Rating Rationale
July 31, 2017 | Mumbai
JSW Cement Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL BBB/Positive/CRISIL A3+', removed from 'Watch Developing'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.264 Crore (Reduced form Rs.352 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Positive (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB-'; Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A3'; Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of JSW Cement Ltd (JCL) to 'CRISIL BBB/CRISIL A3+' from CRISIL BBB-/CRISIL A3 while removing the rating from watch with developing implications; the outlook is 'Positive'. CRISIL has also withdrawn its rating on the term loan facility of the company based on the no-objection certificate received form the bank and withdrawal request from JCL. The rating action is in line with CRISIL's policy on withdrawal of bank loan ratings.
 
CRISIL had placed the ratings on watch on February 2, 2017, following the announcement that JCL has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire the promoters' stake of 35.62% in Shiva Cement Limited (Shiva Cement) and has announced an open offer to acquire additional stake of 32% in the company. JSW along with its group companies has now acquired 54.44% stake in Shiva Cement by acquiring shares from erstwhile promoter and through an open offer. The watch resolution follows completion of open offer. Subsequently, CRISIL has also obtained clarity on synergy benefits from the acquisition which will largely be in the form of utilization of Shiva Cement's limestone reserves in the long term.
 
The upgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that the JSW's business risk profile will strengthen further over the medium term, supported by improving utilisation, diversified presence and strong operating efficiency thus leading to stronger cash generation from operations.
 
JSW is expected to sustain its healthy growth momentum and register about 20 to 25% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) revenue growth over the medium term, backed by steady scaling up of capacity utilization. The company has grown at a CAGR of 24% in the past three years, on back of addition of new capacity and increase off-take in its markets. Out of the total capacity addition, the company has already commissioned 2.4 MTPA capacity and the balance 3.6 MTPA will be added by fiscal 2019. Apart from increasing the scale of operations, the addition of capacity, also provides regional diversity, as additional capacities (~3.6 MTPA) are in Eastern India, compared to its erstwhile capacity in Southern and Western India.
 
In addition, in past few years, the company has gradually improved its operating efficiency, reflected in improvement in EBIDTA per tonne from Rs. 612/ton in fiscal 2015 to Rs. 734/ton in fiscal 2017, driven by sale of slag based cement. CRISIL believes, the company will continue to operate at a healthy efficiency, and thus with improving scale will also lead to increase in operating margin to the extent of 50 to 100 basis points from 22.1% in 2016-17 (refers to financial year, April 1 to March 31). Annual cash accrual is expected to be over Rs. 200 crore.
 
The ratings continue to reflect improving operating efficiencies and increased geographical diversification in revenue profile. The rating also factors in strong operational, financial and managerial support from the JSW group. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to project related risks, weak financial risk profile and susceptibility to cyclicality in the cement industry.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has now consolidated Shiva Cement Ltd with JSW Cement Limited. The ratings continue to factor in support from the JSW group.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Increasing geographical diversification in its revenue profile: JCL has established its market position in Southern market over the past 5 years. JCL set up its first grinding unit in 2009 in Vijayanagar (Karnataka) and commissioned its first integrated plant in fiscal 2013 in Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh). JCL acquired 0.6 million tpa grinding unit from JSW Steel Ltd in January 2015. This acquisition has helped spread its reach in the Mumbai and Pune markets and improve its overall operating profitability on the back of relatively better market scenario in the western market. The company's geographical presence is expected to further benefit once it completes its expansion in Salboni and Kalinganagar (West Bengal and Odisha respectively), which will help it gain foothold in the relatively attractive eastern markets.
 
JCL along with its group companies has acquired 54.44% in Shiva Cement Limited (SCL). SCL is unlikely to have any immediate impact as SCL's capacity is relatively smaller as compared to that of JCL. JCL doesn't have any immediate plans for SCL but the long term plan is to utilize the limestone reserves of Shiva Cement.  
 
* Improving operating efficiency: JCL's business risk profile is supported by its moderate operating efficiencies, as reflected in its improving utilization levels and healthy operating profitability reported in fiscal 2017. The capacity utilization of the company improved from 57% in FY16 to 63% in FY17. The company reported operating margins of 22.1% in fiscal 2017 supported by sale of slag based cement which requires lower material and power costs. The company reported OPBIDTA/ton of Rs. 734/ ton in fiscal 2017. CRISIL expects operating profitability to remain healthy over the medium term.
 
