Rating Rationale
September 09, 2019 | Mumbai
Hi-Tech Pipes Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed ; CP Withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.231 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.25 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A2 (Withdrawn)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive/CRISIL A2' ratings on the bank facilities of Hi-tech Pipes Ltd (HTPL; part of the Hi-Tech Pipes group). CRISIL has also withdrawn its rating on the company's commercial paper at the company's request. The rating action is in line with CRISIL's policy on withdrawal of ratings.
 
The ratings continues to reflect the Hi-Tech Pipes group's established market presence, diversification in the product profile and geographical reach, and improving financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the large working capital requirement and exposure to risks arising from volatile raw material prices and intense competition.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has taken a consolidated view on HTPL and its 100% subsidiaries, HTL Metal Pvt Ltd (HTL Metal) and HTL Ispat Pvt Ltd (HTL Ispat), together referred to as the Hi-Tech Pipes group. This is because these companies are in the same line of business, and HTL Metal and HTL Ispat are wholly owned by HTPL. CRISIL has treated unsecured loans of Rs 13.85 crore as 75% equity and 25% debt, as they are provided by the group's promoters and should remain in the business in the medium term.

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:
* Established market position: Expansion in capacities, widening of the distributor network (to 350 in fiscal 2019 from 200 in fiscal 2016), and healthy relationships with key customers have helped revenue record a compounded annual growth rate of 39.45% over the three years through fiscal 2019, thus reflecting the company's established market presence. Turnover grew to Rs 1,358 crore in the fiscal 2019 from Rs 1,018 crore the previous fiscal.
 
* Diversified product profile and improving geographical presence: The company's diverse range of products, including tubes and pipes, cold-rolled strips, and engineering products, acts as a safeguard against cyclicality and event-based risks. Geographic presence has improved too, with plants becoming operational in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh and plans of setting up a manufacturing unit in Maharashtra.
 
* Improving financial risk profile: Fund infusion via warrants, along with limited reliance on debt, is likely to strengthen the capital structure and debt protection indicators in fiscal 2020. The total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio improved to 2.22 times as on March 31, 2019, from 2.62 times a year earlier and is expected to improve to less than 2.0 times by March 31, 2020. Interest coverage was 2.4 times in fiscal 2019 and should improve over the medium term.
 
* Moderate working capital requirement: Gross current assets were 100-140 days over the three fiscals through March 2018, but they improved to 83 days as on March 31, 2019. Though operations are working capital-intensive, in line with industry norms, high growth in turnover has led to incremental requirement, as reflected in negative cash flow from operations until fiscal 2018. Although the group has managed its receivables at 30-40 days and inventory at 40-50 days, their future management will be closely monitored.
 
Weaknesses
* Exposure to volatile raw material prices and intense competition: Electric Resistance Welded pipe manufacturers are steel convertors, and fluctuations in raw material prices (85% of the total revenue) are passed on to the consumer, but with a lag of 1-2 months. Hence, the margin remains partly susceptible to fluctuations in prices of steel (hot rolled coils). The monthly pricing mechanism followed by the company, along with the order-backed nature of inventory, should offer a shield from any adverse price movements.
 
Liquidity: Adequate
Liquidity is adequate: cash accrual, expected at Rs 40 crore in fiscal 2020, should sufficiently cover yearly maturing debt of Rs 14-15 crore.  Utilisation of fund-based limit of Rs 194 crore averaged 70% over the 12 months through July 2019. The company plans to undertake capital expenditure of around Rs 27 crore in fiscal 2020 towards setting up of new capacities, funded through term debt of Rs 15 crore and equity infusion by the promoters. Cash and cash equivalents were low at less than Rs 1 crore as on March 31, 2019.
Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes the Hi-Tech Pipes group's business and financial risk profiles will improve over the medium term.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Strengthening of the business risk profile, driven by improvement in scale of operations and continued stability in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA)/tonne metric
* Improvement in financial indicators, particularly interest coverage sustaining above 3 times
* Sustained deleveraging, with debt to EBITDA sustaining below 3 times
 
Downward factors
* Decline in EBITDA/tonne metric
* Delay in correction in financial leverage, with debt-to-EBITDA remaining above 3.5 times

About the Company

Incorporated in 1985 by Mr HL Bansal, HTPL is an ISO-9001 certified manufacturer of steel tubes and pipes and flat steel products. Operations are managed by Mr Ajay Bansal and Mr Anish Bansal. The manufacturing capacities are in Sikandrabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Sanand (Gujarat). The company is listed on the National Stock Exchange.
 
HTL Metal is a wholly owned subsidiary of HTPL; it commenced operations in 2017. The company's manufacturing facility is in Hindupur (Andhra Pradesh).
 
HTL Ispat is also a wholly owned subsidiary of HTPL. It was acquired by HTPL in fiscal 2019. The group is planning to set up a new manufacturing capacity at Khopoli (Maharashtra).

Key Financial Indicators - Consolidated
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 1,358.76 1,018.81
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 27.35 21.01
PAT margin % 2.01 2.06
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 1.78 2.12
Interest coverage Times 2.45 2.14

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 147.50 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
NA Long-Term Loan NA NA April 2022 23.5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 60 CRISIL A2
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 25 Withdrawn
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Hi-Tech Pipes Ltd Full Common management and engaged in the same line of business
HTL Ispat Full Common management and engaged in the same line of business
HTL Metal Pvt Ltd Full Common management and engaged in the same line of business
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  25.00  Withdrawn      31-12-18  CRISIL A2  30-12-17  CRISIL A2    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  171.00  CRISIL BBB+/Positive      31-12-18  CRISIL BBB+/Positive  30-12-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      Suspended 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  95.00  CRISIL A2      31-12-18  CRISIL A2  30-12-17  CRISIL A2      Suspended 
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 147.5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive Cash Credit 147.5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 60 CRISIL A2 Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 60 CRISIL A2
Long Term Loan 23.5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive Long Term Loan 23.5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Total 231 -- Total 231 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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