Rating Rationale
May 08, 2019 | Mumbai
MCPI Private Limited
'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' assigned to bank debt; CP reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.2050 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Assigned)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Assigned)
 
Rs.250 Crore Commercial Paper Programme CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' ratings to the bank facilities of MCPI Private Limited (MCPI). The rating on the commercial paper programme has been reaffirmed at CRISIL A1.

The ratings reflect MCPI's healthy business profile marked by leading market position in domestic Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) manufacturing industry with second largest market share in India and strong operating efficiency with high capacity utilizations, healthy working capital management and rationalisation of cost structure post acquisition by TCG (The Chaterjee Group) Group in November 2016. The rating also draws comfort from long standing experience of TCG Group in petrochemical industry and experienced and professional management. These strengths are partially offset by volatility in commodity prices affecting the raw material and finished goods prices, intense competition from Chinese PTA manufacturers

In fiscal 2018, revenue and operating profitability stood at Rs 5949 crore and 8.7% respectively in fiscal 2018 as against Rs 4882 crore and 0.5% respectively in previous fiscal. In fiscal 2019, revenue is estimated at around Rs 7000 - 7500 crore with operating profitability at 8.1%. The turnaround in operations was on the back of cost rationalization measures taken by TCG management post taking over in fiscal 2017 as well as improved industry dynamics in the PTA Industry with the spread between PTA and the main raw material, Para xylene (Px) (PTA-PX spread) on an increasing trend over last 2 years. Over medium term, MCPI's volume growth is expected to remain stagnated due to present capacity utilization closer to 100%. The PTA-Px spread is expected to remain healthy over medium term due to higher expected global capacity additions in Px as compared to PTA.

In fiscal 2020, MCPI may look for forward integration through inorganic route. Better and relatively stable operating profitability of such a downstream product segment will benefit margin profile of MCPI and limited dependence on debt funding (up to Rs 450 - 500 crore) for such proposed acquisition will help in sustenance of healthy debt protection metrics. Completion of this acquisition and its benefit to business profile will be key rating sensitivity factor in the near term.

Furthermore, the company may go for large capital expenditure in the medium term in order to improve the operating efficiency and capacity of its existing business. However, size and funding of such investments are still under preliminary discussion stage and likely to fructify only fiscal 2021 onwards. Size of large capital expenditure and its funding mix will remain key monitorable.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Healthy market position:
MCPI's healthy business profile is marked by its leading market position in domestic PTA industry with second largest market share of 21%. The company sells to diverse end user industries inclusive of polyester yarn, polyester staple fibre, films and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) industries.  The company has a long standing relationship with some of the leading manufacturers in this industry. The client profile of MCPI consists of many major manufacturers in Indian polyester and PET industry.

* Strong operating efficiency and robust financial risk profile.
MCPI was acquired by TCG Group in November 2016. The new management has carried out various cost rationalization techniques in the company which has resulted into reduction in overall cost structure of the company which has resulted into improved pricing power of the company. The company became debt free at the time of acquisition. Also the favourable industry dynamics with the PTA-Px spread increasing in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2018 has led to capacity utilization of 100%.

The   overall financial profile of the company has improved significantly over last 2 years with networth increasing to Rs 2633 crore as on 31st March 2018 and negligible debt of Rs. 14 crore. The company had sufficient liquidity of Rs. 742 crore as on January 2019. The company gets credit period of around 60 days from its suppliers where as it sells on advance/cash basis leading to low receivable days of 2-3 days. The company also maintains overall inventory at around 45 days. Due to relatively lower working capital requirements, the company's dependence on external working capital borrowings is minimal.

Though MCPI will continue to invest in capacity addition for future growth through organic or inorganic route, debt servicing indicators and liquidity are expected to remain healthy, backed by strong cash accrual. Larger than expected debt funded capex/acquisition will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.  

* Strong parentage of TCG group and experienced and professional management
The Chatterjee Group (TCG)  is promoted by Dr. Purnendu Chatterjee, who has vast experience of turning around struggling companies across diverse   industries such as financial services, pharmaceuticals & life sciences, IT Services, real estate etc. In the past, Mr. Chaterjee has also worked with globally reputed consultancy and private equity firms. The company is managed by a team of experienced professionals. Mr. D.P.Patra, the wholetime director looking after day to day operations, is an ex-bureaucrat (IAS) and is associated with MCPI for around 15 years.

