Rating Rationale
April 26, 2019 | Mumbai
CDE Asia Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Positive'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.15 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Positive (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (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 facility of CDE Asia Limited (CDE Asia) to 'Positive' from 'Stable', while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL BBB+'. The short-term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A2'.
 
The outlook revision reflects expectation that CDE Asia's business risk profile will continue to improve over the medium term, while working capital cycle remains prudently managed. Operating income and operating margin improved to an estimated Rs 143 crore and 29% in fiscal 2019, from Rs 50.62 crore and 21.3%, respectively, in fiscal 2017. Cash accrual improved, too to an estimated Rs 18 crore from Rs 6 crore during the period. Unexecuted orders of around Rs 122.71 crore support revenue visibility as of April 2019.
 
In the absence of maturing debt, gearing is near-zero and interest coverage around 33.3 times as of March 2018. Working capital management has also improved as reflected in decline of GCA days from 187 days as on March 31, 2017 to 172 days as on March 31, 2018 mainly on account of improvement in receivables. Receivables improved to 66 days as of March 2018, from 87 a year earlier. The impact of ramp-up in scale of operations on operating profitability and working capital will continue to be closely monitored.
 
The ratings reflect CDE Asia's established market position in a niche segment supported by the promoters' extensive industry experience and benefits of association with CDE Global Ltd (CDE Global). The ratings also factor in healthy profitability, comfortable financial risk profile and adequate liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirements and exposure to cyclicality in end-user industries.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position supported by promoters' extensive industry experience and benefits of association with CDE Global: CDE Asia's promoter Mr Bhartia initially started out as an agent for supplying CDE Global products in India. However, with the increasing demand of such products, the company CDE Asia was formed to cater to the Asian market. Since 2007, the promoter set up an assembling and fabrication plant at Dhulagarh, Howrah. The products are used in iron ore beneficiation, sand and aggregate washing, and silica sand extraction. The company also offers turnkey services for washing solution projects. CDE Asia should continue to support from the promoters' keen grasp of industry requirements, and healthy relations with customers such as SAIL, Saint Gobain, the Holcim group, and Dilip Buildcon Ltd (rated CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1+).
 
* Healthy and improving operating profitability: Operating profitability improved to 26.9% in fiscal 2018 from 21.3% the previous fiscal, driven by increasing scale leading to better efficiencies as well as contribution from value-added, higher-margin products and execution of larger projects for diversified industries. Competition remains limited. The improved margins has also resulted in improvement in return on capital employed (RoCE) to 143.28% from 50.92%. The RoCE is expected to improve further over the medium term.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is comfortable, with networth of around Rs 18.33 crore and gearing of 0.07 time as on March 31, 2018. Accretion to reserve should help shore up networth and strengthen capital structure over the medium term, in the absence of sizeable capex. Debt protection metrics are healthy: interest coverage was comfortable around 33.63 times and net cash accruals to total debt was 5.28 times in fiscal 2018.
 
Weaknesses
* Cyclicality in end-user industries: CDE Asia caters to cyclical industries such as the real estate, infrastructure, iron ore mining, ready mix concrete and other sand application based industries. Though earlier the company had significant concentration to iron ore industry, the same has now reduced significantly with revenues now being derived from sales of sand and aggregate washing machines, silica sand extraction etc. Exposure to cyclical industries can result in significant deterioration in business profile during downturn. The same was observed when the performance was subdued from fiscal 2012 onwards since due to regulatory issues, the iron ore mining industry faced some problems then. Moreover, the primary end- user segments for infrastructure & real estate are also highly cyclical, downturn in which can adversely affect the revenues of the company over the medium term.
 
* Working capital intensive operations: Operations are working capital intensive, primarily driven by the need of maintaining high inventory as well as allowing open credit to customers. The gross current assets (GCAs) were 172 days as on March 31, 2018, while inventory and receivables were 88 and 87 days, respectively. The company undertakes assembling and fabrication work and as such the inventory levels are high at almost 60-90 days. Though the company has a policy of taking partial advance from customers and the rest is received on dispatch, but on some occasions the company has to provide credit to its customers. Against this the company receives adequate credit from its suppliers and has significant accrual generation currently which has helped keep reliance on bank lines minimal. Efficiency in working capital management amid increasing scale should continue to be a key rating sensitivity factor over the medium term.
Liquidity

CDE Asia has adequate liquidity, backed by healthy accrual and zero debt obligations. Cash credit limit has been unutilised over the past 12 months. Accrual and liquidity are expected to remain healthy over the medium term.

Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes CDE Asia will maintain a stable business risk profile over the medium term backed by the promoters' extensive experience, association with CDE Global, and growing demand.
 
Upgrade scenario
* Sustained improvement in scale and accrual, along with sustenance working capital management, financial risk profile and liquidity
 
Stable scenario
* Decline in operating income or accrual
* Larger than expected debt-funded capex or stretch in working capital cycle, weakening financial profile and liquidity

About the Company

CDE Asia was incorporated in 2000 jointly by Mr Manish Bhartia of Kolkata and CDE Global, a North Ireland based company. CDE Global has 60% shareholding in CDE Asia through its investment arm. The company is engaged in providing mobile washing equipment which are suitable for iron ore washing, sand and aggregate washing, construction & demolition (C&D) waste recycling and coal washing. The work includes supplying product or project based solutions to its customers. The company is the sole licensee of CDE Global to provide such products to Asian market.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 102.79 50.62
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 17.64 5.41
PAT margin % 17.2 10.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.07 0.2
Interest coverage Times 33.63 5.19

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
Amount
(Rs. crore)
Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 10 CRISIL A2
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  5.00  CRISIL BBB+/Positive      31-01-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable          Suspended/ Suspended 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  10.00  CRISIL A2      31-01-18  CRISIL A2          Suspended 
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
Bank Guarantee 10 CRISIL A2 Bank Guarantee 5 CRISIL A2
Cash Credit 5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive Cash Credit 10 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 15 -- Total 15 --
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 Approach to Recognising Default

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