Rating Rationale
November 10, 2023 | Mumbai
Finolex Industries Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.1916.25 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+’ ratings on the bank loan facilities of Finolex Industries Ltd (FIL).

 

The company’s revenue declined 6% on-year in fiscal 2023 due to significant decline in realisation driven by a sharp correction in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins prices, though this was partially offset by healthy volume growth of ~22% in the pipes and fittings segment. The operating margin plunged to 6.4% in fiscal 2023 from 22% in fiscal 2022 mainly due to inventory losses in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2023. The operating margin recovered to 12.4% in the first half of fiscal 2024. Revenue declined by 3% in the first half of fiscal 2024 due to lower realisations. Revenue growth is expected to remain muted for the full fiscal, despite healthy volume growth, impacted by lower commodity prices. However, the operating margin is expected to improve to 14-16% over the medium term, driven by the pipes and fittings segment with an increasing revenue share of the non-agri segment.

 

The financial risk profile of the company remains strong, as reflected in healthy debt coverage and capitalisation. With no major capital expenditure (capex) plan and liquidity of over Rs 1,800 crore, the financial risk profile should remain strong over the medium term.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the established market position of FIL in the PVC resin and pipe segments, its robust operating efficiency driven by an integrated production process, and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of FIL. CRISIL Ratings has adjusted the networth of FIL for the circular investments between FIL and Finolex Cables Ltd (‘CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+’).

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established market position in the domestic PVC resin and pipes segments: FIL is amongst the largest players in the domestic PVC resin and pipe segments. The company has the second largest capacity in the domestic PVC pipes industry.

 

  • High operating efficiency, driven by in-house PVC resin capacity: FIL is the only large vertically integrated player in the domestic market with in-house production for the majority of its requirement of PVC resin, the major raw material used in pipe manufacturing. Intergroup transfer of raw material accounted for around 90% of revenue from the PVC resin segment in fiscal 2023, vis-à-vis 11% in fiscal 2008.

 

  • Strong financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is supported by low gearing of 0.2 time as on September 30, 2023, in the absence of long-term debt or major capex plan. Debt protection metrics were strong, with interest coverage of 22.21 times in the first half of fiscal 2024. Liquidity has improved, as reflected in cash and equivalent of above Rs 1,800 crore as on September 30, 2023.

 

Weakness:

  • Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices: The company’s operating performance was adversely impacted in fiscal 2023 due to significant correction in PVC resin prices impacted by slowdown in the global housing market. Profitability remains volatile to movement in international prices of PVC and its raw materials: ethylene dichloride (EDC), ethylene and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Furthermore, as most of the raw material required for manufacturing PVC resin is imported, inventory risk is also high.

Liquidity: Strong

Expected cash accrual of over Rs 250 crore per annum will continue to support liquidity in the absence of debt. Cash and equivalent stood around Rs 1,800 crore as on September 30, 2023. Moderate capex of around Rs 200 crore per annum is likely to be funded through internal accrual. Bank limit has adequate cushion to cover incremental working capital expenses.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes FIL will continue to benefit from its strong market position and operating efficiency, while maintaining its healthy financial risk profile over the medium term.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors: 

  • Improvement in business risk profile, driven by increased geographical reach as well as product diversification
  • Sustenance of healthy double-digit revenue growth and operating margin of over 20% along with a healthy financial risk profile

 

Downward factors:

  • Steep decline in revenue, with operating margin falling below 16% on sustained basis
  • Significant weakening of the capital structure or debt protection metrics
  • Sizeable reduction in cash surpluses due to higher-than-expected shareholder payouts or large debt funded capex

About the Company

FIL is the third-largest player in the PVC resin market and second largest manufacturer of PVC pipes in India. The company has four manufacturing facilities, one each in Pune, Talegaon and Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, and one in Masar, near Vadodara in Gujarat. The company is the only backward integrated player, with in-house PVC resin capacity and 43 MW captive power, aiding cost control.

Key Financial Indicators (CRISIL Ratings-adjusted numbers)

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2023

2022

Revenue

Rs crore

4,386

4,643

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

224

1,043

PAT margin

%

5.1

22.5

Adjusted debt / adjusted networth

Times

0.17

0.10

Interest coverage

Times

13.38

78.6

 

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 and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)

ISIN Name of the instrument Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs. Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 125.25 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Letter of credit & bank guarantee* NA NA NA 1,791.00 NA CRISIL A1+

*Letter of credit and bank guarantee are interchangeable with buyer's credit

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 125.25 CRISIL AA+/Stable   -- 16-09-22 CRISIL AA+/Stable 29-10-21 CRISIL AA/Positive / CRISIL A1+ 18-12-20 CRISIL A1+ / CRISIL AA/Stable CRISIL A1+ / CRISIL AA/Stable
      --   -- 25-05-22 CRISIL AA+/Stable   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 1791.0 CRISIL A1+   -- 16-09-22 CRISIL A1+ 29-10-21 CRISIL A1+ 18-12-20 CRISIL A1+ CRISIL A1+
      --   -- 25-05-22 CRISIL A1+   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 5 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit 10 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit 50 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit 6.25 Citibank N. A. CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit 50 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit 4 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited CRISIL AA+/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 200 Citibank N. A. CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 500 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 96 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 300 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 95 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 600 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
*Letter of credit and bank guarantee are interchangeable with buyer's credit
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

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Aveek Datta
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 99204 93912
B: +91 22 3342 3000
AVEEK.DATTA@crisil.com

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Mohit Makhija
Senior Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
mohit.makhija@crisil.com


Anand Kulkarni
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
anand.kulkarni@crisil.com


Nelisent Purti
Senior Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
Nelisent.Purti@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL Ratings. However, CRISIL Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About CRISIL Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of CRISIL Limited, an S&P Global Company)

CRISIL Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).
 
CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited ('CRISIL'). CRISIL Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").
 
For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL. For further information on CRISIL's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') that is provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). To avoid doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as CRISIL Ratings providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the report. In preparing our report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Ratings are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any securities/instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL Ratings assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinions and analysis. The rating contained in the report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way. CRISIL Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains.

Neither CRISIL Ratings nor its affiliates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, 'CRISIL Ratings Parties') guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the report, and no CRISIL Ratings Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the report. EACH CRISIL RATINGS PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Ratings Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its website, www.crisilratings.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee - more details about ratings by CRISIL Ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL Ratings and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on in its reports. CRISIL Ratings has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to:
https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html.

Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL Ratings public website, www.crisilratings.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without prior written consent from CRISIL Ratings.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL Ratings Limited. CRISIL Ratings is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited.

 

 

CRISIL Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on CRISIL Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html