Rating Rationale
March 24, 2020 | Mumbai
C & E Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.26.75 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3 (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 facilities of C & E Limited (C&E) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL BBB-'. The short term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A3'.

The outlook revision reflects the company's subdued business risk profile that has affected operating efficiency. Company's operating margins has declined from 11% in the medium past to 8% in fiscal 2019 due to reason fluctuation in raw material prices, margins are expected to be on the similar lines in the medium term. The effect of business risk profile, led to a decrease in the debt protection metrics as well, as reflected in the fall in interest coverage from 3.13 times in fiscal 2017 to 2.02 times in fiscal 2019 and in net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio from 0.16 time to 0.10 time.

The ratings continue to reflect the company's extensive experience of promoters of more than five decades in the chemical industry and above average capital structure of the company with gearing of the company being less than 1 times in the past medium term. These strengths are partially offset by, modest scale of operations in a highly competitive industry and working capital intensive operations, marked by high receivables days of 246 days in fiscal 2019.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
*Extensive experience of promoters: C&E is a family-run business. The promoters have a vast and longstanding experience of over five decades in the leather-processing chemicals business, and are actively involved in the business. There is established and geographically diversified network in place. The promoters are actively involved in development of new products, they have already developed products for telecom industry, marked by growth in revenue contribution from this segment from 8% in fiscal 2017 to 20% in fiscal 2019 and C&E is expected to benefit by it further in the medium term.

*Above average capital structure: The company has less reliance on external debt, leading to comfortable capital structure, marked by gearing of less than 1 times in the past medium term, with 0.63 times in fiscal 2019. CRISIL believes the company's capital structure will reflect on the similar lines in the medium term.

Weakness
*Modest scale of operations: Around 80% of C&E revenues is contributed by highly fragmented and competitive leather industry, dominated by big multinational corporations (MNCs) and presence of a large number of other small players, the balance remaining 20% of its revenues are contribute by its telecom sector business, with majority of revenue being generated by leather industry, risks associated with leather industry, are expected to effect the company more significantly. C&E is a modest player with net operating income of Rs 49.63 crore in fiscal 2019.

*Large working capital requirements: Operations are working capital intensive due to high debtors as the end users of C&E's products are tanneries which are highly export dependent and are characterized by high receivable cycles. Gross current asset (GCA) were 343 days with receivables and inventory at 246 days and 75 days as on March 31, 2019.
Liquidity Adequate

The firm has sufficient cushion in terms of liquidity despite withdrawals from the business, marked by sufficient Net cash accruals expected in the medium term in the range of Rs. 1.7-1.8 crores against repayment obligations of Rs. 0.3 crores, along with this the Fund based limits are utilized at an average 94% for 12 months November 2019 in addition to this unencumbered cash of Rs. 3-5 crores is kept in the business as a trend in the past three years add to the liquidity cushion.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes C&E's muted business risk profile will continue to constrain its operational efficiency.

Rating sensitivity factors
Upward Factor
*Sustained improvement in operations by 20% and sustenance of operating margins leading to higher cash accruals
*Improvement in working capital management with gross current asset days below 300 days
 
Downward Factor
*Decrease in scale of operations with revenue going below Rs. 45 crores, leading to lower accretion to reserves
*Increase in working capital requirement, weakening the liquidity of the company.

About the Company

Originating in the year 1961, C & E Ltd (formerly, Components & Equipments Ltd), is promoted by the Bhaiya family of Himachal Pradesh. Its manufacturing facility is located in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, and is certified by ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 & OHSAS 18001:2007 quality certifications. C&E manufactures a wide range of processing and finishing chemicals for leather and other industries. It also manufactures polyurethane (PU) for telecommunication industry.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 49.63 49.94
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 0.65 0.69
PAT margin % 1.3 1.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.63 0.60
Interest coverage Times 2.02 2.28

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.Cr) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Standby line of credit NA NA NA 1.75 CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Proposed working capital facility NA NA NA 1.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Cash credit* NA NA NA 16.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Proposed term loan NA NA NA 0.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Proposed fund-based bank limits NA NA NA 1.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Foreign bill discounting NA NA NA 2.0 CRISIL BBB-/Negative
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 0.5 CRISIL A3
NA Inland/import letter of credit NA NA NA 2.5 CRISIL A3
*Includes export packing credit limit of Rs. 3.7 crores and foreign bill discounting limit f Rs. 5.8 crores 
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  23.75  CRISIL BBB-/Negative          26-12-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  20-09-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  CRISIL BBB-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  3.00  CRISIL A3          26-12-18  CRISIL A3  20-09-17  CRISIL A3  CRISIL A3 
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 .5 CRISIL A3 Bank Guarantee .5 CRISIL A3
Cash Credit* 16.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Cash Credit* 16.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Foreign Bill Discounting 2 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Inland/Import Letter of Credit 4.5 CRISIL A3
Inland/Import Letter of Credit 2.5 CRISIL A3 Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 1.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 1.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Proposed Term Loan .5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Proposed Term Loan .5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Proposed Working Capital Facility 1.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 1.5 CRISIL BBB-/Negative Standby Line of Credit 1.75 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Standby Line of Credit 1.75 CRISIL BBB-/Negative -- 0 --
Total 26.75 -- Total 26.75 --
*Includes export packing credit limit of Rs. 3.7 crores and foreign bill discounting limit f Rs. 5.8 crores 
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
Rating Criteria for Chemical Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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