri R.S. Raju, Director of Projects, Sri Sanjay Puchela, and Sri Neeraj Sharma, Head of Strategy and Investor Relations. Now I hand over the call to the management for opening remarks, which will be followed by a Q&A session. Over to you, sir.
Good evening, everyone. At the very outset, I thank each of you for taking time to attend this interactive meeting. I have with me my colleagues, Mr. R.S. Raju, Director of Projects, and Mr. Sanjay Puchela, CFO. Today, we have declared our results for the third quarter of the financial year 25. Hope you had an opportunity to download and study the results and the investors' presentation uploaded on our website and shared with the stock exchanges. Before I begin this interactive meeting, I will read out the disclaimer. The presentation may contain certain forward-looking statements concerning NCC's future business prospects and business profitability, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and the actual results could materially differ from those in such forward-looking statements.
The risks and uncertainties related to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, competition, both domestic and international, economic growth in India, and ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on contracts, our ability to manage operations, government policies, and actions with respect to investments, fiscal deficits, regulations, geopolitical risks, interest, and other fiscal costs generally prevailing in the economy. The past performance of the company may not be indicative of future performance. This interaction is broadly divided into three parts. In the first part, I will talk about a brief overview of the business environment and prospects for our company. In the second part, our CFO will give a brief about the financial performance of the company for the second quarter.
In the third part, we will attempt to answer any questions and clarifications that you might have. To give you a brief wrap-up of the Indian economy, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25, the pace of the Indian government's capital expenditure in major infrastructure sectors was affected during the first quarter of the current financial year, largely due to the Model Code of Conduct during the general elections. Further, the unusual pattern of the last monsoon season also slowed down the progress of work. The union budget for FY26, which was presented recently, has continued its thrust on increasing the CapEx. The budgeted CapEx has increased by 10.1% from INR 10.0 lakh crore in FY25, which is a revised estimate, to INR 11.2 lakh crore in FY26. The Grants-in-Aid for creation of capital asset have increased from INR 3 lakh crore in FY25 RE to INR 4.3 lakh crore in FY26.
The CapEx of central public sector enterprises has increased from 3.8 lakh crore in FY25 to 4.3 lakh crore in FY26. Therefore, if we take all these factors into account, the total CapEx has increased from 17 lakh crore in FY25 to 19.8 lakh crore in FY26, which is an increase of 16.4%. On the performance of our company, we are seeing a healthy pipeline for future projects. We have a prospective project pipeline of more than 2.4 lakh crore. We are currently sitting at an order book of 55,548 crore. We take this opportunity to share with you the fact that we have decided to revise the guidance earlier shared with you. Earlier, we had shared with you an order inflow guidance of 20,000-22,000 crore, which we decided to retain.
But we are revising the revenue growth downwards to around 5% and EBITDA margin around 9.25% for the current financial year. We have witnessed the slow pace of execution due to general elections and elections in some of the states. Additionally, some of our projects have seen elongated billing and payment cycles, leading to slowdown in execution. Now, coming back to the performance of our business divisions, in our large two divisions, that is, buildings and transportation division, we continue to see a very good traction and healthy pipeline of projects. We have an order book of Rs. 21,085 crore, which is about 38% of our total order book in buildings, and Rs. 10,800 crore, which is 19% of our total order book in the transportation division. Our water division has an order book of 5,450 crore, which is about 10% of our total order book.
In our electrical T&D business, we have an order book of 10,633 crore as of 31st December 2014, which is about 19% of our order book. The order book in the irrigation division is Rs. 4,496 crore as of December end, which is about 8% of our order book. The order book of the mining division at the end of nine months is 3,050 crore, which is about 5% of our total order book. Now, I will hand over to our CFO, Mr. Sanjay Puchela, with a request to cover the detailed financial performance of the company.
Good evening to all of you. I am pleased to announce the financial results of Q3 of financial year 25. My announcement will be in the order of order book, revenue, profitability, debt movement, and some of the important financial items. To start with order book, our order book stands at 55,548 at the end of December 2024. You are aware that the order book at the beginning of the year is 57,536 crore, and orders received during the nine months is 13,608 crore, of which in Q3 we received 8,440 crore. So we have executed 15,590 crore of work during the first nine months, and the order book stands at 55,548 crore. Coming to the revenue, on the standalone, turnover reported in Q3 FY25 is 4,720 crore, as against turnover of 4,773 crore in the previous year.
