Rating Rationale
October 05, 2018 | Mumbai
Lalwani Ferro Alloys Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.177 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL's ratings on the bank facilities of Lalwani Ferro Alloys Limited (Lalwani) continues to reflect the extensive experience of its promoters in the steel industry, established relationship with major steel players, expected improvement in business risk profile with timely ramp up of new facilities and sustenance of healthy capacity utilisation, and above-average financial risk profile because of robust capital structure and healthy build-up of networth. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to the performance of end-user industry and vulnerability to volatility in raw material and finished good prices.

CRISIL had assigned its ratings on the bank facilities of Lalwani at 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' on September 29, 2018.

Analytical Approach

To arrive at the ratings, CRISIL has considered unsecured loans from promoters (Rs 16.6 crores as on March 31, 2018) as 75% equity and 25% debt as the same is expected to remain in the business over the medium term.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of promoters and established relationship with major steel players: Presence of around three decades in the steel industry has enabled the promoters to develop strong understanding of market dynamics. Also, healthy experience of the promoters have helped them smooth flow of orders from Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) in the domestic market.  Furthermore, with promoters' industry experience the company has been able to sustain strong foothold in the export market by ensuring repeat orders from overseas clients. CRISIL believes Lalwani's business profile would continue to draw benefit over the medium term from extensive experience of the promoters.
 
* Improvement in Lalwani's business profile: Lalwani has shown significant improvement in the business profile with topline increasing to around Rs 717 crores in fiscal 2018 as against Rs 413 crores during earlier year. The increase in topline is primarily driven by higher utilization of capacities (around 90% in fiscal 2018 as against 85% earlier) and better realization prices. Furthermore, income from trading sales has also increased in fiscal 2018 which however is expected to come back to previous years' level. With better realization and better absorption of fixed cost the operating margins also has increased to around 5.9% as against 4.7% a year earlier. 
 
* Improving financial risk profile: Lalwani's financial risk profile is healthy with networth of around Rs 94.65 crores as on March 31, 2018 increased from around Rs 83.54 crores as on March 31, 2017. Healthy built up of networth level and gradually lowering term debt obligation has led to robust capita structure with gearing of around 0.67 time as on March 31, 2018. Despite significant debt funded capex plans, the gearing is expected to remain comfortable at similar level over the medium term. Debt protection metrics are above-average with interest coverage ratio (ICR) and net cash accruals to total debt (NCATD) of around 2.6 times and 0.2 times in fiscal 2018. 

Weakness:
* Vulnerability to volatility in foreign exchange (forex) rates, and raw material and finished good prices: Prices and supply of key raw material, manganese ore, directly affect the pricing of silico-manganese. Hence, operating margin remains susceptible to any sharp changes in manganese ore, power, and coke rates. This is compounded by limited bargaining power against suppliers and customers, which are large players. Profitability also remains exposed to forex fluctuation risks. Moreover, though healthy capacity utilisation and close proximity to raw material sources will continue to drive profitability over the medium term, revenue will remain exposed to cyclical demand in the steel industry that is likely to affect realisations.
 
* Susceptible to performance of end-user industry and cyclical demand in ferroalloy industry: Ferroalloys are intermediates for the steel industry. Hence, the prospects for the ferroalloy industry are linked to the overall fortunes of the steel industry, which is inherently cyclical, as indicated by a downswing during fiscals 2009 and 2016, resulting in a sharp fall in the demand and prices of ferroalloys. Subsequently also the realisation for ferro-alloys has been driven by the performance of steel sector. CRISIL believes that Lalwani's performance shall continue to remain susceptible to the performance of the steel industry.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believe Lalwani will continue to benefit over the medium term from the extensive experience of its promoters, established relationship with major steel players, and timely funding support. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of sustaining of steady ramp up in operations and healthy profitability; and if working capital management is efficient. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if any large, debt-funded capital expenditure or stretch in working capital cycle weakens financial risk profile, especially liquidity. 

About the Company

Lalwani (Lalwani; the flagship company of the Lalwani group), promoted by Mr. Kamal Kishore Lalwani of Kolkata was incorporated in the year 1986 and is currently engaged in manufacturing of varied ferro and manganese alloys like silico manganese, high carbon ferro-manganese, ferro-silicon magnesium and ferro-molybdenum. It is also engaged in trading of ferro-alloy products (both raw materials and finished goods) like nickel, low and high carbon ferro chrome, ferro-silicon, etc. Lalwani is a family managed business with all directors belonging to promoter family.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 716.91 413.0
Profit after tax Rs crore 13.34 4.22
PAT margins % 1.86 1.02
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.67 0.86
Interest coverage Times 2.5 1.9

Status of non cooperation with previous CRA:
Lalwani has not cooperated with India Ratings And Research Private Limited. which has published its ratings as an issuer not co-operating vide release dated March 05, 2018. The reason provided by India Ratings And Research Private Limited was non-furnishing of information for monitoring of ratings. The rating has been subsequently withdrawn vide release dated April 02, 2018.

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1.5 CRISIL A2
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 38.1 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Foreign Bill Discounting NA NA NA 16 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 101 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Packing Credit in Foreign Currency NA NA NA 16 CRISIL A2
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 4 CRISIL A2
NA Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 0.4 CRISIL A2
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  74.50  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2  03-10-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2    --    --    --  -- 
        29-09-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable               
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  102.50  CRISIL A2  03-10-18  CRISIL A2    --    --    --  -- 
        29-09-18  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 1.5 CRISIL A2 Bank Guarantee 1.5 CRISIL A2
Cash Credit 38.1 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 38.1 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Foreign Bill Discounting 16 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Foreign Bill Discounting 16 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Letter of Credit 101 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit 101 CRISIL A2
Packing Credit in Foreign Currency 16 CRISIL A2 Packing Credit in Foreign Currency 16 CRISIL A2
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4.4 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility .4 CRISIL A2 -- 0 --
Total 177 -- Total 177 --
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 Steel Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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