Rating Rationale
July 16, 2019 | Mumbai
Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Positive'; 'CRISIL A1+' assigned to CP 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.440 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.245 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Positive (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Assigned)
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 Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) to 'Positive' from 'Stable' and reaffirmed the 'CRISIL AA-' rating. CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the short-term facilities and assigned its 'CRISIL A1+' rating to the commercial paper programme.
 
The outlook revision reflects expectation of improvement in MIDHANI's business risk profile. The company has a strong order book of Rs 1900 crore (as on June 13, 2019), to be executed over a period of two-three years. Healthy order book provides revenue visibility. Furthermore, the earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin was healthy at 27.2% in fiscal 2019 (29.5% in fiscal 2018).
 
Financial risk profile remains strong, driven by strong liquidity, enhanced bank lines, and close to nominal debt obligations. MIDHANI is expected to incur capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 100-360 crore over the medium term, which would be funded through a prudent mix of internal accrual, customer advances, and long-term debt.   
 
The ratings continue to reflect the company's strategic importance to, and support of, the Government of India (GoI), established market position in the super alloys segment, and strong financial risk profile because of healthy networth, low gearing and comfortable debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility of profitability to volatile raw material prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates and large working capital requirement.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has considered criteria for notching up standalone ratings of entities based on government support.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
*High strategic importance to, and support of, the government: MIDHANI was established by the government with the prime objective of achieving self-reliance in manufacturing special metals and super alloys critical to the growth of the defence, space, and atomic energy segments. GoI has complete control over the company's board and can also appoint its members. MIDHANI has been granted the Miniratna status, giving it greater autonomy in operations and discretion to set up projects. It also receives strong funding support from the government. Timely and extent of support from government in cases of any exigency will remain a critical rating sensitivity factor.
 
*Established market position in manufacturing super alloys for strategic sectors: MIDHANI, with a track record of more than four decades, has an established position as a leading supplier of a wide range of super alloys to sectors such as defence, space, and atomic energy. MIDHANI has the capability to manufacture a wide range of advanced products across the value chain, including melting, forging, rolling, wire drawing, investment casting, machining, and quality testing. This capability has led to strong long-term customer relationships and patronage from its major clients in the defense and space research sectors. Given GoI's 'Make in India'Ã'Â? initiative leading to a boost in defense production and heavy equipment manufacturing in India, demand for MIDHANI's products is likely to increase over the medium term. MIDHANI has also planned to take up some new projects and aims for geographical expansion and operating from multiple locations. It also intends to cater to sectors such as oil and gas, mining, power, and railways.
 
*Strong financial risk profile
Networth was healthy at Rs 833 crore and gearing strong at 0.13 time as on March 31, 2019. Gearing has averaged below 0.5 time over the past five years on account of low dependence on external borrowing due to stable accrual and government funding for any major capex. Given the large customer advances and grants, MIDHANI's total outside liability to tangible networth was 1.19 times as of March 2019 over 0.72 time a year earlier. Debt protection metrics are healthy, with net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios of 0.64 time and 29.17 times, respectively, in fiscal 2019, vis-Ã'' -vis 1.13 time and 23.95 times, respectively, the previous fiscal.
 
Weaknesses:
*Susceptibility to volatile raw material prices and forex rates
The company imports all raw materials, such as nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, pure iron, and titanium, prices of which are highly volatile. Hence, profitability remains susceptible to fluctuations in raw material prices and forex rates.
 
*Working capital-intensive operations
Gross current assets were high at 554 days as on March 31, 2019, due to high inventory levels in anticipation of increase in order book. Inventory is expected to moderate, and working capital requirement will remain large over the medium term.
Liquidity

Liquidity is ample. Unencumbered cash balance stood at Rs 196 crore as on July 05, 2019. Because of close to nil debt obligation, the entire cash would be available to meet the incremental working capital requirement, thereby keeping reliance on external funds low. To support its operations, MIDHANI enhanced its bank lines (fund-based and non-fund-based) from Rs 245 crore to Rs 440 crore. Utilisation of fund-based bank limit of Rs 200 crore averaged 31% over the 12 months through June 30, 2019. Large unutilised bank limit provides further support to liquidity.

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

Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes MIDHANI's operating performance may benefit from its healthy unexecuted orders and improved operating efficiency over the medium term.

Upside Scenario:
*Sustenance in operating profitability coupled with healthy liquidity and comfortable capital structure
*Improvement in working capital intensity.

Downside Scenario:
* Any change in defense policy leading to dilution in MIDHANI's importance to the government
*Sizeable decline in operating performance or larger than expected debt-funded capex or considerable stretch in the working capital cycle weakening the financial risk profile and liquidity.

About the Company

MIDHANI is majorly owned by the government and manufactures a variety of super alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, special-purpose steels, controlled-expansion alloys, soft magnetic alloys, electrical-resistance alloys, molybdenum products, and other special products made according to customer specifications. The company also offers metallurgical testing, evaluation, and consultancy services. Its quality control is recognised by the National Accreditation Board of Laboratories. MIDHANI is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence's Department of Defence Production.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs Crore 722 666
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs Crore 131 131
PAT Margin % 18.1 19.7
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.13 0.12
Interest Coverage Times 29.17 23.95

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 200.0 CRISIL AA-/Positive
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 138.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 102.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 50.0 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  50.00  CRISIL A1+    --    --    --    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  200.00  CRISIL AA-/Positive      19-04-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable  21-04-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable  05-01-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
            29-03-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  240.00  CRISIL A1+      19-04-18  CRISIL A1+  21-04-17  CRISIL A1+  05-01-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
            29-03-18  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 102 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee 100 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit 200 CRISIL AA-/Positive Cash Credit 25 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Letter of Credit 138 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit 120 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Long Term Loan 7.16 Withdrawn
Total 440 -- Total 252.16 --
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 Engineering Sector
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Entities Based on Government Support

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