Rating Rationale
April 03, 2020 | Mumbai
GRP Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.105.46 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (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 GRP Limited (GRP) to 'Negative' from 'Stable', while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL BBB+'. The rating on the short-term bank facility has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A2'.

The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's belief that  GRP's revenue and operating profitability is likely to remain under pressure over the near to medium term given the uncertainty in demand revival in the automotive sector post Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). While GRP plant shutdown is expected to be temporary, revocation of the measures will be contingent upon directive from the Central government and extent of spread of Covid-19. A sustained plant closures can result in significant deterioration in credit quality of GRP. That said, the ability of GRP to revert back to operational stability will be a key monitorable, and CRISIL will continue monitoring the same.

Revenue is expected to remain flattish at Rs 350 crore in fiscal 2020 and likely degrowth in fiscal 2021 mainly due to subdued demand and gradual recovery in automotive sector post Covid-19. Operating margins declined to 5.3% in nine month of fiscal 2020 as compared to 8.1% in corresponding period of last fiscal due to higher raw material costs with import restriction on stock keeping unit (SKU). The company incurred capital expenditure(capex) of Rs 15 crore in fiscal 2020, largely funded through debt, for process automation and capacity expansion in engineering plastics. Operating margins are likely to decline further in fiscal 2021 mainly due to lockdown and gradual revival in demand from the tyre companies.
 
The ratings continue to reflect an established market position in the reclaimed rubber industry, and adequate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the susceptibility to fluctuations in natural rubber prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates, intensifying competition and high dependence on the tyre industry.

 

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of GRP and its subsidiaries, Grip Polymers Ltd and Gripsurya Recycling LLP. CRISIL has also proportionately consolidated GRP's joint venture (JV), Marangoni GRP Pvt Ltd., to the extent of its shareholding in the JV, to reflect support required to the extent of its interest in this business. This is because all the entities, collectively referred to as GRP, are in the same business and have operational synergies.

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 market position in the reclaimed rubber industry: GRP is one of the top three manufacturers of reclaimed rubber globally and the largest in India. The company has built healthy relationships with both domestic and many international tyre manufacturers and distributors. Exports contribute to around 50% of the total revenue. The company largely exports to the US, Europe and Latin American countries. Domestic customers include several large and prominent original equipment manufacturers. The company is expected to additionally benefit from increase in the composition of reclaim rubber in tyres manufactured by global tyre players.The company has diversified presence into multiple adjacent business such as engineering plastics (EP), polymer composites(PC) and custom die forms(CDF) , contributing 5% to the total revenue in fiscal 2019 . Ramp up in PC and EP on the back on healthy demand and recent capex are likely to provide revenue diversification and will remain a key monitorable.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is marked by adequate networth, capital structure, and debt protection metrics. Absence of any major debt-funded capex plans, over the medium term, should enhance the financial risk profile. Estimated adequate networth Rs 129 crore and gearing of 0.51 time as on March 31,2020 to support debt protection metrics. Debt protection metrics expected to remain adequate with adjusted interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt estimated at 5.28 times and  0.22 times, respectively  in fiscal , 2020.
 
Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices and forex rates: Raw material cost accounts for around half of the operating income. End-of-life rubber tyre, the key raw material, is procured from an extensive chain of suppliers. Raw material prices are linked to global crude oil prices. Significant volatility in crude oil prices can lead to fluctuations in margins and could be beneficial in current falling crude price scenario With a sizeable proportion of revenue being derived from exports, volatility in forex rates can also affect profitability. Operating margin has fluctuated between 5-9% over the last three years through December 2019.
 
* High dependence on tyre industry: GRP is highly dependent on performance of the tyre industry, which contributes to around 60% of the revenue. Contribution of reclaimed rubber in overall consumption remains low at 7-8%. Cyclicality in demand from the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment will continue to affect growth prospects of tyre manufacturers.
Liquidity Stretched

Liquidity profile appears to be stretched with average bank limit utilization of 90% as on February 2020. The 10% cushion in availed bank limits of Rs. 72 crores is expected to cover the fixed costs for next 1.5 months. While at present there is  limited cash balances, however the cash collections in coming months from the sales booked  will enable the company to meet its fixed costs in case of prolonged slowdown.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes the GRP's credit risk profile may deteriorate in case of prolonged impact of Covid -19 and slowdown in automotive industry.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors:
* Sustained revenue of growth 10% along with profitability above 9%
* Improvement in financial risk profile
 
Downward factors:
* Sustained revenue de-growth of 20%
* Weakening of the financial risk profile due to increase in working capital requirements and/or large debt funded capex
About the Company

GRP was established in 1974 by Mr Rajendra V Gandhi, under the guidance of Mr Kandathil Philip, the founder-director of MRF Ltd and one of the pioneers of the rubber industry in India. The company manufactures reclaimed rubber (recycled rubber) from end-of-life tyres and tubes. All split and punched products made from waste tyres are exported and have applications in agricultural equipment, rubber mats, and dock bumper assemblies. GRP currently has an installed capacity of 66,000 tonne per annum (tpa) for reclaimed rubber, 2,600 tpa for split and punch products, 2,600 tpa for industrial polymers and 1,500 tpa for polymer composites. It has received an approval from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, for its nylon recovery pilot plant.
 
The operating income for the first nine months of fiscal 2019 was Rs 269 crore with PAT of Rs 4 crore as against Rs 265 crore and Rs 7 crore, respectively, in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 357 300
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 5 -0.8
PAT margin % 1.5 -0.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.50 0.46
Interest coverage Times 5.42 4.20

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 57.00 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
NA Letter of Credit$ NA NA NA 5.00 CRISIL A2
NA Proposed Working
Capital Facility
NA NA NA 37.32 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA 02-Nov-21 5.24 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA 13-Feb-19 0.90 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
$Interchangeable with bank guarantee
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Name of company Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
GRP Ltd Full Parent company
Grip Polymers Ltd Full Wholly owned subsidiary-significant operational and financial linkages
Gripsurya Recycling LLP Full Subsidiary-significant operational and financial linkages
Marangoni GRP Pvt Ltd Proportionate Joint venture-support to the extent of interest in business
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  100.46  CRISIL BBB+/Negative      07-02-19  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  12-02-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  14-08-17  CRISIL A-/Negative  CRISIL A-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  5.00  CRISIL A2      07-02-19  CRISIL A2  12-02-18  CRISIL A2  14-08-17  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
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 57 CRISIL BBB+/Negative Cash Credit 57 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Letter of Credit$ 5 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit$ 5 CRISIL A2
Proposed Working Capital Facility 37.32 CRISIL BBB+/Negative Proposed Working Capital Facility 37.32 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Term Loan 6.14 CRISIL BBB+/Negative Term Loan 6.14 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 105.46 -- Total 105.46 --
$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 Auto Component Suppliers
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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