Weaknesses
*Volatility in commodity prices affecting the raw material and finished goods prices -  
The Company operates in a, volatile and cyclical petrochemical industry which is susceptible to significant geo-political risks. Px and PTA are mainly crude derivatives whose prices are impacted by changes in the prices of crude as well as global capacity additions in PTA and Px. In the past, the company's profitability was impacted severely due to lower PTA-Px spread over fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2016 due to significant capacity additions in PTA in China in 2012. However over medium term, the industry dynamics are expected to be favourable with higher capacity additions of Px in China over medium term as compared to PTA. The company also faces product concentration risk as it deals in a single product ' PTA.  Additionally, any investment in forward integration resulting in relatively better stability in operating profitability may mitigate the risk partially in the medium term.  

*Intense competition from Chinese and domestic PTA manufacturers
The domestic PTA industry faces steep competition from imports primarily from China. These players have an advantage of large capacities and government support. In view of significant injury to the domestic industry as a result of dumping by these countries, the Government of India has levied an anti-dumping duty on import of PTA in December 2015. The benefits of the duty are available to the company till December 2020. Any changes in the policy stance post December 2020 can have an impact on the operating profitability of MCPI and will be a key monitorable. Additionally, other major domestic manufacturer presently, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL: CRISIL AAA/Stable/A1+) has a large capacity with backward integration, which also increases competitive intensity in the industry.
Liquidity

MCPI has healthy liquidity marked by healthy cash accruals and sufficient availability of bank limits. The accruals are estimated at Rs 400-600 crore each year from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2022, while the company has negligible debt on its balance sheet. Current ratio stood at 1.34 times as on 31st March 2018. Liquidity is also aided by cash and equivalents of around Rs 900 crore as on 31st March 2019. The company has utilized its working capital limits of Rs. 1750 crore to the extent of 77% during last 12 months ended January 2019. The working capital limits are expected to increase to Rs 2125 crore in near term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL expects MCPI's operating and financial performance continue to remain healthy driven by high capacity utilisation and overall healthy demand outlook. The company's financial risk profile is also expected to remain comfortable due to healthy cash accrual, lower dependence on external debt and disciplined working capital management.

Upside Scenario:
* Sustained healthy cash generation notwithstanding any adverse changes in PTA-PX spreads or impact of higher PTA supply in market
* Prudent capital spending and management of working capital resulting in continued healthy gearing and debt protection metrics

Downside Scenario:
* Sustained decline in operating profitability margins and lower than expected cash accruals, adversely impacting cash flow
* Higher than expected debt funded capex/acquisitions or stretch in working capital cycle adversely affecting credit metrics.

About the Company

MCPI was set up in 1999 as a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Japan (MCC). The Company continued to be a subsidiary of MCC till November 2016, when the majority ownership of the Company was transferred to The Chatterjee Group (TCG), which currently holds 99.42% stake in the Company. MCPI began commercial production in 2000. It has a large PTA plant based out of Haldia in Eastern India. The company is the Second largest player in the domestic PTA market which is the basic raw material for polyester industry.

The company posted losses from fiscal 2012 to fiscal 2016. MCC sold its stake in the company to The Chatterjee Group (TCG) by entering into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with MCPI Holdings Mauritius Ltd (MHPL: TCG Group company). As part of the SPA, all outstanding debt was cleared by the MCC group and the company was removed from the BIFR scheme. The day-to-day affairs of the company are looked after by a team of experienced professionals and led by a 2-member board including Mr. Debi Prasad Patra (Whole-time director) and Mr. Sekhar Krishnan (Director). Mr. Purnendu Chatterjee resigned from the position of Chairman on June 10, 2018. Post-acquisition by TCG Group, the company's performance has improved substantially.

During nine months ended 31st December 2018, the company posted profit before tax of Rs 385 crore (Rs 354 crore for similar period of previous fiscal) on net sales of Rs 5758 crore (Rs 4502 crore).

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31  Units 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 5949 4882
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 2358 -176
PAT margin % 39.6 -3.6
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.01 0.05
Adjusted interest coverage Times 46.0 0.6
 

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. Crs.)
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 250 CRISIL A1
NA Fund based facilities NA NA NA 150 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Non fund based limit NA NA NA 1740 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Non Fund
based limits
NA NA NA 160 CRISIL A1
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  250.00  CRISIL A1  25-04-19  CRISIL A1    --    --    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  150.00  CRISIL A/Stable                  Withdrawn
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1900.00  CRISIL A1                  Withdrawn
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
Fund-Based Facilities 150 CRISIL A/Stable Bank Guarantee 20 Withdrawn
Non-Fund Based Limit 1740 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 10 Withdrawn
Proposed Non Fund based limits 160 CRISIL A1 Working Capital Demand Loan 210 Withdrawn
Total 2050 -- Total 240 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
The Rating Process

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