Rating Rationale
November 27, 2018 | Mumbai
ION Exchange India Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1305.14 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.1057.14 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' ratings on bank facilities of ION Exchange India Limited (IEIL; part of the Ion Exchange group).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the Ion Exchange group's established market position in the water treatment segment, its diverse product mix, and comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and the susceptibility to economic downturns.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of IEIL and its subsidiaries. This is because all these companies, collectively referred to as the Ion Exchange group, have a common management team, operate in the same line of business, and have significant intra-group transactions. IEIL has also extended corporate guarantees for a portion of debt contracted by its subsidiaries. Further, CRISIL has factored in the debt of one of IEIL's associate companies, Aquanomics Systems Ltd (ASL), as IEIL has extended corporate guarantees for the debt contracted by ASL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in the water treatment business: The Ion Exchange group has strong expertise in providing the full range of products in the water treatment segment. Longstanding presence in the water treatment business and strong nationwide aftersales service, have helped the group establish its brand. Revenue is diversified, with 56% sales from the engineering division, 33% from the chemicals division, and 11% from the consumer products division in fiscal 2018. The Ion Exchange group caters to customers in diverse industries such as JSW Steel, Steel Authority of India Ltd in the steel industry; Tata Projects Ltd and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd ('CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+') in the engineering segment; Jindal Power Ltd and NTPC Ltd ('CRISIL AAA/FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') in the power industry; Indian Oil Corporation Ltd ( 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') in the refinery industry and players in the auto, food and beverages, and paper industries.
 
The engineering segment also has orders worth Rs 975 crore as on Sep 30, 2018, which along with orders worth Rs 1,060 crore to be executed in Sri Lanka, provide better revenue visibility in the near to medium term. The diverse end-user industry base protects the Ion Exchange group from downturn in any one industry.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile; despite high total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio: Financial risk profile is supported by improved debt protection metrics and low gearing. Net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios were at 0.27 time and 4.53 times, respectively, in fiscal 2018, vis-a-vis 0.29 time and 4.40 times, respectively, in fiscal 2017. Gearing has averaged 0.66 time over the five years ended March 31, 2018, and may remain stable in the medium term.
 
Given the receipt of large customer advances from the Sri Lankan order, the group's total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOL/TNW) ratio remained high at 4.26 time as of March 2018 against 4.68 times a year before, but is expected to taper down with the phased execution of the project. Timely execution of the Sri Lankan order and correction in TOL/TNW ratio, with sustained improvement in revenue and profitability will be key monitorables.

Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets were high, at 232 days as on March 31, 2018, (224 days a year before), mainly led by rise in cash levels owing to receipt of advance from the Sri Lanka project along with high receivables at a consolidated level. Receivables stood at 157 days as on March 31, 2018, against 152 days a year before. Receivables tend to be stretched, due to the large order execution, primarily in the power, refinery and metal industries. Inventory remains low, in the range of 38-45 days. Payables have improved to 190 days as on March 31, 2018, from over 200 days during the past few years. The group, to an extent, is protected against working capital issues due to back-to-back arrangements with suppliers.
 
* Susceptibility to economic cycles: The engineering and capital goods industries are linked to economic cycles, and thus, investments tend to be cyclical. Slowdown in the Indian economy led to curtailment of capital expenditure in sectors such as steel, infrastructure, and power, which are key customer segments for IEIL. For instance, the group's order inflow declined in fiscal 2009, with the economic slowdown resulting in deferment of capital expenditure by most corporates. Subsequently, the group's revenue declined 8.5% year-on-year in fiscal 2009 and remained flat in fiscal 2010.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes IEIL's operating performance will benefit over the medium term, from its healthy unexecuted orders and timely execution of its order in Sri Lanka. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if the group reports significant and sustained growth in revenue and cash accrual, while maintaining a stable margin, leading to stronger debt protection metrics. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if operating performance weakens materially, owing to slowdown in order inflows or delay in execution of the Sri Lankan order, thereby impacting financial metrics, or in case of a considerable stretch in working capital cycle.

About the Group

IEIL, the flagship company of the ION Exchange group, was incorporated in 1964 as a 60% subsidiary of the UK-based Permutit Company. The foreign holding was reduced in stages, and since 1985, the paid-up share capital has been held by resident Indians. IEIL began manufacturing ion-exchange resins at its plant in Ambernath, Maharashtra, in 1965 and diversified into chemical treatment of water in 1982.
 
IEIL has three key divisions-engineering, chemical, and consumer products'which it operates through six factories in five states. Each of the businesses is managed by a dedicated team. The engineering division plans and executes orders for installation of large and medium-sized water and effluent treatment plants. The chemical division manufactures ion-exchange resins and industrial chemicals and sells them in India and the US, the Middle East, Europe, and South-East Asia. The consumer products division offers a range of water-care products for homes and institutions under the Zero-B brand.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 1045.81 1008.91
Profit after tax Rs crore 39.85 28.84
PAT margin % 3.81 2.86
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.87 0.72
Interest coverage Times 4.53 4.40

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 143.04 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 975.83 CRISIL A2+
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 10.00 CRISIL A2+
NA Term Loan 1 NA NA Sep-19  15.00 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Term Loan 2 NA NA Mar-22 15.00 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 10.00 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility* NA NA NA 116.30 CRISIL A2+
NA Proposed Cash Credit Limit* NA NA NA 19.97 CRISIL A-/Stable
*Umbrella limits for Ion Exchange India Ltd and Ion Exchange Projects & Engineering Ltd
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  319.31  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+      28-08-17  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  03-05-16  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  02-02-15  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+ 
                    28-01-15  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  985.83  CRISIL A2+      28-08-17  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  03-05-16  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  02-02-15  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
                    28-01-15  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
Bank Guarantee 10 CRISIL A2+ Bank Guarantee 10 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 143.04 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 136.4 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 975.83 CRISIL A2+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 796.49 CRISIL A2+
Overdraft 10 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Cash Credit Limit* 6.6 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Cash Credit Limit* 19.97 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility* 92.65 CRISIL A2+
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility* 116.3 CRISIL A2+ Term Loan 15 CRISIL A-/Stable
Term Loan 30 CRISIL A-/Stable -- 0 --
Total 1305.14 -- Total 1057.14 --
*Umbrella limits for Ion Exchange India Ltd and Ion Exchange Projects & Engineering Ltd
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 Construction Industry
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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