Rating Rationale
December 23, 2021 | Mumbai
Avon Ispat and Power Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.203 Crore (Reduced from Rs.243 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+’ ratings on the bank facilities of Avon Ispat And Power Limited (AIPL). CRISIL Ratings has withdrawn its rating on the Rs 40 crore proposed bank facility at the company’s request. The withdrawal is in line with the CRISIL Ratings policy regarding withdrawal of ratings.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the company’s strong market position and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices and large working capital requirement.

Key rating drivers and detailed description

Strengths:

  • Strong market position and longstanding relationships with customers: The healthy business risk profile is supported by a strong clientele and diversified product portfolio, leading to repeat orders from major customers. Net sales stood at Rs 521.3 crore in fiscal 2021 compared with Rs 517.4 crore in fiscal 2020. The company’s scale is likely to grow in fiscal 2022, with sales of Rs 375 crore in first six months of the fiscal, aided by significant growth in realisations. The operating margin is expected to sustain at 8.0% over the medium term owing to consistent efforts on part of the management to reduce the cost of goods sold and modification in the manufacturing process.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: Steady accretion to reserve should ensure the financial risk profile remains robust. The total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio is estimated at a low 0.82 time as on March 31, 2021, despite capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 50 crore towards setting up a new special steel unit in recent fiscals. Debt protection metrics were adequate, indicated by interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios estimated at 4.77 times and 0.41 time, respectively, in fiscal 2021; the metrics are expected to remain comfortable over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices: Operating profitability is likely to remain constrained on account of lack of backward integration and volatility in steel prices. The company manufactures cold-rolled (CR) coils using hot-rolled steel strips as key raw material. However, the company has the ability to pass this on to its customers to a certain extent.

 

  • Large working capital requirement: Gross current assets are estimated at 203 days as on March 31, 2021, driven by receivables of 124 days, though inventory was moderate at 43 days. Working capital is partly supported by supplier credit against letters of credit of 90 days and fund-based bank lines.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit of Rs 47 crore was utilised at 52% on average over the 12 months ended March 31, 2021. Cash accrual, expected at Rs 44 crore per annum, will sufficiently cover yearly debt obligation of Rs 10.21 crore over the medium term. Current ratio was healthy at 1.83 times on March 31, 2021. Low gearing and moderate networth provide the financial cushion to weather any adverse conditions or downturns in the business.

Outlook: Stable

AIPL will continue to benefit from its strong market position in the flat steel industry.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sustained increase in sales volume by 20% per fiscal and improvement in the operating margin leading to higher cash accrual
  • Efficient working capital management, supported by reduction in GCAs

 

Downward factors

  • Decline in revenue by over 10% per fiscal
  • Large, debt-funded capex weakening the capital structure

About the company

AIPL, incorporated in 1968, is promoted and managed by Mr Harcharan Singh Pahwa. The company manufactures CR coils, automotive rims and electric-resistance-welded pipes. Most of the revenue and profit is derived from sale of CR coils to local manufacturers of bicycles and to automotive component ancillary units.

Key financial indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2021

2020

Operating income

Rs crore

534.58

535.09

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

21.02

20.86

PAT margin

%

3.93

3.73

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.31

0.32

Interest coverage

Times

4.77

4.84

 

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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)

Complexity levels

Rating assigned

with outlook

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

47

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

123

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Long Term Loan

NA

NA

Mar-25

33

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Proposed Long Term

Bank Loan Facility

NA

NA

NA

40

NA

Withdrawn

 

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2021 (History) 2020  2019  2018  Start of 2018
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 120.0 CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 08-09-20 CRISIL A-/Stable 07-01-19 CRISIL A-/Stable 31-12-18 CRISIL A-/Stable CRISIL BB+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*
      --   -- 29-04-20 CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 08-03-18 Withdrawn --
      --   --   --   -- 27-02-18 CRISIL BBB+/Stable --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 123.0 CRISIL A2+   -- 08-09-20 CRISIL A2+ 07-01-19 CRISIL A2+ 31-12-18 CRISIL A2+ CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*
      --   -- 29-04-20 CRISIL A2+   -- 08-03-18 Withdrawn --
      --   --   --   -- 27-02-18 CRISIL A2 --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 5 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 17 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 20 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 5 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 35 CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 38 CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 40 CRISIL A2+
Long Term Loan 33 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 40 Withdrawn
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
Rating Criteria for Auto Component Suppliers
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default

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