During the nine months, the cumulative turnover is 13,947 crore, as against 12,951 crore reported in the previous nine months. Coming to the consolidated, the turnover reported in Q3 FY25 is 5,383 crore, as against turnover of Rs. 5,288 crore in the previous year. During the nine months turnover, it is 16,166 crore, as against 14,441 crore reported in the previous year nine months. Next, coming to the profitability, we achieved at the standalone level, we achieved EBITDA of 8.77% for Q3, as against 10.1% of the corresponding quarter of the previous year, and for nine months, current year we achieved EBITDA of 9.04%, as against 8.84% in the nine months of the previous year. Profit before tax at the standalone level is 5.18%, and PAT is 3.91% in the current quarter, as against PBT of 6.24% and PAT of 4.46% earlier.
At consolidated level, we have achieved EBITDA of 8.25% and PBT of 5.02% and PAT of 3.59% in the current quarter. That is Q3, as against EBITDA of 9.61%, PBT of 6.15%, and PAT of 4.17% of the previous period. The main reason for the reduction in Q3 of FY25 compared to FY24 is on account of lower turnover and lower absorption because of the lower turnover, lower absorption of other fixed costs. That has resulted in lower EBITDA and lower profit. Coming to the debt movement, the debt at the beginning of the year is INR 2,105 crore, and net debt after cash and cash equivalents is INR 517 crore. At the end of Q2, it's INR 2,107.33 crore, and net debt of INR 1,624 crore. And at the end of Q3, that is at the end of December 2024, the same was at INR 2,415 crore, and net debt is INR 2,343 crore.
There is an increase in debt by 680 crore compared to Q2. The debt equity ratio stands at 3.33 at the end of Q3, as against 0.25 at the end of Q2. Coming to the working capital, working capital at the end of Q3 stands at 5,488 crore, which is 32% of the turnover. In terms of working capital days, it is 95 days. These working capital days were calculated excluding cash and margin money deposits. So coming to the debt, debt outstanding at the end of Q3 has increased from 2,793 crore to 3,142 crore. And the number of days also increased from 65 days to 74 days in the current quarter. And unbilled revenue stands at 6,151 crore, which is 33% of the revenue per Q3, as against 5,221 crore, which is 29% at Q2.
Coming to the mobilization advances, mobilization advances stands at 1,977 crore, as against 2,096 crore, showing a reduction in the mob advances and recovery by the clients by 119 crore. This is also one of the reasons for our debt levels increase, and it is standing at 4% of turnover. Of these mobilization advances, we have 78% of these advances are interest-bearing, and the average interest rate comes to 9.57%. Next coming to CapEx, we have incurred a CapEx of 223 crore in the current financial year, as against the budgeted CapEx of 250 crore for regular projects. Coming to the ratios, the gross stands at 13.13, as against 14.04 at FY24 end. Return on net worth against PBT is 13.87, as against 13.88. EPS stands at 8.70, as at the end of Q3. For March, it is 10.10.
With this, I conclude announcement of the financial result for Q3 FY25. Thank you.
Thank you very much, sir. We will now begin with the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their touchstone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to use handsets while asking a question. Ladies and gentlemen, we will wait for a moment while the question queue assembles. The first question comes from the line of Shravan Shah from Dolat Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah, thank you, sir. Sir, a couple of things. So first, just trying to, even if we, let's say, 5% that the revenue guidance that we have reduced from 15% plus to 5%. So that also, if I broadly calculating, it means that in the fourth quarter also, we are looking at kind of a 1% kind of a degrowth. So if you can clarify that. And in terms of the margin, when we are saying 9.25% for full year, so nine months, we have a 9%. So in fourth quarter, are we now again looking at 9.5%-10% kind of a margin, and is that margin sustainable going forward?
So this margin, whatever we gave, the guidance now revised to 9.25%. As you said, we are expecting the margin should be around 9.5% in the quarter four. So that's the reason we thought it will be around 9.25%. So this is, at the moment, it is sustainable.
