Security, facility management sector may grow 9-10% this fiscal: Crisil Ratings

Mumbai: India’s organised security and facility management services sector is expected to grow 9-10% this fiscal, supported by demand from manufacturing, warehousing, commercial real estate and public infrastructure, following a strong ~15% compounded annual growth between fiscals 2023 and 2026, according to Crisil Ratings.

The sector, however, is entering a more demanding operating environment as labour reforms tighten compliance standards and reduce flexibility in wage payments and statutory remittances. This is expected to increase working capital requirements and dependence on external funding.

An analysis of 38 companies rated by Crisil Ratings, which accounted for nearly a fifth of the organised industry’s revenues of Rs 1.5 lakh crore last fiscal, indicates that credit profiles are likely to remain stable. Contractual pass-through of employee-related costs, healthy cash generation and adequate liquidity buffers are expected to support the sector.


Demand is being supported by the expanding multi-location presence of manufacturing and warehousing companies, including in rural and semi-urban markets, while sustained government spending on infrastructure is increasing the addressable market for security and specialised facility management services.

Technology adoption is also emerging as a growth driver, with surveillance tools, workforce management platforms and analytics improving productivity, shift planning and resource utilisation. Traditional manned security services, however, remain essential for preventive, responsive and customer-facing roles, resulting in a hybrid service model.

The sector’s evolution is also raising governance standards, with organised players having stronger administrative systems, deeper client relationships and greater capacity to absorb transition costs better positioned to comply with revised labour regulations.

The revised labour framework mandates stricter timelines for wage payments and statutory remittances. However, most organised players have pass-through clauses in customer contracts, which should help safeguard profitability as the cost mix shifts more towards retirement and social security benefits.

Rated entities are expected to maintain gearing of 0.5-0.6 time and interest coverage of 4.70-4.75 times this fiscal, broadly in line with last fiscal. Cash buffers of more than one time are expected to provide additional protection against delayed collections.

Further regulatory changes, sharper-than-expected increases in employee costs, collection discipline and the pace of technology adoption will remain monitorable.