Rating Rationale
November 23, 2020 | Mumbai
ACC Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1420 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.1120 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities of ACC Limited (ACC).

The ratings continue to reflect ACC's robust operating efficiency, and strong financial risk profile because of healthy cash flows. These strengths are partially offset by the exposure to risks related to commoditised and cyclical nature of the cement industry. Any substantial, debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) or acquisition, which may weaken the financial risk profile, will be a key rating sensitivity factor.

For 9 month ending September 2020, the volume sales de-grew by around 18% due to the impact of lockdown; however, during the period, operating profitability improved to around 19% from 16% last year driven by healthy realisations and lower costs.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ACC and Ambuja Cements Ltd (Ambuja Cements; rated 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'). This is because, post the restructuring between ACC and Ambuja Cements, ACC became a subsidiary of Ambuja Cements. Moreover, both companies have a common line of business, and have entered into master supply agreement, which helps them operate symbiotically, optimising each other's plant capacities and spare inventories,  and thus, benefit from operational and financial synergies.

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Healthy market position
ACC had total installed capacity of 34.4 million tonne per annum (mtpa) as on September 30, 2020. It has a large marketing infrastructure, pan-India presence, and strong operational linkages with Ambuja Cements (29.65 mtpa capacity as on September 30, 2020). The two companies together have around 14% capacity share in the Indian cement market. Their nationwide presence shields operations from regional price volatility and demand-supply imbalances.

* Strong financial risk profile
Consolidated gearing was healthy. Also, strong cash flow and low debt levels translate into robust debt protection metrics. In the first nine months of 2020 (refers to calendar year, January 1 to December 31), net cash accrual was around Rs 3,000 crore. The metrics should continue to be strong over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to risks relating to input cost, realisations, and cyclicality in the cement industry
Capacity addition in the cement industry tends to be sporadic because of long gestation period for setting up of facility and the large number of players adding capacity during the peak of a cycle. This has led to unfavourable price cycles in the past. Moreover, profitability remains susceptible to volatility in prices of inputs, including raw material, power, fuel, and freight. Increase in pet coke prices over the past year impacted the profitability of several cement players. Realisations and profitability are also affected by demand, supply, offtake, and other regional factors.
Liquidity Superior

Liquidity is expected to remain robust in the absence of any external debt. Capex of Rs 3,000 crore over the medium term, towards capacity additions, will be entirely funded through internal accrual. Cash and cash equivalents were around Rs 4650 Crore as on June 30, 2020. Cash accrual is projected at over Rs 1,700 crore in fiscal 2021. Unutilised bank lines and healthy cash accrual will be sufficient to meet the capex and working capital requirements.
 
Under Ambuja Cements, liquidity is expected to remain robust. Debt is primarily interest-free loan from the state government. Ambuja Cements has announced capex of around Rs 2,350 crore towards capacity additions, captive power plants and other infrastructure developments. Cash and cash equivalents were around Rs 5,400 crore as on June 30, 2020, and cash accrual is projected at over Rs 1,700 crore in fiscal 2021. Unutilised bank lines and healthy cash accrual will be sufficient to meet capex and working capital requirements.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes ACC will maintain strong debt protection metrics over the medium term, supported by low debt levels.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factor:
Dowward Factors
* Inorganic growth plan or larger-than-expected capex weakening financial risk profile
* Sustained decline in operating margin to less than 12%.

About the Company

ACC is India's oldest cement company, with total installed capacity of 34.4 mtpa as on September 30, 2020 The company also manufactures ready-mix concrete, and has 50 plants across India. ACC and Ambuja Cements are part of the LafargeHolcim group. As on December 31, 2020 LafargeHolcim held 63.27% stake in Ambuja Cements, which held 50.05% stake in ACC; it also holds 4.48% stake in ACC through Holderind Investments Ltd.

For 9 month ended September 2020, company reported a PAT of Rs 957 crore on an operating income of Rs 9641 as compared to a PAT of Rs 1104 crore on an operating income of Rs 11597 crore for same period last year.

Key Financial Indicators (ACC - Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs.Crore 15648 14776
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 1378 1521
PAT Margins % 8.8 10.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.00
Interest coverage Times 39.96 34.76
 
Key Financial Indicators (Ambuja Cements Ltd - Consolidated)*
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs.Crore 27090 26008
PAT Rs.Crore 2783 2973
PAT Margins % 10.3 11.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.00
Interest coverage Times 39.90 37.05
*Financials for the year ended December 31; includes consolidated numbers of ACC

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size
(Rs.Cr)
Complexity level Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 145 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 975 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 300 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Name of the company Type of consolidation Reason
Ambuja Cements Ltd Full consolidation Post the restructuring between ACC and Ambuja Cements, ACC has now become a subsidiary of Ambuja Cements. Moreover, both companies have a common line of business, and have entered into master supply agreement, which helps them operate symbiotically, optimising each other's plant capacities and spare inventories,  and thus, benefit from operational and financial synergies.
M.G.T Cements Pvt Ltd* Full consolidation
Chemical Limes Mundwa Pvt Ltd* Full consolidation
Dang Cement Industries Pvt Ltd* Full consolidation
Dirk India Pvt Ltd* Full consolidation
OneIndia BSC Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
ACC Mineral Resources Ltd Full consolidation
Bulk Cement Corporation (India) Ltd Full consolidation
Lucky Minmat Ltd Full consolidation
National Limestone Company Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
Singhania Minerals Pvt Ltd Full consolidation
*Subsidiaries of Ambuja Cements Ltd
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  445.00  CRISIL AAA/Stable      06-12-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  25-01-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  06-01-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
            30-01-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  975.00  CRISIL A1+      06-12-19  CRISIL A1+  25-01-18  CRISIL A1+  06-01-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
            30-01-19  CRISIL A1+           
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 975 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 975 CRISIL A1+
Overdraft 145 CRISIL AAA/Stable Overdraft 145 CRISIL AAA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 300 CRISIL AAA/Stable Overdraft 10 Withdrawn
Total 1420 -- Total 1130 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Cement Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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