As far as revenue growth, the first question what you asked is the degrowth in the fourth quarter, as against what we given the guidance in fourth quarter about some minus 1% or 2% will be there in the revenue, so that it is close to the 5% growth in the year as a whole.
Yeah. So what I am trying to understand is that are we seeing across the board kind of a slowdown in the execution, and that's why we are now significantly lowering the number. So I understand we also don't give the guidance for FY26 now, but on the directional front, as now we have reduced the growth for this year, can we see a kind of a 10% kind of a range plus kind of a growth, at least in the FY26?
No. Mr. Shravan Shah, FY26, we have not started really working out the numbers. And what happens is by 31st March, generally, we are able to close each of the projects that we are executing, which are quite a few, about 150, 160 odd. Then we are in a position to know how much is possible from each of these projects for FY26. And generally, we work out these numbers in the month of April and May. I think once when we announce our annual results in the month of May, we should be in a position to talk about the guidance for FY26. This is not possibly the right time to talk about FY26.
Now, you asked about across the board. Now, we have several projects across various states. It did not happen across all the projects, the slow movement. In some of the schemes, some of the projects only, the slowness is experienced. So it is not so for all these things. What are new projects we pick up in the current year? What are projects we are going to pick up? And in the financial year 25-26, the scenario again different. The trend indicates that in the last three years, we have continuously shown growth of around 38%. So in this year, because of the specific general elections happened and also some elections in some of the states were happened, we are seeing two things. Now, generally, given the slow pace for this current year.
Okay, got it. As for a couple of data points for the balance sheet, what is left, if you can share? And also, in terms of the right now, what is the value of the L1 projects? And then I will spell out the balance sheet numbers, which I need. Hello.
Hello.
Hello. Sir, are you able to hear me?
Yeah, we can hear you. The L1 projects in the pipeline is roughly about INR 9,000-10,000 crore.
Okay, got it. And what is the retention value and the exposure in terms of the investment in JVs and associates as on December? So in September, it was 1,411 odd crore. So what's the value as on December?
Investments. Investments. Same. There's no change in investments.
Also, the loans and advances. That number 1,411 odd crore remains the same as on December also?
Investments INR 1,000 crore and the loans are INR 388 crore. About seven crore increase is there in this all quarter.
Okay, and retention value is how much?
It was INR 1,757 crore.
1,757 odd crore. Okay, sir. Thank you. I will be in queue. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Prithvi Raj from Unifi Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah. So I just have a couple of questions. First question, in the opening remarks, you have made a point that in some of the projects, you are seeing a delay in the payment cycle. Could you just explain a bit more on this, which are the kind of projects where you are seeing an issue on the receivable side?
It is general in nature because of these elections at the central level and the state level. When there is change in the political parties and the systems, there is bound to be some delay in release of payments. So that is happening now. We are going through that cycle. Probably now the governments are settled. The improvements will be expected.
Secondly, on the Maharashtra, I mean, you have a sizable exposure there. How is the ground-level activity? I understand maybe last quarter it got impacted because of elections. But are we seeing an improvement on the execution in this quarter, or still there are issues going on there?
I think things should pick up now. The elections are very much behind us, and there is a new government in place. So we expect things to pick up now.
And finally, on the order flows, I mean, you maintain the guidance, but what kind of pipeline are you witnessing? Which are the sectors, which are the geographies where you are seeing an order flow or project tendering that's happening that gives you the confidence that you will achieve the guidance number?
Yes, I have shared at the very start. We have a prospective pipeline of project. It is not there in one state. It crosses the states and it crosses the verticals, and I am happy to share with you this prospective pipeline of project. The value is about INR 2.45 lakh crore. It is in all the verticals, all the seven verticals in which we operate, and it is in almost all the states, large states at least.
Okay. John, in the queue.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Jenam Shah from ICICI Securities. Please go ahead.
Sir, thank you for the opportunity. Sir, we have guidance in the order inflow guidance of 20,000 crore. But in nine months FY25, we have only received the contracts worth 13.6 thousand crore. So are there any specific contracts in which we are expecting L1 in the coming quarter, which would help us make the order inflow guidance for this year?
Just before this question, someone was asking us about the L1 orders. We said somewhere 8,000-10,000 crore, we are in the L1 position. So we are expecting those orders to get materialized in the quarter.
