Rating Rationale
May 08, 2019 | Mumbai
Deccan Cements Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.197 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.95 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' ratings on the bank facilities of Deccan Cements Limited (DCL).
 
The ratings continue to reflect DCL's comfortable business and financial risk profiles, with a strong position in the South Indian cement market and healthy operating efficiency. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition, risks relating to volatile input costs, cyclicality in the cement industry, and the commodity nature of the product.

Analytical Approach

Unsecured loans (outstanding at Rs 14.25 crore as on March 31, 2018) have been treated as debt. That is because these loans are interest bearing and are not sub-ordinated to bank debt.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position in South India: DCL is one of the leading cement players in South India. Abundant availability of limestone in its mine and captive power generation result in strong operational efficiency. Thus, the operating margin remained moderate even during adverse business cycles. Moreover, benefits from the promoters' experience of over four decades, their strong understanding of local market dynamics, and healthy relations with customers and suppliers should continue to support the business.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is likely to remain strong over the medium term. Networth and gearing were estimated at Rs 394 crore and 0.13 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019. Though gearing may increase in fiscal 2020 due to the ongoing, debt-funded capital expenditure (capex), the ratio is likely to remain healthy at below 0.3 time over the medium term. Debt protection metrics have been strong, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios estimated at 16.45 times and 1.24 times, respectively, in fiscal 2019.
 
Weakness:
* Exposure to intense competition and risks related to volatility in raw material prices: Cement players, including DCL, are susceptible to volatility in input cost due to operating leverage in the cost structure. Further, intense competition may continue to constrain scalability, pricing power, and profitability.
 
* Susceptibility to risks related to the commoditised nature of products and cyclicality in the cement industry: Capacity additions in the commoditised cement industry tend to be sporadic because of long gestation periods associated with setting up new facilities, and the large number of players adding capacities during the peak of a cycle. This has led to unfavourable price cycles for the sector in the past. Cyclical downturns in the industry result in slow sales, constraining the operating rate and ability to pass on any rise in input costs.

Liquidity

DCL is estimated to have ample liquidity, because of healthy net cash accrual against moderate term debt obligations, low utilisation of bank limits and healthy unencumbered cash and bank balances. Net cash accrual is estimated at Rs 55-60 crore in fiscals 2020 and 2021 against which the company will have moderate repayment obligations of less than Rs 11 crore. Bank limits were minimally utilised at 18% for the 12 months ended February, 2019. Also unencumbered cash balance of over Rs 100 crore as of March, 2019 will continue to support liquidity.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes DCL will continue to benefit from healthy operating efficiency, strong financial risk profile, and the extensive experience of the promoters. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if a sustained improvement in operating performance, driven by higher demand and increased capacity utilisation along with stable profitability and capital structure strengthens the financial risk profile and liquidity. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a decline in operating performance or any large, debt-funded capex weakens the financial risk profile.

About the Company

DCL, incorporated in 1979, manufactures ordinary Portland, Portland Pozzolana, Portland slag cement, and specialty cement; the company commenced operations in 1979. The manufacturing plant in Bhavanipuram (Nalgonda, Telangana) has installed capacity of 22.5 lakh tonne per annum. DCL operates in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. The company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. Mr M B Raju is the promoter, while Ms P Parvathi manages the business.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 32.99 crore on revenue of Rs 497.34 crore, against Rs 29.85 crore and Rs 430.77 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 571.98 497.52
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 38.28 46.62
PAT margin % 6.69 9.37
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.1 0.22
Interest coverage Times 15.24 13.72

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 21 CRISIL A1
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 90 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 14 CRISIL A1
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2026 36 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2025 36 CRISIL A/Stable
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  162.00  CRISIL A/Stable      29-09-18  CRISIL A/Stable  07-09-17  CRISIL A/Stable  04-05-16  CRISIL A/Stable  -- 
                28-08-17  CRISIL A/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  35.00  CRISIL A1      29-09-18  CRISIL A1  07-09-17  CRISIL A1  04-05-16  CRISIL A1  -- 
                28-08-17  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
Bank Guarantee 21 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 12 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 90 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 63 CRISIL A/Stable
Letter of Credit 14 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 12 CRISIL A1
Term Loan 72 CRISIL A/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 8 CRISIL A/Stable
Total 197 -- Total 95 --
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 Cement Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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