Rating Rationale
July 30, 2019 | Mumbai
GFL Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1500 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.400 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of GFL Limited (GFL; formerly known as Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited).
 
CRISIL's ratings on GFL continue to reflect its strong market position in the chemicals, wind turbine manufacturing, and cinema exhibition businesses; healthy operating efficiency of the chemicals and cinema exhibition businesses, and a strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to regulatory changes, large working capital requirement in the wind turbine business, and susceptibility to inherent volatility in the chemical and cinema exhibition businesses.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of GFL and its subsidiaries, Inox Leisure Ltd (ILL; 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+'); Inox Wind Ltd (IWL; 'CRISIL A-/Positive/CRISIL A2+') and its subsidiaries; Inox Renewables Ltd and its subsidiaries; Inox Infrastructure Ltd (wholly owned); and other critical joint ventures and subsidiaries. The companies are collectively referred to as the Inox group. In addition to common promoters and shareholding structures, they are strategically important to GFL.
 
CRISIL has also assessed GFL and Inox Fluorochemicals Ltd (IFL), assuming the completion of the demerger. Post-demerger, IFL will have only the chemicals business while GFL will continue to hold IWL, ILL, and other subsidiaries, excluding subsidiaries pertaining the chemicals business.  CRISIL has added the debt of Inox Wind Infrastructure Services Ltd (IWISL) guaranteed by GFL, while assessing the credit risk profile of IFL. Following the demerger, GFL and IFL will jointly and severally provide corporate guarantees to IWISL's debt, which is currently guaranteed by GFL.
 
Please refer Annexure - Details of consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Strong market position: The Inox group is the largest polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) manufacturer in India, and among the top four globally. It is also a leading manufacturer of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), which is used in refrigeration, air conditioning and other industries. It is the second-largest player in the film exhibition business and among the leading wind turbine manufacturers in India. A robust market position along with diversified revenue streams should continue to support the business risk profile.
 
* Healthy operating efficiency: Operating margin in the chemicals business improved to 31.2% in fiscal 2019 from 29% the previous fiscal. The business is forward-integrated into manufacturing PTFE and backward-integrated into manufacturing HCFC, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, chloroform, and chlorine. This reduces dependence on external sources for raw material, and helps improve the operating margin and capacity utilisation. Profitability in the chemicals business is further supported by increased contribution from value-added products and speciality fluoro-polymers.
 
In the cinema exhibition business, revenue contribution from advertisement increased to 10.4% in fiscal 2019 from 6.4% in fiscal 2014; contribution from food and beverages rose to 25.8% in fiscal 2019 from 21.3% in fiscal 2014. Driven by healthy non-box-office revenue, the operating margin was 16.6% in fiscal 2018 and further improved to 18.9% in fiscal 2019. High operating efficiency is likely to be sustained on the back of significant contribution from non-box-office revenue.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: The gearing was low at 0.31 time and cash and cash equivalents were healthy at Rs 493 crore, as on March 31, 2019. Healthy cash accrual should ensure the debt protection metrics remain comfortable, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios expected to exceed 7 times and 0.6 time, respectively, over the medium term. The film exhibition business should generate sufficient cash flow to fund organic expansion plans, while improved cash accrual in the chemicals business would support the overall credit risk profile. The financial risk profile is likely to be sustained over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses:
* Working capital intensity in the wind turbine business: Pressure on working capital persists for IWL, with receivables of Rs 1630 crore as on March 31, 2019. Working capital intensity was high under the feed-in-tariff regime (FIT) as there were delays in commissioning or signing of power-purchase agreements (PPAs). The situation was compounded by an abrupt halt on signing PPAs by distribution companies, after the advent of wind auctions in February 2017. Though company has been able to realize significant receivables since March 2017, around 60% of the receivables at March 2019 still pertain to orders executed prior to March 2017. Moreover, due to delay in receipt of the evacuation infrastructure, there has been a deferral in commissioning of the auction based orders. As a result, there has also been a build-up in receivables pertaining to execution of the auction based order-book. CRISIL will continue to monitor IWL's ability to execute current orders and realise payments along with movement in receivables pertaining to orders executed under the FIT regime.
 
* Exposure to inherent volatility in the cinema exhibition business: Volatility in profitability in the film exhibition business may continue to affect operations, though the impact will be cushioned marginally by the large scale and increasing contribution from the non-ticketing business. Given high fixed costs, multiplex players will remain dependent on occupancy, which is driven by success of films; occupancy improved to 28% in fiscal 2019, from 26% the previous fiscal. Availability of other forms of entertainment and new properties expose ILL to challenges of sustaining profitability and growth.
Liquidity

Liquidity is strong driven by expected cash accruals of more than Rs 1,000 crore per annum in fiscals 2020 and 2021 and cash and cash equivalents of Rs 493 crore as on March 31, 2019. Maturing long-term debt is of Rs 350 crore in fiscal 2020. In addition, capex of around Rs 500 crore is proposed per fiscal. Cash accrual and cash and cash equivalents should be sufficient to meet repayment obligation and to partly finance capex and investment requirement in various subsidiaries and joint ventures. With a gearing of 0.31 time as on March 31, 2019, there is sufficient headroom to borrow, if required.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the business risk profile will continue to be supported by strong performance in the chemicals and cinema exhibition businesses. The strong financial risk profile is likely to be sustained, driven by substantial cash accrual and healthy debt protection metrics.
 