And that is what makes us confident to achieve the number. This is not one project or two projects. There are multiple projects. So the value would be in that range.
So sir, what are the projects included in the L1 amount? And we expect all the LOAs to be received in the Q4 FY25?
I mean, it is difficult. See, at the end of the day, it's a call of the client. When the client finally decides to award the contract, it's his call. But as we speak, we are confident and we are extremely hopeful that these L1s should get converted into LOAs.
Okay, sir. So what are the projects included in that amount?
I think all that we do is we share the bracket of the projects. We don't really spell out the list of all the projects because it is difficult to. There are cases where the L1s do not really get converted into LOAs. So as a matter of policy, we only talk about a specific project when LOA is received.
Okay, sir. And sir, we have seen a huge increase in debt levels in this year to 2,415,000 crore from 1,000 crore in FY24. So what was the reason for that? Also, the reason for spike in working capital bills?
Could you repeat your question, please? I couldn't understand. Could you please repeat your question? There is some echo.
Hello? Am I audible right now?
Yeah, yeah. Please tell me. There was some echo earlier, so we couldn't understand your question.
Okay. Sir, we have seen a huge increase in debt levels compared to previous year. So what's the reason for that?
Okay, okay. Debt. He's asking what. Yeah. Debt level increase. We have already explained to you that there is a slowdown in the payment mechanism because of these elections and all. That is the reason. If you see the debt level has increased, at the same time, my unbilled revenue also got increased. So whatever money we are spending today, it is waiting for the certification from the authorities. Once that is done, and now we expect that the government is settled at all the places, we expect that conversion will happen, and it will help us in reducing our debt level shortly.
All right. Okay. That answers my question. Thank you and all the best.
The next question comes from the line of Deepak Poddar from Sapphire Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Am I audible, sir?
Yes, please.
Yeah. Okay. Thank you very much for this opportunity. So just I wanted to take this debt level point forward. So you mentioned about reduction in debt levels. So what sort of debt, I mean, targets you would have by FY26 and overall FY26 as well?
Today, I'm not able to tell you what it can be. Okay? Because we are waiting for the government to act on that. And once the payment positions improve, then we'll be able to fairly estimate and come back to you. So generally, in the construction industry, the inflows that collections from the clients happen in the fourth quarter, particularly in the March month. So thereby, whatever debt level is there at this moment, we expect that comes down. And moreover, we have a lot of amount to receive from the clients. What we explained already that there is a slow mechanism of billing certification happening in various projects. So already, the persuasion is made with various clients across various states. Thereby, there is a good chance to collect more amount as a result that debt from whatever government gross is there that comes down.
but we can't say exactly the figure. It may be 1,500 or it may be 1,000 crores also. so at this moment, we cannot tell. but there will be some decline in the present level of debt we are expecting.
1,350 crores, right? That's the debt level we have. Hello?
Yeah. We have the debt level today at INR 2,415 crores.
2,415 crores is what our current gross debt levels are.
Yes, yes, yes.
Okay. Okay. Understood. And the point you mentioned about slowness, I mean, because of which your FY25, I mean, we are underperforming, right? Earlier, we were quite confident of 15% kind of a growth, and now we have revised down to 5% kind of a growth.
Yes. Exactly. That is the purpose where we are restating our expectations.
Okay. But things have settled down, and you are seeing improvement at the ground in terms of activities. So some comment on that would be helpful.
That's good. Today, we could see there is an improvement that can be seen physically on the ground.
Okay. Just one last query on the margins. Fourth quarter, we are targeting around 9.5% kind of an EBITDA margin, right, as per your guidance that you have given? What will drive the margin improvement?
It is general. Because even earlier also, we were expecting because the moment you have the turnover at the expected level, the margin will be at the guidance level of 9.5%. This is what we are expecting in the fourth quarter. It should normalize. If it normalizes, I'll be getting a margin of 9.5%, which will help me to average it out to around 9.25%.
Okay. And also because of leverage, I mean, you are expecting much higher revenue in fourth quarter, right? So that will give you some advantage in terms of higher scale of your revenue, right?
Generally, what happens in the fourth quarter, in any construction industry, fourth quarter revenues are higher than all the earlier three quarters. So it's the same expectation we are having even today.
