Rating Rationale
December 31, 2018 | Mumbai
Maithan Alloys Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Positive'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.600 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Positive (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Maithan Alloys Limited (MAL) to 'Positive' from 'Stable' while reaffirmed the 'CRISIL AA-' rating and reaffirmed the 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the company's short-term facilities.

The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's belief that healthy demand and strong brand in the domestic and overseas markets will keep the company's revenue healthy over the medium term. The positive outlook also factors in MAL's healthy operating efficiency with sustenance of capacity utilisation above 95% over the two fiscals through fiscal 2018 and the first half of fiscal 2019, and continued healthy operating margin and return on capital employed (RoCE) over the medium term. However, given the cyclical nature of the end-user industry, sustenance of the healthy business profile over the medium term will be key rating sensitive factor. Furthermore, prudent working capital management has resulted in strong liquidity built up over the years, reflected in healthy liquid funds and largely unutilised bank limits. 

The ratings reflect the MAL's strong business risk profile driven by its established position in the manganese alloy industry and its robust operating efficiency. The ratings also factor in healthy financial risk profile because of robust capital structure and strong liquidity, along with sound financial flexibility, supported by adequate cash accrual and consistent positive cash flow from operations in the past few fiscals. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to performance of the end-user industry and vulnerability to volatility in raw material and finished good prices.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of MAL and its subsidiaries AXL Exploration Pvt Ltd (AXL) and Anjaney Minerals Ltd (AML). All the companies MAL, AXL and AML are managed by same set of promoters/management and furthermore, AXL and AML are 100% subsidiary of MAL. All the companies are collectively referred to as the Maithan.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation. 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in the manganese alloy industry: The Maithan's strong market position is supported by its broad product portfolio, large manufacturing capacity, and the promoters' extensive industry experience. Maithan is one of the largest domestic producers of manganese-based ferroalloys, with installed capacity of 235,600 tonne per annum (tpa), and holds 7% of the installed manganese-based ferroalloy capacity in India. Furthermore, to diversify its product portfolio, Maithan plans to set up a unit to manufacture ferrochrome with installed capacity of 120,000 tpa, to be funded entirely through internal funds. The promoters have experience of over 2 decades, and have developed strong insight into the industry. Maithan has been supplying ferroalloys to India's prominent steel producers, such as Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and Tata Steel Ltd, since more than a decade. Over the years, Maithan has increased its foothold in overseas markets. CRISIL believes sound understanding of the promoters/management about the product, the ferroalloy industry, and plant operation, and healthy demand outlook for ferroalloys will aide timely stabilisation of operations at the upcoming unit.

* Robust operating efficiency: Maithan's operating efficiency is robust supported by prudent alteration in product mix, efficient power and raw material consumption intended to reduce per tonne cost, presence of manufacturing units at multiple locations for enhanced production efficiency, and lean working capital cycle. Maithan has sound risk management policies with negligible inventory and largely order-backed procurement. Furthermore, realisations are largely secured by letter of credit-backed sales to new customers or entities with weak credit risk profiles, and open credit allowed to strong entities such as SAIL or to entities with long-term, satisfactory association with Maithan.

* Improvement in financial risk profile: With healthy accretion to reserves over the years, networth is strong, at Rs 868.32 crore as on March 31, 2018 (Rs 585 crore a year earlier). Also, negligible external debt has kept the capital structure comfortable, as reflected in low gearing of 0.05 time as on March 31, 2018. CRISIL believes healthy financial risk profile enhances the Maithan's financial flexibility to cope with sudden changes in business conditions. The gearing is likely to remain low over the medium term despite proposed capital expenditure (capex) for setting up a ferrochrome unit at an estimated project cost of Rs 275 crore. Debt protection metrics remained strong, indicated by interest coverage of 48.8 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of 6.43 time for fiscal 2018.

* Strong liquidity: The Maithan has strong liquidity, marked by healthy cash accrual and low bank limit utilisation. Accrual increased to Rs 298 crore for fiscal 2018 from Rs 211 crore in fiscal 2017. Driven by prudent working capital management, cash flow from operations was positive in the 3 fiscals through 2018. Low utilisation of fund-based working capital bank line (at an average of 5% over the 12 months through Sep 2018) and significant unencumbered cash and cash equivalent (Rs 550 crore as on September 30, 2018) enhance financial flexibility.

