Rating Rationale
July 29, 2020 | Mumbai
Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.440 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Positive' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) to 'Stable' from 'Positive' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL AA-'. CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the short-term bank facilities and commercial paper programme.
 
The outlook revision follows moderation in the operating performance in fiscal 2021 due to various measures taken by the central and state governments towards containment of the Covid-19 pandemic. As these measures are imposed at a broader level and across sectors, they are expected to impact the business risk profile of the company in terms of temporary closure of production facilities and of establishments of dealers-customers. Further, the working capital is also expected to be elongated temporarily as a result of the lockdown leading to pile up of inventory. However, the same is expected to retract to normal levels once the economic activity resumes normalcy later in fiscal 2021. The ability of the business to revert back to operational stability and any relief measures given by the government will be key monitorables.
 
Revenue growth was rather flat in fiscal 2020 at Rs 724 crore vis-a-vis Rs 722 crore in fiscal 2019 primarily on account of delay in final testing, certification and shipment of orders during the last week of March 2020 given the lockdown. However, the operating profit margin remained healthy at 29.3% in fiscal 2020 as against 27.2% in the previous fiscal, supported by execution of high-margin orders in the space segment. Though operations have resumed in May 2020, the operating performance is expected to remain impacted in the first half of fiscal 2021. Gross current assets (GCAs) increased to 742 days as on March 31, 2020, from 554 days a year earlier, as the pandemic led to a rise in inventory. 
 
The strong order book of Rs 1,687 crore as on March 31, 2020, is to be executed over 2-3 fiscals, thus providing healthy revenue visibility. Space and defence contribute to around 70% and 20% of the total orders.
 
The financial risk profile remains strong, driven by ample liquidity, minimal bank limit utilisation and low repayment obligation. Capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 100-210 crore is expected over the medium term, which would be funded through a prudent mix of internal cash accrual, customer advances and long-term debt.  
 
The ratings continue to reflect the strategic importance to, and support from, the Government of India (GoI), an established market position in the super alloys segment, and a strong financial risk profile. 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

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has considered criteria for notching up standalone ratings of entities based on government support. Further, CRISIL has moderately consolidated joint venture company Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Ltd owing to expected equity infusion to support the project over the medium term.

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

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* High strategic importance to, and support from, the government: The company 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 board and can also appoint its members. The company 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. Timeliness and extent of this support in case of any exigency will remain a rating sensitivity factor.
 
* Established market position in manufacturing super alloys for strategic sectors: With a track record of more than four decades, the company has an established position as a leading supplier of a wide range of super alloys to sectors such as defence, space and atomic energy. It 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 has led to strong long-term customer relationships and patronage from major clients in the defence and space research sectors. The government's 'Make in India' initiative has led to a boost in defence and other heavy equipment manufacturing in India. This is likely to increase the demand for the company's products over the medium term. It has also planned to take up some new projects and aims for geographical expansion. The company also intends to cater to sectors such as oil and gas, mining, power and railways.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: The networth was healthy at Rs 957 crore and the gearing strong at 0.14 time, as on March 31, 2020. The gearing has averaged below 0.5 time over the past five years on account of low dependence on external borrowing following stable cash accrual and government funding for any major capex. Given the large customer advances and grants, the total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio was 1.50 times as on March 31, 2020, against 1.19 times a year earlier. Debt protection metrics were healthy, with net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios at 1.14 times and 30.94 times, respectively, in fiscal 2020, vis-a-vis 0.64 time and 29.16 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, the prices of which are highly volatile. Hence, profitability remains susceptible to fluctuations in raw material prices and forex rates.
 
* Working capital-intensive operations
GCAs were high at 742 days as on March 31, 2020, due to large inventory given the high dependence on imports. Further, the pandemic resulted in inventory being stuck up pending delivery. Though full year fiscal 2020 value of production was Rs 970 crore, revenue of only Rs 724 crore was booked, which resulted in high finished goods inventory. Moderation of inventory in fiscal 2021 will remain a key monitorable. However, the production cycle should remain long over medium term on account of large raw material and work-in-progress inventory.
Liquidity Strong

Liquidity is supported by healthy net cash accrual, minimally utilised bank limit, low repayment obligation, and strong funding support from the government. The cash and bank balance stood at Rs 128 crore as on June 30, 2020, and because of low repayment obligation, would be available to meet incremental working capital requirement. Utilisation of the fund-based bank limit was nil, and of the non-fund-based limit of Rs 240 crore averaged 21%, over the 12 months through June 2020. The large, unutilised bank limit provides further support to liquidity. The company has availed a short-term loan of Rs 100 crore as on March 2020, repayable in 180 days to support working capital requirement.
 
Despite working capital-intensive operations, liquidity remains ample, as incremental working capital requirement is largely funded through internal cash accrual and advances from customers, resulting in low working capital borrowing and gearing.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes MIDHANI will be able to sustain the impact of the pandemic in the near term and maintain its position over the medium term as a key manufacturer of super alloys. Benefits from the government focus on strategic sectors and from patronage of key customers should continue.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factors
* Significant improvement in operating performance, driven by growth in revenue and sustenance in the operating margin at 27-29%, leading to healthy cash accrual and liquidity
* Improvement in the working capital cycle with GCAs being sustained at below 400 days.
 
Downward factors
* Weakening of the business risk profile driven by a significant decline in the operating margin and stretch in liquidity.
* A stretch in the working capital cycle with GCAs at more than 650 days post Covid-19.
* Weakening of the capital structure, led by higher-than-expected debt-funded capex
* Any change in defence policy, leading to dilution of the company's importance to the government.

About the Company

MIDHANI, majority owned by the government, 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.
 
Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Ltd, incorporated in 2019, is a 50:50 joint venture promoted by MIDHANI and National Aluminium Company Ltd to set up a 60,000 tonne per annum high-end aluminium alloy production plant in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. This is for meeting the requirement of high-end aluminium alloy products in defence, aerospace and other critical sectors.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs.Crore 724 722
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 160 131
PAT Margin % 22.1 18.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.14 0.13
Interest coverage Times 30.94 29.16

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Date Issue Size
(Rs.Crore)
Complexity Level Rating Assigned  with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 200.0 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 138.0 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 102.0 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 50.0 Simple CRISIL A1+
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Sr.No Name of the Company Type of Consolidation Rationale for consolidation
1 Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Ltd Moderate Consolidation Joint Venture Company
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  50.00  CRISIL A1+      16-07-19  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  200.00  CRISIL AA-/Stable      16-07-19  CRISIL AA-/Positive  19-04-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable  21-04-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
                29-03-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  240.00  CRISIL A1+      16-07-19  CRISIL A1+  19-04-18  CRISIL A1+  21-04-17  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 102 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit 200 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit 200 CRISIL AA-/Positive
Letter of Credit 138 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit 138 CRISIL A1+
Total 440 -- Total 440 --
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Entities Based on Government Support

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Sachin Gupta
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3023
Sachin.Gupta@crisil.com


Nitesh Jain
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3329
nitesh.jain@crisil.com


Aditi Phatak
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
Aditi.Phatak@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are majority owned by S&P Global Inc., a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.
 
For more information, visit www.crisil.com 


Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as, bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible / convertible / partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address, and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL.For further information on CRISIL’s privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Report” includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the Report. The Report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This Report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Report is to be construed as CRISIL providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the Report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the Report in any way.CRISIL or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL