Rating Rationale
April 28, 2020 | Mumbai
Everest Industries Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; short-term rating downgraded to 'CRISIL A1' 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.510.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A1+')
 
Rs.30 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1 (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A1+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Everest Industries Limited (Everest) to 'Negative' from 'Stable', while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL A+'. The short-term rating and commercial paper has been downgraded to 'CRISIL A1' from 'CRISIL A1+'.
 
The rating action factors in CRISIL's expectation that Everest's business performance, which was already impacted in fiscal 2020, will remain subdued for most part of fiscal 2021 as well due to the impact of Covid-19 induced lockdown during the current peak season.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, revenue dropped 4% to Rs 995 crore, over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, led by a 6% decline in volume. Operating margin too fell to 4.1% from 7.7% during the same period, due to higher cost of raw material and competitive pricing of products.
 
Though revenue growth may remain subdued in fiscal 2021, due to tepid volume, operating margin is likely to improve slightly, aided by significant cost-control initiatives. Also, players across the industry have taken price corrections, mainly due to higher imported raw material prices, following depreciation of the rupee versus the US dollar.
 
Financial risk profile remains adequate, supported by low gearing (estimated at 0.13 time at March 31, 2020), and healthy credit metrics. Liquidity is also adequate, supported by unutilised bank limit of Rs 100 crore, sufficient to cover the maturing debt of Rs 5 crore in fiscal 2021, modest capital expenditure of Rs 25 crore, and most of the fixed cost components to be incurred, despite disruption of operations across plants and retail outlets, due to the pandemic.
 
The ratings continue to reflect Everest's established position in the domestic asbestos cement (AC) roofing market, its diversified revenue mix and adequate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition in the AC roofing and pre-engineered building (PEB) businesses in India, and volatility in operating margin. Besides, the AC roofing business is subject to regulatory risks pertaining to the manufacture/use of asbestos in India, and key asbestos-producing nations (as the raw material is fully imported).

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Everest and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Everest Building Solutions Ltd (India) and Everest Building Products (Mauritius).

Please refer Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in the domestic AC roofing segment: Backed by presence of 85 years and a wide pan-India reach, Everest is one of India's largest manufacturers of AC roofing sheets. It has a well-established brand in the rural market, supported by a strong distribution network of about 6000 retail outlets and over 32 sales depots. Strategic location of plants across the country help improve market penetration, and enable the group to compete effectively with regional players. This is reflected in its increased market share over the past two years.
 
* Diversified revenue mix
With sustained performance in the PEB business, revenue dependence on the AC roofing business, has reduced over the years; building products accounted for the entire revenue in fiscal 2008, but the share has reduced to 66% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020. Nevertheless, AC roofing is likely to remain the mainstay of the business, over the medium term. Further, as the PEB business is largely dependent on industrial orders, performance in fiscal 2021 could be adversely impacted by the tepid industrial activity and capital spend, with corporates likely to delay expansion and construction activities, until the business environment revives.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is adequate, with healthy net worth of Rs 456 crore and low gearing of 0.15 time, respectively, as on September 30, 2019. Debt protection indicators were above-average, with net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios estimated to decline to 0.70 time and 8.5 times, respectively, in fiscal 2020, compared with 0.78 time and 14.32 times, in the previous fiscal, due to lower profitability. The metrics may remain flattish in fiscal 2021, due to the tepid business environment, and then improve gradually over the medium term, supported by better performance, continued modest capital expenditure (capex), and control over working capital.
 
Weaknesses
* Dependence on rural spending, and exposure to intense competition from peers and substitute products:
Demand for AC roofing is derived from rural spending on household construction, as well as investment in industrial construction. This exposes the Everest group to fluctuations in rural purchasing power, and change in economic cycles. Moreover, the industry is intensely competitive, marked by presence of other strong players. AC roofing players also face stiff competition from manufacturers of galvanised iron (GI) roofing sheets, which have emerged as a viable alternative for AC roofing. Any sharp decline in the price of GI sheets will impact demand for AC sheets.
 
Prices of key raw materials for AC roofing and PEBs - asbestos fibre and steel, respectively - form more than 50% of the total input cost; hence, the operating margin remains vulnerable to any sharp price volatility or currency fluctuations. Movement in input prices in the PEB business are passed on to end-customers, only when permitted by contracts.
 
While the concentration risk is mitigated by diversification into steel buildings, the AC sheet business in India will continue to remain the mainstay over the medium term.
 