Weaknesses
* Vulnerability to volatility in prices of raw material and finished goods: Maithan's operating margin is vulnerable to fluctuations in input prices (such as manganese ore, power, and coke) as well as realisations of finished goods. The prices and supply of the main raw material, manganese ore, directly impacts the realisations of manganese-based ferroalloys, and any sharp change in input prices with no similar change in realisations can dent profitability significantly. CRISIL believes the Maithan's operating margin will remain vulnerable to volatility in input and finished good prices.

* Susceptible to performance of end-user industry and cyclical demand for ferroalloys: Ferroalloys are intermediates for the steel industry. Hence, the prospects of the ferroalloy industry are linked to the 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 for, and prices of, ferroalloys. CRISIL believes the Maithan's performance will remain susceptible to the performance of the steel industry.
Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes the Maithan will maintain a stable business risk profile over the medium term backed by established market position, prudent product mix allocation, and geographically diversified customer base.

Upside scenario
* Substantial increase in revenue or sustenance of healthy cash accrual, along with stable working capital management and capital structure, leading to better business and financial risk profiles.

Downside scenario
* Downturn in demand leading to weakening of operating efficiency.
* Larger-than-expected, debt-funded capex weakening financial risk profile and liquidity.
* Stretch in working capital cycle.

Liquidity
Maithan has ample liquidity. Cash accrual rose to Rs 298.4 crore for fiscal 2018 from Rs 210.7 crore in fiscal 2017 and Rs 95.4 crore in fiscal 2016. Because of nil debt obligation, the entire accrual will be available to meet incremental working capital requirement, thereby keeping reliance on external funds low. The fund-based bank limit of Rs 90 crore was utilised at an average of 5% over the 12 months through September 2018. Furthermore, regular capex for product development and innovation is likely to be supported by large cash accrual and will not impact liquidity significantly.

Given the expected increase in demand and healthy capacity utilisation of existing units, MAL plans capex of Rs 275 crore (in fiscal 2019 and 2020), to be funded entirely through own sources. CRISIL believes the proposed capex will not significantly impact the Maithan's liquidity or financial risk profile, given its healthy accrual and networth. Furthermore, liquidity is supported by significant cash and bank balance of Rs 550 crore as on September 30, 2018 (Rs 395 crore as on March 31, 2018), driven by prudent working capital management and healthy accrual.

Despite working capital-intensive operations, liquidity remains healthy, as incremental working capital requirement is largely funded through internal accrual and credit from suppliers, resulting in low working capital borrowings and gearing.

About the Group

Established in 1985, MAL manufactures ferroalloys such as ferro manganese, ferro silicon, and silico manganese, with varying proportions of other chemical compositions. It is a part of the Kolkata-based BMA group and has installed ferroalloy capacity of 235,600 tpa. The company also has 3 wind mills with aggregate capacity of 3.75 megawatt, power produced from which is sold to state electricity boards. The company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange, and Calcutta Stock Exchange.

AXL and AML own manganese ore mines in Odisha and other states. Both the companies are awaiting mining licences and are currently not operational.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018* 2017
Revenue Rs Cr. 1862.98 1332.58
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs Cr. 291.73 191.38
PAT Margin % 15.7 14.4
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.05 0.13
Interest coverage Times 48.82 22.23
*Provisional

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 90.0 CRISIL AA-/Positive
NA Cash credit and working capital demand loan NA NA NA 32.0 CRISIL AA-/Positive
NA Letter of credit NA NA NA 404.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 35.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed long-term bank loan
facility
NA NA NA 39.0 CRISIL AA-/Positive
 
Annexure - Details of Consolidation
Entity Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Maithan Alloys Ltd Full consolidation The entities have common promoters and directors. The other two companies are 100% subsidiary.
AXL Exploration Pvt Ltd Full consolidation The entities have common promoters and common directors. 100% subsidiary of MAL.
Anjaney Minerals Ltd Full consolidation The entities have common promoters and directors. 100% subsidiary of MAL.
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  161.00  CRISIL AA-/Positive      30-11-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable    --    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  439.00  CRISIL A1+      30-11-17  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
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 35 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee 35 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit 90 CRISIL AA-/Positive Cash Credit 90 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 32 CRISIL AA-/Positive Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 32 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Letter of Credit 404 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit 404 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 39 CRISIL AA-/Positive Term Loan 39 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Total 600 -- Total 600 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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