Okay. Great, great. And just one final thing. FY26, anything you can, I mean, some range you can throw some light, what sort of growth range we are looking at? That would be helpful.
Neeraj already explained to you that we have our budget meeting somewhere in April, and definitely, we'll come back with our guidance at that point of time.
Fair enough. Okay. Okay, sir. I mean, that's very helpful. All the very best to you. Thank you so much.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Shravan Shah from Dolat Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, sir. Sir, two, three data points. Inventory and the payables as of December is how much?
Inventory is INR 1,442 crores. It is almost 25 crores, 27 crores less than September 2024. Okay? And coming to the payables, it is also INR 6,943 crores.
6,943 crores.
Retention payable also, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Okay. Understood. Second, sir, in terms of the now in the fourth quarter, in terms of the CapEx, 223 crores we have done. So we will be doing the balance 25-27 crores, or it would be lower?
It is for the regular projects. As and when we require, we buy it. So there are no further capital-intensive projects maybe for the next one month. But this gap, whatever is there, the 27 crores, it is like any other year. In a normal course, whenever there is a requirement that comes from the project, that will be taken.
Okay. And for JGM projects, sir, how much now we would have executed, and what is the left? So just wanted to understand, there also there is a decent slowdown in terms of the execution?
One second. 8,000 is at the beginning. So far, we have executed 3,500. How stands that 4,790? 8,000 is there at the beginning of the year. Okay? And 3,400 we have executed. Okay? And balance is somewhere around 4,700.
Got it. Got it. And sir, in terms of the employee cost also, last quarter, we said there was some increment and everything was there. 8% increment was there. But even this quarter also, if I look at the employee cost also, so QQ has also it has gone up. So in second quarter, it was 189 crore. Now 193 crore. So can you help us?
There are two elements for increase in the salary cost. The first one is there is an increase in the headcount. Already, we planned about 15%-20% growth for the current year. Accordingly, we appointed the people. So we appointed the people, but the progress is not taking place. That is number one. Number two is already in the July 1st onwards, we have enhanced the salaries about 9%-10%. These two points resulted into the higher percentage of salaries in this quarter.
Okay. Got it. Okay, sir. Thank you.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Parvez Qazi from Nuvama Institutional Equities. Please go ahead.
Hi. Good afternoon. Thanks for taking my question. A couple of questions from our side. With regards to JGM projects, have we seen any kind of payment slowdown, especially considering that there have been central elections this year? Or are payments regular and in line with, let's say, what you had seen in FY 2023 or 2024?
Mr. Qazi, good afternoon. During the course of attempting to answer several questions, we have tried to make this point that there has been generally an impact across these schemes, across these states, and this project is not an exception, so we have seen this kind of impact across these schemes, different projects of the government, and elections have played a very important role in that.
Sure. Just to be clear on this point, this kind of payment slowdown, I mean, because obviously, it has been across the industry, is it restricted only to state government projects, or have the central government projects also seen payment progress?
Mr. Qazi, in most of the infrastructure projects, barring a few, generally, the central government and state governments partner with each other. In most of the projects, barring possibly NHAI Road project, those kind of schemes, in multitude of the infrastructure projects, both these governments partner with each other. And it is difficult to say. For us, what really matters is the final payment. Whether it is delayed by the state government or central government, the impact on us continues to be the same.
Second, on the project that we have in Andhra Pradesh, two things. On the existing projects, or let's say, I mean, forget about the payment part, but have we seen any activity in terms of new order award in Andhra Pradesh?
We have seen two kinds of activity. The first one is our clients are trying to close the projects which were awarded in the past. So that's a clear direction. That's a clear thinking that we get to see. And our client, the state government, is also planning to start the process of awarding the contracts for this capital city. So we continue to see movement.
Sure. And lastly, any update on the smart meter project would be? Thank you.
In the smart meter project, as far as Maharashtra is concerned, earlier in our earlier calls, we have told that because of the directions in the government, we slowed down. We expect that because the government now stabilized and we are getting the clearances also from the government, we expect the projects will take off now. As far as the Bihar project is concerned, they have already started, and the installation of the meters is going on there. About 3 lakh meters we have already installed.
Sure. Thanks and all the best.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Dhananjay Mishra from Sunidhi Securities. Please go ahead.