* Exposure to regulatory threat of ban on manufacture or use of asbestos in end-user markets and in key asbestos-producing nations
As more than 50% of revenue comes from sale of all roofing products, the company remains vulnerable to the risk of a ban on mining and use of asbestos in Russia and Kazakhstan (which are the largest exporters of the mineral). Brazil and Canada, which were among the world's largest producers, have already banned the mining and sale of asbestos in 2017 and 2018, respectively. This led to a spike in asbestos prices. In India too, only white asbestos (known as crysotile) fibre is used, as blue and brown asbestos have been banned. Furthermore, all forms of asbestos mining is banned in the country. Regulatory changes concerning asbestos mining and usage will remain a key monitorable.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity remains adequate, marked by sufficient cash accrual and minimal reliance on debt. Cash accrual of Rs 40-50 crore expected per fiscal over the medium term, should comfortably cover the maturing long term debt obligations of ~ Rs 5 crore in fiscal 2021 (there are no repayments of long term debt in fiscal 2022), and maintenance capex of around Rs 20-30 crore per fiscal. Bank limit of Rs 135 crore was utilised only at an average 2% during the 12 months through March 2020. Due to comfortable leverage, there is sufficient headroom to raise additional debt, if required.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes Everest's business will be adversely impacted by the slowdown in rural construction, following the outbreak of the pandemic. Financial risk profile may remain adequate over the medium term, though cash accruals will be lower-than-expected. The company is expected to maintain tight control over working capital, and undertake only need based capex.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factors
* Sustained revenue growth of over 8-10%, and improvement in operating margin to ~7-8%
* Sustenance of comfortable capital structure and improvement in other key credit metrics, supported by prudent capex and working capital management
* Improvement in liquidity

Downward factors
* Very sharp deterioration in business performance, resulting in operating margins declining   below than 3-4%, also impacting cash generation
* Significant increase in debt, due to higher capex or elongated working capital cycle, leading to sharp moderation in credit metrics.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1934, Everest is one of India's largest manufacturers of AC roofing. The company has also diversified into non-asbestos building products (roofing sheets, flooring, cladding, and other boards); and design, manufacture, and erection of PEBs. It has eight plants across India.
 
Income from AC roofing and non-asbestos building products currently accounts for around 65% of total revenue, while the PEB segment accounts for the balance. The company has an installed production capacity of 0.95 million tonne per annum (tpa) for conventional building products (including AC roofing) and 72,000 tpa for PEBs. In fiscal 2014, Everest commissioned a 30,000-tpa capacity for its PEB business in Dahej, Gujarat. Promoters held 50.3% stake as on December 31, 2019, followed by Bodies Corporate with 5.76%, foreign portfolio investors with 1.36%, mutual funds with 0.36% and; the balance was with the public and others.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, revenue was Rs 995 crore and PAT Rs 16.7 crore, against Rs 1040 crore and Rs 47.5 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on March 31, Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs.Cr 1404 1271
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Cr 64 53
PAT Margins % 4.6 4.2
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.19 0.21
Interest Coverage Times 14.31 7.73
*CRISIL adjusted numbers

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 135.0 CRISIL A+/Negative
NA Letter of Credit* NA NA NA 245.0 CRISIL A1
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Dec-20 5.20 CRISIL A+/Negative
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Sept-22 45.0 CRISIL A+/Negative
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 30.0 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 80.3 CRISIL A+/Negative
*Fully Interchangeable with bank guarantee
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Everest Industries Limited Full Parent
Everest Building Solutions Limited Full Subsidiary
Everest Building Products Full Subsidiary
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
Commercial Paper  ST  30.00  CRISIL A1      18-09-19  CRISIL A1+  12-09-18  CRISIL A1+  21-12-17  CRISIL A1  -- 
            21-08-19  CRISIL A1+  01-08-18  CRISIL A1+  06-09-17  CRISIL A1   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  265.50  CRISIL A+/Negative      18-09-19  CRISIL A+/Stable  12-09-18  CRISIL A+/Stable  21-12-17  CRISIL A+/Stable  CRISIL A+/Stable 
            21-08-19  CRISIL A+/Stable  01-08-18  CRISIL A+/Stable  06-09-17  CRISIL A+/Negative   
                    29-04-17  CRISIL A+/Negative   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  245.00  CRISIL A1      18-09-19  CRISIL A1+  12-09-18  CRISIL A1+  21-12-17  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
            21-08-19  CRISIL A1+  01-08-18  CRISIL A1+  06-09-17  CRISIL A1   
                    29-04-17  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
Cash Credit 135 CRISIL A+/Negative Cash Credit 135 CRISIL A+/Stable
Letter of Credit* 245 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit* 245 CRISIL A1+
Long Term Loan 50.2 CRISIL A+/Negative Long Term Loan 52.87 CRISIL A+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 80.3 CRISIL A+/Negative Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 77.63 CRISIL A+/Stable
-- 0 -- Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 65 Withdrawn
Total 510.5 -- Total 575.5 --
*Fully Interchangeable with bank guarantee
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 Construction Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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