Upside scenario
* Significant improvement in operating performance in the wind turbine business, coupled with reduced working capital intensity
* Continued improvement in performance of the chemicals and cinema exhibition businesses
* Considerable decline in debt, leading to sustained improvement in the financial risk profile
 
Downside scenario
* Moderation in performance of the chemicals and cinema exhibition businesses
* Continued working capital intensity or substantial decline order-book in the wind turbine business
* Significant debt funded capital expenditure (capex) or acquisitions, weakening the financial risk profile

About the Group

GFL is the flagship company of the Inox group, which has diverse business interests including chemicals, wind turbine manufacturing, cinema exhibition, and wind power generation.
 
GFL is one of the largest chemical players in India with a combined installed capacity of 65,000 tonne per annum (tpa) of HCFC, 16,200 tpa of PTFE, 134,750 tpa of caustic soda, and 108,500 tpa of chloromethane. ILL operates in 67 cities and has 577 screens as on March 31, 2019. IWL has installed capacity to manufacture wind turbines equivalent to 1,600 megawatt per annum.

Key Financial Indicators - (Consolidated)
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 5,670 3,611
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 1,349* 240
PAT margin % 23.8 6.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.31 0.34
Interest coverage Times 5.61 3.40
*Includes impact of Income tax credit from earlier year

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 Foreign Currency Term Loan NA NA 15-Mar-21 40.66 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Foreign Currency Term Loan NA NA 15-Mar-21 40.66 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Foreign Currency Term Loan NA NA 20-Mar-23 45.64 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Cash Credit~~~ NA NA NA 100.00 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 93.04 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 1085.00 CRISIL A1+
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA 19-Mar-27 95.00 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 400.00 CRISIL A1+
~~~Interchangeable with Overdraft and other working capital facility
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Sr. No. Subsidiary Companies
1 Inox Leisure Limited
2 Inox Wind Limited
3 Inox Renewables Limited
4 Inox Infrastructure Limited
5 Gujarat Fluorochemicals Americas LLC, U.S.A.
6 Gujarat Fluorochemicals GmbH, Germany
7 Gujarat Fluorochemicals Singapore Pte. Limited
8 Inox Renewables (Jaisalmer) Limited
9 GFL GM Fluorspar SA
10 Shouri Properties Private Limited
11 Inox Wind Infrastructure Services Limited
12 Marut Shakti Energy Limited
13 Sarayu Wind Power (Kondapuram) Private Limited
14 Sarayu Wind Power (Tallimadugula) Pvt. Ltd
15 Vinirrmaa Energy Generation Pvt. Ltd
16 Satviki Energy Private Limited
17 RBRK Investments Limited
18 Wind One Renergy Private Limited
19 Wind Three Renergy Private Limited
20 Suswind Power Private Limited
21 Vasuprada Renewables Private Limited
22 Ripudaman Urja Private Limited
23 Vibhav Energy Private Limited
24 Haroda Wind Energy Private Limited
25 Vigodi Wind Energy Private Limited
26 Aliento Wind Energy Private Limited
27 Flurry Wind Energy Private Limited
28 Tempest Wind Energy Private Limited
29 Vuelta Wind Energy Private Limited
30 Flutter Wind Energy Private Limited
31 Swanston Multiplex Cinema Private Limited
   
Sr. No. Associate Companies
1 Wind Two Renergy Private Limited
2 Wind Four Renergy Private Limited
3 Wind Five Renergy Private Limited
4 Khatiyu Wind Energy Private Limited
5 Ravapar Wind Energy Private Limited
6 Nani Virani Wind Energy Private Limited
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
Commercial Paper  ST  400.00  CRISIL A1+  10-05-19  CRISIL A1+  23-11-18  CRISIL A1+  22-08-17  CRISIL A1+  22-08-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
        10-01-19  CRISIL A1+  28-09-18  CRISIL A1+      13-07-16  CRISIL A1+   
            05-04-18  CRISIL A1+           
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1500.00  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  10-05-19  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  23-11-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  22-08-17  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  22-08-16  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
        10-01-19  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  28-09-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+      13-07-16  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+   
            05-04-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --  10-05-19  CRISIL A1+  23-11-18  CRISIL A1+  22-08-17  CRISIL A1+  22-08-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
        10-01-19  CRISIL A1+  28-09-18  CRISIL A1+      13-07-16  CRISIL A1+   
            05-04-18  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~~~ 100 CRISIL AA/Stable Foreign Currency Term Loan^ 40.66 CRISIL AA/Stable
Foreign Currency Term Loan 126.96 CRISIL AA/Stable Foreign Currency Term Loan^ 40.66 CRISIL AA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 93.04 CRISIL AA/Stable Foreign Currency Term Loan# 45.64 CRISIL AA/Stable
Rupee Term Loan 95 CRISIL AA/Stable Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 100 CRISIL A1+
Working Capital Facility 1085 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee@$&* 250 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee$& 50 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee@& 50 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Packing Credit in Foreign Currency$ 85 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Packing Credit in Foreign Currency$&@* 150 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 93.04 CRISIL AA/Stable
-- 0 -- Rupee Term Loan 95 CRISIL AA/Stable
-- 0 -- Short Term Loan$&@* 150 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Short Term Loan&@* 100 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Short Term Loan$&@ 200 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Short Term Loan&@* 50 CRISIL A1+
Total 1500 -- Total 1500 --
#USD 0.660 crore converted at 69.1488 INR/USD
^USD 0.588 crore converted at 69.1488 INR/USD
@Interchangeable with short-term debt to the extent of Rs 570 crore
$Interchangeable with letter of credit and bank guarantee to the extent of Rs 955 crore
&Interchangeable with overdraft facility to the extent of Rs 435 crore
*Interchangeable with PCFC facility to the extent of Rs 595 crore
~~~Interchangeable with Overdraft and other working capital facility
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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