Hello, sir. So in terms of pipeline, you said INR 2.4 lakh crores. So any big expressway project we are expecting in this pipeline from Maharashtra?
Mr. Mishra, it is very difficult. Whenever we talk about a very, very big prospective pipeline or project, there would be projects from different verticals. I am not really in a position to identify a particular project. As I shared with you, these projects are prospective pipeline or projects. So there are several projects there. So I am not really in a position to identify a particular project.
I just wanted to know because some big projects are awaited in Maharashtra to be announced in the next 12 months, so whether we have included those projects in our pipeline or it is not part of our pipeline?
They would be. Whenever big projects are announced, generally, it would be part of the prospective pipeline of projects.
Okay, and secondly, on JGM project, sir, this payment delay is because of this revised allocation for FY24, which was down from close to INR 70,000 crores to now INR 22,000 crores. And then again, it has been increased for FY26. So that is the major reason central government contribution not coming on time, and that is the reason we are facing delay?
I think we have already answered this question that the impact has been across the schemes of the different infra projects, across the state governments. So practically, we have seen the impact and after effects in almost all the verticals. It would not possibly be correct to identify a single project because we don't have a single project. We have a lot of projects, about 150, 160 odd projects under execution.
Okay, sir. That is all my message. All the best.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Vaibhav Shah from JM Financial Institutional Securities. Please go ahead.
Sir, how have been the recoveries in the fourth quarter so far?
Fourth quarter recoveries?
Fourth quarter.
Collections you mean to say?
Collections, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Collections are fairly good. There is a regular flow.
So we have seen an improvement on a quarter-on-quarter basis?
That we should see now because we just passed only one and a half months, and another one and a half month is there. We need to see, and generally, the government project, they will get funds released during the March month because by that time, their budgets will get expired.
Okay, so secondly, we are expecting the EBITDA margins to improve in the fourth quarter to around 9.5% levels, so going forward, while we are not giving a guidance, but is there a possibility that there would be an improvement further as well, or these are more sustainable levels, around 9.5%?
We work out on that one year. It is not one particular process to work out to tell that one. We have several divisions, and across several projects are there. And particularly, in the third quarter, we have received new orders. And in the fourth quarter also, we are expecting several orders, conversion of present L1 orders into LOAs. So based on consolidating the totals, then when we carry out the budget process, then only we are able to arrive on the EBITDA percentage for the FY26.
Okay. Sir, another question was on if you look at the per quarterly interest cost, it is roughly around, on an average, INR 160 crores for the nine months. So do we expect the trend to remain similar in Q4 as well?
Yes. In the similar line, a little we won't expect any much reduction because in the already one month or one week over, but we have not seen any good collections on the pending amounts.
Okay. And sir, lastly, what would be our AP exposure as of now, the net number that we share every quarter?
AP exposure has two parts. The first part about capital city projects, we have pending of 150 crores that we expect to receive by the end of March. There is a positive momentum happening, and they are sure to pay before the March of this current financial year. That is part one. Part two, we have around 400-450 crores exposure in the running projects, out of which we received nearly 230 crores in the third quarter itself. Only balance now about 200-250 crores exposure only is there in the other running projects.
So currently, as of December, it is 250 crores, and we received 200 crores in Q3. So it reduced to 250 crores in December.
Yes. Totally INR 230 crores we received in Q3, but in the January month, there are also some INR 30-INR 40 crores payments we collected.
Okay. And, sir, lastly, any update on the Vizag deal? So, when do we expect to receive the debt amount?
So, as far as the investment is concerned, completely that is received. Equity is completely received. There is no news on that. And, as far as the loan is concerned, about INR 315 crores is the loan amount. INR 374 is the loan amount. And, in the current year, we received about INR 15 crores against the interest amount. And, this INR 374 crores also, we are expecting to get realized in the next couple of years.
Okay. Okay. I will come back in the Q. Thank you.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Dheeraj Agarwal from Ashika Institutional Equities. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Th ank you for taking up my question. Sir, we have recently received a project related to Ken-Betwa Link Project. So how do we see the pipeline of the project in Ken-Betwa Link Project, and what kind of opportunities can we expect going forward?
