Rating Rationale
June 01, 2018 | Mumbai
Ashirvad Pipes Private Limited
Rating upgraded to 'CRISIL AA-/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.471.72 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A+/Positive')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Ashirvad Pipes Pvt Ltd (APPL) to 'CRISIL AA-/Stable' from 'CRISIL A+/Positive'.
 
The upgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that APPL will sustain its improved operating performance over the medium term. Revenue grew 21% over the five fiscals through 2018, driven by steady pick-up in volume and sustained realisation. Increasing demand from the construction and irrigation sectors will benefit sales volume over the medium term.  Better procurement terms with suppliers have improved operational efficiency leading to improvement in operating margin over 20% over the past 2 fiscals from 16-17% earlier.
 
Financial risk profile also remains strong, indicated by interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 16.7 times and 0.47 time, respectively, in fiscal 2018. To increase capacity, the company plans to incur annual capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 150-200 crore every year, which is likely to be funded through internal accrual. Gearing is expected to remain under 0.5 time over the medium term driven by higher cash flow from operations.
 
Belgium based Aliaxis Group, which acquired 60% stake in 2013 is expected to increase its shareholding. Although, CRISIL expects no business disruptions due to change in management, it will remain a monitorable. 
 
The rating continues to reflect APPL's established market position in the chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) and unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) pipes and fittings industry, and its association with Aliaxis SA, a global leader in building products. The rating also factor in the company's strong financial risk profile because of healthy gearing and robust debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intensifying competition, and high dependence on a single supplier, Lubrizol Corporation Inc (Lubrizol), USA, for a key raw material for its CPVC segment, which accounts for more than half its revenue. The rating is also constrained by susceptibility of profitability to fluctuations in raw material prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Diversified revenue and established market position in UPVC and CPVC pipes and fittings segments
APPL has the first-mover advantage in UPVC column pipes, combined with good customer reach in rural India, especially in southern and western India. Since 2004, APPL has diversified into the manufacture of CPVC pipes under licensing from Lubrizol, and derives almost 60% of its revenue from this segment and is one of the leading players in the segment. The company has a large marketing network of 1,400 distributors and 36,000 dealers throughout the country. CRISIL believes APPL will maintain its diversified revenue base and market share in the UPVC and CPVC pipes and fittings segment.
 
* Strong financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is supported by healthy gearing and strong debt protection metrics. Steady accretions to reserves supported by healthy profitability led to increase in networth to over Rs 750 crore as on March 31, 2018, from Rs 283 crore as on March 31, 2014. Gearing has also improved to 0.52 time as on March 31, 2018, driven by improvement in working capital management leading to lower short term debt. Despite proposed capex of Rs 150-200 crore per year, the financial risk profile should remain robust.
 
Weakness
* Susceptibility of profitability to fluctuations in raw material prices and forex rates
The company imports raw material and has negligible exports, and hence is exposed to the risk of fluctuation in forex rates. Also, the price of resin is volatile, and susceptible to change in global prices and regional demand supply dynamics. However, the company has taken steps to mitigate the forex risk especially in the CPVC segment. Nearly 40% of CPVC resin is procured locally and the company hedges three-fourth of the forex exposure arising out from import of CPVC resin. CRISIL believes APPL will remain susceptible to cyclicality in the PVC industry over the medium-term.
 
* Exposure to intense competition and high dependence on a single supplier Lubrizol
The key raw materials used in the manufacture of UPVC and CPVC are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and CPVC resins. The company procures CPVC resins from Lubrizol and PVC resins from Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL; 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'). However, given that most of the company's revenue comes from the CPVC segment the company, it will remain exposed to supplier concentration risk. Moreover, intense competition in the pipes and fittings industry, low product differentiation and high price sensitivity prevent the prompt pass-through of any increase in input cost to customers.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes APPL will maintain steady revenue growth and profitability over the medium term. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if there is a significant and sustainable improvement in business risk profile, while financial metrics remain stable. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if capital structure or debt protection metrics weaken significantly on account of larger-than-expected debt-funded capex or substantial dividend outflow. Any business disruptions caused by change in management will remain a monitorable.

About the Company

APPL, set up in 1997 by Mr Pawan Poddar and his brothers, mainly manufactures UPVC, CPVC, and soil, waste, and rain water (SWR) pipes and fittings. UPVC pipes are used in deep-bore wells of up to 1200 feet in depth. CPVC pipes are used in residential and commercial buildings, and SWR pipes are used in sewers. APPL is the licensees of Lubrizol in India to manufacture CPVC pipes and fittings. The Belgium-based Aliaxis Group holds 60% stake in APPL while the Poddar family holds the rest.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs Cr. 2380 2029
Profit After Tax Rs Cr. 277 217
PAT Margins % 11.6 10.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.52 0.39
Interest coverage Times 16.71 12.64

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size
(Rs Crore)
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Cash Credit* NA NA NA 65.0 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA External Commercial Borrowings NA NA NA 37.93 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Term Loan -1 NA NA Aug-2019 &
Nov-2020
126.29 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Term Loan -2 NA NA Dec-2019 &
Aug-2020
107.50 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 135 CRISIL AA-/Stable
*Fully interchangeable with line of credit; foreign currency non-resident (B) loan, export packing credit/packing credit in foreign currency (EPC/PCFC), inland bills purchased/discounted, foreign bills purchased/discounted/post-shipment credit in foreign currency of Rs 7 crore; and buyer's credit of Rs 30 crore
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  471.72  CRISIL AA-/Stable  19-01-18  CRISIL A+/Positive      12-10-16  CRISIL A+/Stable  01-04-15  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1 
                26-08-16  CRISIL A+/Stable/ 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
Cash Credit* 65 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit* 65 CRISIL A+/Positive
External Commercial Borrowings 37.93 CRISIL AA-/Stable External Commercial Borrowings 37.93 CRISIL A+/Positive
Term Loan 233.79 CRISIL AA-/Stable Term Loan 233.79 CRISIL A+/Positive
Working Capital Demand Loan 135 CRISIL AA-/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan 135 CRISIL A+/Positive
Total 471.72 -- Total 471.72 --
*Fully interchangeable with line of credit; foreign currency non-resident (B) loan, export packing credit/packing credit in foreign currency (EPC/PCFC), inland bills purchased/discounted, foreign bills purchased/discounted/post-shipment credit in foreign currency of Rs 7 crore; and buyer's credit of Rs 30 crore
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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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