Rating Rationale
September 20, 2017 | Mumbai
Astral Poly Technik Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.380 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities of Astral Poly Technik Ltd (Astral; a part of the Astral group). The rating on commercial paper is reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.
 
The ratings continue to reflect leadership position in the chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) pipes and fittings segment, supported by established brand and entrenched market presence, and promoter's experience. The ratings also factor in strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition, supplier concentration risk, and susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Astral and its subsidiaries, Resinova Chemie Ltd (Resinova), Astral Biochem Pvt Ltd (ABPL), and UK-based Seal It Services Ltd (Seal It); Astral holds 97.45, 100, and 80% stakes, respectively, in these subsidiaries. All these companies are collectively referred to as the Astral group.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position: The Astral group is the market leader in the domestic niche market of CPVC pipes and fittings. Astral enjoys the advantage of being the first company to introduce CPVC products in the Indian market. The group complements its CPVC products with PVC products and has diversified product basket through Resinova and Seal It. Backed by its established and long presence, Astral has an established brand and entrenched market presence.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: Networth and gearing were healthy at Rs 859 crore and 0.3 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2017. Interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios were also comfortable at about 14 times and 0.9 time, respectively, in fiscal 2017.
 
Weakness
* Exposure to intense competition and supplier concentration: There is intense competition in the pipes and fittings industry especially in the commoditised products segment, marked by low product differentiation. The segment is highly price sensitive, which prevents the prompt pass-through of any increase in input costs to customers. The group procures CPVC resin solely from Seikisui. CPVC is a niche product with limited number of suppliers in world market.
 
* Susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices and forex rates: The Astral group is exposed to risks related to fluctuations in forex rates as it imports around a third of its raw material requirement. Though the group can absorb minor losses because of comfortable networth, any significant loss arising from forex rate fluctuations may constrain cash accrual. The margins are also exposed to fluctuations in the prices of raw materials (PVC resins and CPVC resins), which being dictated by crude oil are volatile in nature.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Astral group will continue to benefit over the medium term from the diversified revenue profile, addition of new products and strong market position across segments. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if revenue, profitability and cash generation increase substantially and key financial metrics remain healthy. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if significant decline in profitability, stretch in working capital cycle, or large, debt-funded capital expenditure or acquisitions weakens capital structure.

About the Group

Astral was originally incorporated in 1996 as a private limited company, promoted by Mr Sandeep Engineer (managing director); this company was reconstituted as a public limited company in 2007, with the launch of its initial public offering. Astral manufactures and trades in CPVC and lead-free PVC plumbing systems for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. It has four plants: two in Gujarat, one in Tamil Nadu and one in Rajasthan.
 
Resinova manufactures adhesives for construction, engineering, automobile, insulation, household, and stationary applications. The company sells its products under about 50 brands, including Bondtite, Bondset, Bondfit, Resigrip, Resicast, Zesta, Solvobond, Resibond, and Vetra.
 
In November 2014, Astral acquired 76% stake in Resinova for a consideration of Rs 212.8 crore. In November 2015, Astral acquired the balance 24% for Rs 73 crore. Subsequently, in the same month, Resinova was amalgamated with Advanced Adhesives Ltd (AAL) with effect from November 21, 2014. As per the scheme of amalgamation, AAL was renamed as Resinova. The merger added cement-solvent solutions for joining pipes to Resinova's product basket.
 
Formed in 2002, Seal It offers sealants, adhesives, and other products under the brand Bond-it. Astral acquired 80% stake of this company in August 2014.
 
ABPL has no operations at present.
 
For fiscal 2017, Astral, on a standalone basis, reported profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 107 crore on sales of Rs 1474 crore, against Rs 73 crore and Rs 1317 crore, respectively, in the previous year.
 
For fiscal 2017, the Astral group reported PAT of Rs 144 crore on sales of Rs 1889 crore, against Rs 101 crore and Rs 1678 crore, respectively, in the previous year.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. Cr. 1889  1678 
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 144  101 
Profit Margins % 7.6 6.0
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.3  0.3 
Interest coverage Times 14.8  6.9 

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1.5 CRISIL A1+
NA Cash Credit* NA NA NA 185 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Cash Credit# NA NA NA 30 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA External Commercial Borrowings NA NA Feb-2022 27.47 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 10 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 31.03 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Jul-2020 95 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 50 CRISIL A1+
* Interchangeable with Buyers Credit
# Interchangeable with Buyers Credit, Bank Guarantee, Letter of Credit
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  50  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  05-02-15  CRISIL A1+  25-11-14  CRISIL A1/Watch Developing  -- 
                    31-07-14  CRISIL A1   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  368.5  CRISIL AA-/Stable    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  28-12-15  CRISIL AA-/Stable  25-11-14  CRISIL A+/Watch Developing  CRISIL A+/Stable 
                05-02-15  CRISIL A+/Positive       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  11.5  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  05-02-15  CRISIL A1+  25-11-14  CRISIL A1/Watch Developing  CRISIL A1 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 1.5 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee 1.5 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit* 185 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit* 155 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Cash Credit# 30 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit# 30 CRISIL AA-/Stable
External Commercial Borrowings 27.47 CRISIL AA-/Stable External Commercial Borrowings 45.1 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 31.03 CRISIL AA-/Stable Term Loan 138.4 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 95 CRISIL AA-/Stable -- 0 --
Total@ 380 -- Total 380 --
* Interchangeable with Buyers Credit
# Interchangeable with Buyers Credit, Bank Guarantee, Letter of Credit
@Please note that unsecured fund based working capital limits, provided by other banks, have also been included in the company's rated limit of Rs.380.0 crore, which are inter-changeable, with the condition that the company's utilization under the rated fund based working capital facilities will not exceed Rs.215 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 Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Criteria for rating Short-Term Debt (including Commercial Paper)

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