We understand from the various media reports that this interlinking of river is a very important project for the government of India and the respective state governments. We believe the action has just started. We have a lot of road to cover. We are hopeful that we will continue to see healthy pipeline of projects in the interlinking of rivers as well.
Sir, if you can put a figure to it, what kind of opportunities? What is the magnitude of opportunity that we can expect in the projects?
Sir, we don't really make any assessment of these kind of opportunities. At the end of the day, this is the call of the government and the respective agencies. What we try to do is to, when this NIT, what we call Notice Inviting Tender, is announced, we try to study the finer nuances of the project, look at the risk-reward equation, and then we decide whether to participate or not, depending on the technical complexity of the project, depending on the permissions which might be required, depending on the funding that might be required. Then we take a view.
Understood, sir. Last question. Sir, have we started the execution for this project?
Say that again. Could you please repeat your question?
Have we started the execution for the Ken-Betwa project?
No, no. We have not. We have not as of now.
Okay. So we can expect it to start in Q1, FY26?
Sorry, could you please repeat? Your voice is also not very clear. There is a lot of echo.
Sir, can you hear me now? Sir, can you hear me now?
Yeah, yeah. Please tell me.
Sir, can we expect the execution to start in Q1, FY26?
It depends on the permission, the approval of the drawings, and how we are hopeful.
Okay, sir. Okay. Thank you.
Thank you. Thanks.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Parth Thakkar from JM Financial. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. What is the share of smart meter orders in standalone?
Sorry to interrupt, Parth. Could you please speak a little louder? You're not audible.
Am I audible now?
No, your voice is breaking.
Am I audible now? Hi.
Yes, yes. Please go ahead.
Sir, what would be the share of our smart meter orders in our standalone order backlog?
4.56, 4.5 and somewhere around 9%.
9%. Okay. And we were expecting to complete our JGM order book of 4,700 crores by June 2025. Are we still on track for that?
It would essentially depend on the permissions, the payment, our ability to mobilize. It would depend on a lot of parameters.
So we cannot put a particular timeline on it, can we?
We would hope to meet the guidance, but we have to wait and watch.
Last question, what would be our CapEx guidance for this whole year for the balancing three months?
It was 250 crores, and we have spent so far 223 crores. We expect that we will be spending up to that limit.
Okay. Thank you. That's all from my side. Thank you.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, a reminder, you may press star and one to ask a question. The next question comes from the line of Prithvi Raj from Unifi Capital. Please go ahead.
I just have one bookkeeping question. If you look at the tax rates for nine months, it's almost 25%-26%. Can we assume similar tax rate even for Q4?
The effective tax rate is lesser, actually, because we have received dividend, which is a pass-through mechanism. It is not taxable. That is the reason the effective tax rate is lesser.
He's asking for quarter-on-quarter.
Quarter-on-quarter.
Quarter-on-quarter.
He's also in the similar line.
I didn't get you. Even for Q4, is it going to be a similar number, or will it be higher?
Similar percentage.
Okay. Thanks.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Vishal Periwal from Antique Stock Broking. Please go ahead.
Yes, sir. Thanks for the opportunity. One data point, in terms of smart meter order that we have, we did mention Bihar. We have executed 3 lakh odd meters. What is the total size of it? And similarly, what is the total size of Maharashtra order?
The total order value. The total order value. I repeat, the total order value that we have received for the Bihar project is approximately 2,300 crores. And for the state of Maharashtra, we have received two smart meter projects. The approximate value of these two, I repeat the word order value, would be 5,700 crores.
Okay. Sir, in terms of number of meters, it will be tenth amount of what, sir?
It would run into millions, multiples of millions.
Will you be able to give some numbers for Bihar and Maharashtra separately?
At this stage, difficult to share any number.
Okay. And then, yeah, maybe one last thing. I think in terms of execution that we have seen and the pie chart that we have given, so maybe just before that, so the JGM work, is it part of irrigation, right? Pie? Is that fair to understand, or it's a part of water and railway?
Which one? Could you repeat the name of the project?
Yeah. The JGM work that we do, is it a part of water plus railway segment in the execution, the pie that we have given, or it's a part of irrigation?
It's probably asking water is separate water and railway together.
Okay. The JGM is a part of which segment, sir?
You're asking about these Jal Jeevan projects?
Correct, sir. Correct.
