Rating Rationale
April 30, 2018 | Mumbai
Gloster Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL A+/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.150 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Gloster Limited (Gloster; part of the Gloster group) to 'CRISIL A+/Stable' from 'CRISIL A/Positive', and reaffirmed the short-term rating and commercial paper at 'CRISIL A1'.
 
The upgrade reflects better-than-expected performance, as seen in higher operating profitability and adequate liquidity. Improvement in operating margin is likely to sustain over the medium term as a result of gradual modernisation of capacities and hence better operational efficiencies; and increased contribution of value-added products that give better realisation. Operating margin improved to 16.2% in the nine months of fiscal 2018, against 14.5% in fiscal 2017 and 11.4% in fiscal 2016.
 
Higher profitability led to estimated cash accrual of Rs 55 crore in fiscal 2018 (Rs 33 crore in fiscal 2016), while controlled working requirement resulted in sizeable liquidity (Rs 100 crore as on March 31, 2018). Hence, dependence on bank limit in the 12 months ended February 2018 has been minimal, thereby enhancing financial flexibility. However, utilisation of liquid funds will remain a key rating sensitive factor.
 
The ratings reflect the Gloster group's established presence in the jute industry, supported by its diversified product portfolio and healthy relationship with customers; efficient working capital management; and strong financial risk profile because of large networth, low gearing, robust debt protection metrics, and comfortable liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to the regulated nature of the jute industry and to easy availability of cheaper substitutes, and susceptibility of operating profitability margin to volatility in raw jute prices.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Gloster and its two wholly owned subsidiaries, Gloster Lifestyle Ltd and Gloster Specialities Ltd. This is because all these entities, collectively referred to as the Gloster group

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established presence in the jute industry, supported by diversified product portfolio
Gloster group manufactures jute & jute blended products, with continued focus on value-added segments. The group's product profile can be broadly classified into hessian, yarn, traditional jute products, and value-added products such as floor covering, geotextiles, processed decorative and industrial fabrics, food-grade quality jute cloth and bags, agro-textiles, furnishing fabrics, lifestyle products, made ups as woven and non-woven, jute nets and mats, fabrics treated for fire retardancy, microbial attacks as well as hydrocarbon-free jute bags. The company has also added new products- laminated jute fabrics, cotton treated for different end use functionalities, coated fabrics for soft luggage, coated molleton fabrics, yarns and non-woven products of certified organic jute. The company acts as a one-stop shop for all kinds of jute products available in the market. The group also exports its products to countries across the globe; the management introduces new products from time to time to keep pace with the changing demand.
 
* Strong financial and liquidity risk profile:
Networth is estimated to have increased to Rs 250 crore as on March 31, 2018, from Rs 121 crore as on March 31, 2015, backed by steady accretion to reserves, sizeable revenue, and healthy profitability. Also, financial policy is conservative, with peak gearing over the three years ended March 2016 being low at 0.69 time because of healthy accrual and low debt-funded capital expenditure (capex; for technology upgrade and replacement of old machinery); which is generally funded through internal accrual.
 
Weakness
* Exposure to risk related to the regulated nature of the jute industry, and easy availability of cheaper substitutes
The domestic jute industry is highly regulated by the government, especially in key areas such as jute pricing and sales. Minimum support price (MSP) for raw jute announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs to prop up jute prices and ensure security for farmers varies from state to state and with jute variety, thereby affecting end-price of jute products.
 
Also, government, under the aegis of the Jute Packaging Material (Compulsory use in Packaging Commodities) Act (JPMA), 1987, has made it mandatory to use only jute bags for packaging sugar and food grains for consignments of 26-100 kilogrammes (kg); this regulation is the key growth driver for the jute industry. Consumer packs of 25 kg and below, and packing of food grains and sugar for export are exempted from this act. However, the conditions of the Act are often diluted because of availability of substitutes in the form of plastic bags, which are 30-50% cheaper than jute bags. Besides, government occasionally also permits reuse of jute sacks for storage of food grains, thus affecting sales of new jute sacks. Additionally, government is the largest consumer of jute sacks in the domestic market, accounting for nearly 60% of overall offtake.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Gloster group will maintain its established market position in the jute industry over the medium term on the back of its diversified and value-added product portfolio and established ties with customers. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of a substantial and sustained improvement in scale of operations and operating profitability margin, while maintaining strong financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if operating profitability drops sharply or capital structure and liquidity weaken because of large, debt-funded capex or any regulatory change in the jute sector.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1992, Gloster manufactures jute products including value added diversified products. Its factory is at Bauria, Howrah (West Bengal). Gloster, promoted by the Bangur family, is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange; the company's operations are managed by a professional team reporting to the Chairman, Mr. Hemant Bangur. Gloster manufactures conventional jute products like hessian, sacking, twine and yarn and is the pioneer in the area of manufacturing woven and non-woven fabrics, Jute geo textiles and value added products for interior decoration and packaging of industrial and agricultural products. Apart from the traditional products the company has also forayed into manufacturing lifestyle products including shopping and promotional bags under 'Gloster Lifestyle' brand.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. Cr. 491.5 422.0
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 46.6 25.5
Profit Margin % 9.2 5.9
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.20 0.69
Interest coverage Times 23.48 11.46

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 Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 77 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA June 2017 1.66 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 13 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 34.34 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 4 CRISIL A1
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 20 CRISIL A1
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 50 CRISIL A1
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  50.00  CRISIL A1      10-04-17  CRISIL A1  14-03-16  CRISIL A1  06-11-15  CRISIL A1  -- 
                12-01-16  CRISIL A1  28-08-15  CRISIL A1   
                    12-06-15  CRISIL A1   
                    22-05-15  CRISIL A1   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  126.00  CRISIL A+/Stable      10-04-17  CRISIL A/Positive  14-03-16  CRISIL A/Stable  06-11-15  CRISIL A/Stable  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1 
                12-01-16  CRISIL A/Stable  28-08-15  CRISIL A/Stable   
                    12-06-15  CRISIL A/Stable   
                    22-05-15  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  24.00  CRISIL A1      10-04-17  CRISIL A1  14-03-16  CRISIL A1  06-11-15  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
                12-01-16  CRISIL A1  28-08-15  CRISIL A1   
                    12-06-15  CRISIL A1   
                    22-05-15  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 4 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 4 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 77 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit 77 CRISIL A/Positive
Letter of Credit 20 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 20 CRISIL A1
Long Term Loan 1.66 CRISIL A+/Stable Long Term Loan 1.66 CRISIL A/Positive
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 34.34 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 34.34 CRISIL A/Positive
Working Capital Demand Loan 13 CRISIL A+/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan 13 CRISIL A/Positive
Total 150 -- Total 150 --
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
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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