* Strong operational, financial and managerial support from the JSW group: The JSW group's management is actively involved in the cement business. JCL was set up to utilise the slag being produced as waste from group's flagship company, JSW Steel Ltd to produce slag-based cement. Furthermore, JCL enjoys the brand equity of the JSW brand in the market. Mr. Parth Jindal, son of Mr. Sajjan Jindal, is the Managing Director of the company. The company's management has demonstrated ability to scale up the cement operations, as witnessed in the operating performance over the last few years.
 
* Expected improvement in performance post completion of capex: The company is incurring capex of ~Rs. 1500 crores to expand its capacity by ~6 MTPA. 2.4 MTPA (1.2 MTPA in capacity in Salboni and 1.2 MTPA at Vijayanagar) out of planned 6.0 MTPA has become operational with another 2.4 MTPA capacity (1.2 MTPA in capacity in Salboni and 1.2 MTPA at Vijayanagar) is expected to become operational by August/September 2017. Remaining 1.2 MTPA capacity likely to become operational by 2018. New capacities coming up in East will aid in geographical diversification of revenues and improvement in market position. CRISIL expects steady increase in revenues of the company driven by increase in volumes with completion of this capex.
  
Weakness
* Weak financial risk profile: JCL's financial risk profile is marked by high gearing and moderate debt protection metrics. The company is undertaking an expansion of approximately Rs.1500 crore, which is funded predominantly through debt. Gearing is expected to remain above 3 in fiscal 2018 on account of additional debt contraction for the capex. Ability of the company to ramp up its new capacities and progressively deleverage its balance sheet will remain a key monitorable.
 
* Susceptibility to risks related to rising input costs and cyclicality in cement industry: The company's profitability is susceptible to volatility in input costs such as material, power, fuel and freight costs in line with the industry.
Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes JCL's operating performance will improve further driven by operationalisation of new capacities, better utilisation of existing plans and overall healthy demand outlook for the cement sector. Moderate up-tick in volume supported by improvement in demand, and pricing discipline in the southern market are expected to benefit the operating performance over the medium term. Moreover, healthy operating margin is expected to be supported by sale of slag based cement.
 
Upside scenario
* Higher than anticipated ramp-up in capacity utilization of the new capacities which improves financial risk profile
* Sustenance of operational efficiencies leading to higher cash accruals
 
Downside scenario
* Deterioration in business profile on back of slower than anticipated offtake in cement
* Deterioration in financial risk profile on account of profitability pressures
* Weakening of capital structure resulting from increased capital expenditure or from any cost or time overruns in ongoing capacity expansion

About the Company

JCL was incorporated in 2006, with its' first unit of 0.6 mtpa grinding capacity at Vijayanagar, Karnataka got commissioned in FY 2009. The unit was set up to utilise the slag produced from JSW Steel Ltd's steel plant at Vijayanagar. Adarsh Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. has become the major shareholder of JCL as against JSW Investments Private Limited earlier. Adarsh Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. is owned by Sajjan Jindal family trust. Hence, the company continues to enjoy support from the JSW group. In June 2012, JCL commissioned a 4.8 mtpa integrated plant at Nandyal. JCL acquired 0.6 mtpa grinding capacity at Dolvi from JSW Steel Ltd. (earlier belonging to Heidelberg Cement India Ltd.) in February 2015.
 
As per company's reported numbers, JCL reported a net profit of Rs 116 crore on operating income of Rs 1413 crore in fiscal 2017, against net profit of Rs 89 crore on operating income of Rs 1272 crore for the previous year.

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 39 CRISIL BBB/Positive
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 225 CRISIL A3+
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  39  CRISIL BBB/Positive  02-02-17  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Developing  19-08-16  CRISIL BBB-/Positive  18-02-15  CRISIL BBB-/Stable    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  225  CRISIL A3+  02-02-17  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A3/Watch Developing  19-08-16  CRISIL BBB-/Positive/ CRISIL A3  18-02-15  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ CRISIL A3    --  -- 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 39 CRISIL BBB/Positive Cash Credit 39 CRISIL BBB-/Watch Developing
Letter of Credit 225 CRISIL A3+ Letter of Credit 150 CRISIL A3/Watch Developing
Term Loan 88 Withdrawal Letter of Credit^ 75 CRISIL BBB-/Watch Developing
-- 0 -- Term Loan 88 CRISIL BBB-/Watch Developing
Total 352 -- Total 352 --
^ Rs 30 crore is interchangeable with cash credit
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 Cement Industry
Criteria for rating Short-Term Debt (including Commercial Paper)

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