Since these projects have come at a time in a macro level, we have three divisions executing the Jal Jeevan projects. Water division mainly executing that one, plus some part of the work taken over by the building division, and some part of the work taken over by the electrical division. Three divisions executing different parts of the state, and the turnover from these water projects are also included in the respective divisional numbers.
Thank you, sir. We will move to the next participant. That is Sanket Kapoor from Kapoor & Co. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Namaskar, sir. And thank you for the opportunity. Sir, firstly, if you could just reiterate our Q4 execution growth in percentage terms, sir, as you have mentioned that Q4 is generally the largest of the preceding three quarters. Hello. And last year, we did a revenue closer to 6,500 crores on a consolidated level. So when you were giving the growth number for the entire year, if you could just elaborate more on the same. I missed your commentary on the same. Hello.
Let me do it closer to 500 crores. No in quarter, more or less?
Now, in the fourth quarter, the deviation would be on consolidated level between 6,000 to 6,400 crores. We're expecting.
Okay. So we are giving a band from INR 6,000 to INR 6,400 crores for the fourth quarter. So it will be a flattish quarter in that sense when you look at year-on-year numbers in terms of execution.
Yes.
Hello?
Yes. It will be similar or it will be a little less.
Okay. And sir, about the BharatNet project also, what is our current state? What is the current status on the same? And I think we were participants in quite a few of the circles. So any update on the same, sir?
Mr. Kapoor, could you please repeat your question?
Sir, I was looking at our order intake from the BharatNet Phase-III. Any update on the same? What are we in terms of where are we in terms of the order intake from this project?
We have not received any order from them as of now. And as a matter of policy, until and unless we get a confirmed order from a client, we do not really talk about that because that is quite speculative in nature until and unless we receive a formal communication from the client, which hasn't happened as we speak.
And lastly, sir, for the month of January, in your press release in the opening month, February first date, you mentioned that we did not receive any order. Sir, if you could just articulate.
Hello?
What?
Hello? It is like this. What happened is that there was a news on Moneycontrol about a received project. Then there was an inquiry, like a request from the stock exchange on what is that project, why it was not announced. Generally, as a policy, in a normal course of business, we give announcement of the projects only at the end of the month. That is the reason we did not announce it. Since they have asked us, so we had to reply to them saying that it has happened on somewhere 7th of January. So we had to reply to them saying that as far as it is received, awarded to us, but we did not disclose it as a matter of policy. We disclose it at the end of the month.
Since we have already told them, we said that we have not issued any other project other than this. So that's how it has come.
Okay. No, sir, but when sorry to dwell on it, but when we read the notification, it is mentioned there, correct me there, that for the entire month of January, there was no order intake for the company. That was my point.
Because there was no other project other than this which has been issued during the month, when we gave at the end of the month the disclosure on the projects awarded, to avoid confusion, it was told very clearly because we have already disclosed it earlier. It was there on the website and informed the stock exchanges. To avoid confusion, it was told that other than that, nothing has been received.
Okay. And sir, as a matter of.
Sanket, I would request you to rejoin the queue if you have any moments.
Yes. Yes. As you join, please give an opportunity later.
Thank you. The next question comes from the line of Vaibhav Shah from JM Financial Institutional Securities. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Sorry, I missed a couple of data points. So you mentioned the working capital number in terms of rupees crores. So what was it as of December?
As of December. One second. So you wanted this December, right?
Yeah. This December and September as well.
September is 4,987, and December, it was 5,488.
Secondly, what was the retention money? Was it 1,757, if I heard it correctly?
Yeah. Yeah. Same as yes.
Okay. And sir, what was the inventory number?
Inventory is 1,442.
Okay. Okay. Thank you, sir.
Right.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that brings us to the end of the question and answer session. I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Vaibhav Shah from JM Financial Institutional Securities for the closing comments.
Yeah. Thank you, sir, for being with us.
Mr. Vaibhav Shah, please go ahead.
Thank you, sir, for giving us the opportunity. Any closing remarks from your end?
Thank you very much. We appreciate your time and patience. Should you have any more questions about anything, we encourage you to get in touch with us. Thank you very much. Good night. Bye.
Thank you all.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of JM Financial Institutional Securities, that concludes this conference. You may now disconnect your lines.