Rating Rationale
June 27, 2024 | Mumbai
Impex Metal and Ferro Alloys Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.120 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1’ ratings on the bank loan facilities of Impex Metal and Ferro Alloys Ltd (IMFAL; part of the Maithan group).

 

The ratings continue to reflect the strong support from the group and healthy capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by nascent stage of operations and exposure to volatility in the prices of raw materials and finished goods, and to cyclicality in the ferro alloy industry.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has applied its parent notch-up framework to arrive the ratings of IMFAL, and considered the support the company receives from its parent, Maithan Alloys Ltd (MAL; rated at 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+’).

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Strong support from established parent: The company receives financial, operational, and managerial support from MAL, which is one of the largest domestic producers of manganese-based ferro alloys with more than 5% market share of the total domestic ferro alloy industry. With the acquisition of IMFAL in fiscal 2022, which has capacity of 49,500 tonne per annum, the production capability of the Maithan group has strengthened considerably. Longstanding presence has enabled the promoters to develop a deep understanding of market dynamics and maintain healthy relationships with reputed customers in the domestic and overseas markets. Strong parent support is expected to be instrumental in ramping up operations over the medium term.

 

  • Healthy capital structure: Networth was large at over Rs 64 crore as on March 31, 2024, while exposure to external debt was nil. Treating unsecured loans from MAL as debt, gearing and total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratios were at 0.4 times and 0.6 times, respectively. In the absence of a large, debt-funded capital expenditure (capex), and ramp-up in operations, capital structure is expected to strengthen over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Nascent stage of operations: The company began its furnace on December 5, 2021. Healthy revenue growth in the first year of operations was backed by steady ramp-up of operations, high realisation, and moderate capacity utilisation. However, operations were exposed to rise in power cost, volatile raw material prices and performance of end user industry in fiscal 2024, which led to muted revenue. Production is scheduled to resume by second half of fiscal 2025 and sustained revenue growth and profitability will be monitorable.

 

  • Exposure to volatility in the prices of raw materials and finished goods and cyclicality in the ferro alloy industry: Operating margin remains vulnerable to fluctuations in the prices of inputs (such as manganese ore, power, and non-coking coal) and to realisations of finished goods. Prices and supply of key raw material, manganese ore, directly impact realisations of manganese-based ferro alloys, and any sharp change in input prices with no similar movement in realisations can dent profitability. This is reflected in a substantial fall in operating margin to about 3% in fiscal 2024 from 22% previous fiscal. As ferro alloys are intermediates for the steel industry, their prospects are linked, and the steel segment is inherently cyclical. The downswing in the steel industry during fiscals 2009 and 2016 led to a sharp fall in demand for, and prices of, ferro alloys. The performance of IMFAL will remain susceptible to fluctuations in raw material prices and volume of steel produced.

Liquidity: Strong

In the absence of debt obligation, net cash accrual should sufficiently cover working capital requirement. Funding support from the parent is expected during exigency. The Maithan group had free cash balance and liquid investments of around Rs 1,825 crore as on March 31, 2024. Low gearing and healthy networth provide financial flexibility in case of any adverse condition or downturn in the business. Current ratio was healthy at over 24 times as on March 31, 2024.

Outlook: Stable

The company will continue to benefit from the strong financial, operational, and managerial support of its parent, MAL.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Track record of operations and strong revenue growth resulting in net cash accrual of more than Rs 30 crore
  • Sustenance of financial risk profile and prudent working capital cycle

 

Downward factors:

  • Decline in performance of the parent leading to fall in notch-up benefit
  • Low revenue and profitability resulting in net cash accrual below Rs 10 crore
  • Sizeable debt-funded capex or stretch in working capital requirement affecting financial risk profile

About the Company

IMFAL was acquired by MAL in November 2021 through the National Company Law Tribunal. The company has capacity to manufacture 49,500 tonne per annum of ferromanganese.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

389.77

87.47

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

72.91

7.75

PAT margin

%

18.71

8.86

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

1.06

-19.64

Interest coverage

Times

13.82

6.14

Any other information: Not Applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)

ISIN Name of the instrument Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs. Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Proposed Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Cash Credit Limit NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Proposed Letter of Credit NA NA NA 80 NA CRISIL A1
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 20.0 CRISIL A+/Stable   -- 30-03-23 CRISIL A+/Stable 13-01-22 CRISIL A/Stable   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 100.0 CRISIL A1   -- 30-03-23 CRISIL A1 13-01-22 CRISIL A1   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Proposed Bank Guarantee 20 Not Applicable CRISIL A1
Proposed Cash Credit Limit 20 Not Applicable CRISIL A+/Stable
Proposed Letter of Credit 80 Not Applicable CRISIL A1
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Aveek Datta
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 99204 93912
B: +91 22 3342 3000
AVEEK.DATTA@crisil.com

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Argha Chanda
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
D:+91 33 4011 8210
argha.chanda@crisil.com


Vishnu Sinha
Team Leader
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 33 4011 8200
vishnu.sinha@crisil.com


Puja Agarwal
Senior Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 33 4011 8200
Puja.Agarwal@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL Ratings. However, CRISIL Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About CRISIL Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of CRISIL Limited, an S&P Global Company)

CRISIL Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).
 
CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited ('CRISIL'). CRISIL Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").
 
For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL. For further information on CRISIL's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') that is provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). To avoid doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as CRISIL Ratings providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the report. In preparing our report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Ratings are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any securities/instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL Ratings assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinions and analysis. The rating contained in the report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way. CRISIL Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains.

Neither CRISIL Ratings nor its affiliates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, 'CRISIL Ratings Parties') guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the report, and no CRISIL Ratings Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the report. EACH CRISIL RATINGS PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Ratings Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its website, www.crisilratings.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee - more details about ratings by CRISIL Ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL Ratings and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on in its reports. CRISIL Ratings has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to:
https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html.

Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL Ratings public website, www.crisilratings.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without prior written consent from CRISIL Ratings.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL Ratings Limited. CRISIL Ratings is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited.

 

 

CRISIL Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on CRISIL Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html