Rating Rationale
November 12, 2020 | Mumbai
Abhay Ispat (India) Private Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative', rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.266.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long term bank loan facilities of Abhay Ispat (India) Private Limited (AIPL; part of Abhay Ispat group) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL BBB-'.

The negative outlook reflects the continuation of weak operating profitability. Operating profitability was 1.8% in FY2020 as against 2% in FY2019. The sustained decline in operating margin in past two years is on account of fluctuation in steel prices and continuous operating losses in Colorshine Coated Private Limited (CCPL) - manufacturing unit - for past two years impacting overall group's profitability.

Consequently, the group's net cash accruals have dipped to Rs 10.65 crore in FY2020 from Rs 16.79 crore in FY2019. This coupled with high adjusted debt level at Rs 329.29 crore in FY2020, has resulted in decline in interest coverage ratio to 1.51 times in FY2020 from 1.72 times in FY2019, and the net cash accruals to adjusted debt ratio (NCAAD) to decline to 0.03 time in FY2020 from 0.05 time in FY2019. In Q1 FY2021, group has recorded a revenue of Rs 535.3 crore with an operating margin of 2.4%. However sustenance of Operating profitability above 2% and improvement in interest cover will remain key monitorables over the near term.

The rating reflects an extensive experience of the promoters in the steel trading industry, a strong networth and moderate capital structure, and efficient working capital management. These rating strengths are partially offset by modest operating margin and operations susceptible to demand from end user industries.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of AIPL and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Colorshine Coated Private Limited (CCPL; rated 'CRISIL BB+/Negative/CRISIL A4+') and ANM Ispat Private Limited (ANM). That's because the three entities, referred to as Abhay Ispat group, have common management and have significant financial linkages.

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:
* Extensive industry experience of the promoters: The promoters have been trading in steel products since 1978, and have demonstrated a track record of running the business successfully while weathering adverse business cycles; this has resulted in an established relationship with customers and has helped in getting dealerships of large suppliers. Suppliers include Arcelormittal India Private Limited, Tata Steel, Steel Authority of India Limited, Uttam Galva Steel Limited, Asian Colour Coats and POSCO Maharashtra Steel as well, thus ensuring continued supply.

* Strong networth and moderate capital structure: Abhay Ispat group's financial risk profile is characterized by strong networth estimated at Rs 149.05 crore as on March 31, 2020 driven by steady accretion to reserves. Group has a moderate capital structure marked by moderate TOLTNW estimated at 2.52 times as on March 31, 2020.

* Efficient Working capital management: The working capital is being efficiently managed, reflected in gross current assets estimated at 63 days as on 31st March 2020, driven by receivables and inventory of 9 days and 48 days, respectively.

Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to demand from end-user industries: The demand for steel is derived from sectors such as engineering, construction, infrastructure, and housing (real estate). Operations are entirely dependent on demand from these sectors and hence are linked to economic cycles. Any slowdown in economic activity or lower investments in infrastructure and housing can have a negative impact on operations.

* Modest operating margins: The operating margins have been on a continuous decline and have further dipped from 2.0% in FY2019 to 1.8% in FY2020. The operating margins have remained under pressure over two fiscals ended FY2020 due to fluctuation in steel prices and continuous operating losses in CCPL. However, the operating margin has improved to 2.4% in 3M FY2021 and is expected to be around 2% going forward.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is adequate; group is expected to generate net cash accruals of Rs 12-14 crore per fiscal against repayment obligation of Rs 3.47 crore per fiscal, over the medium term. Further, the bank limit utilization averaged at 75% over the 12 months ended Sept-2020, which supports the liquidity. Current ratio was 1.30 times as on March 31, 2020.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes the weak operating profitability will continue to result in average net cash accruals and constrain the interest coverage ratio.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factors
* Sustenance of improvement in operating margins above 2.0% while maintaining revenues
* Improvement in interest coverage ratio and NCAAD.

Downward factors
* Steep decline in revenue or decline in operating margins to below 1.5%
* Further decline in interest coverage ratio below 1.5 times.

About the Group

AIPL was established in 1978 by Mr Tulsidas K Mehta as a proprietorship firm, Abhay Enterprises; in 2002 this firm was reconstituted as a private limited company with the current name. The company trades in steel products such as hot-rolled coils and plates, galvanised coils and sheets, and color-coated coils. It is based in Mumbai and is being managed by the Mehta family.

CCPL was a 67% subsidiary of AIPL as on March 31, 2018 and was converted to a 100% owned subsidiary in first half of fiscal 2019. CCPL commenced its operations in fiscal 2018. It is engaged in manufacturing of colored coated sheets and sells it under its own brand 'Colorshine'. The manufacturing facility is located in Gudur, Andhra Pradesh.

ANM is a 100% subsidiary of AIPL engaged in the business of steel trading. ANM is a distributor of Tata Steel in Gujarat & Maharashtra. Company is based out of Mumbai.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020* 2019
Revenue Rs.Cr 2585.68 2554.97
Profit After Tax  (PAT) Rs.Cr 2.22 6.95
PAT Margins % 0.1 0.3
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 2.21 2.28
Interest coverage Times 1.51 1.72
*Provisional

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 134.0 NA CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Proposed Fund Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 82.5 NA CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme(e-DFS) NA NA NA 50.0 NA CRISIL BBB-/Negative
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Abhay Ispat (India) Private Limited Full Same management, financial linkages
Colorshine Coated Private Limited Full Same management, financial linkages
ANM Ispat Private Limited Full Same management, financial linkages
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  266.50  CRISIL BBB-/Negative  09-04-20  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  07-03-19  CRISIL BBB/Stable  30-06-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable  23-03-17  CRISIL BBB-/Positive  CRISIL BBB-/Positive 
        17-03-20  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Developing      22-06-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable       
        11-02-20  CRISIL BBB-/Stable      07-06-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable       
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
Cash Credit 134 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Cash Credit 176.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme(e-DFS) 50 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Channel Financing 40 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 82.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Electronic Dealer Financing Scheme(e-DFS) 50 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Total 266.5 -- Total 266.5 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for rating trading companies
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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