Rating Rationale
November 17, 2021 | Mumbai
Mongia Steel Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.90.06 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB/Stable')
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A3+')
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has upgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Mongia Steel Limited (MSL; part of the Mongia group) to ‘CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2 from ‘CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+’.

 

The upgrade is driven by higher utilisation levels post stabilisation of operations after capital expenditure (capex) completed in FY 20 and higher realisation prices in the steel industry. Stability of realisation prices over the medium term and the impact of rising input costs on the operating margin, during the same time frame, will be key monitorables. Improvement in capital structure with no further onboarding of debt and stability of the working capital cycle are key monitorables as well.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the company's healthy financial risk profile because of sizeable networth, strong gearing, and above-average debt protection metrics; established brand; and promoters’ extensive experience. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirement and exposure to cyclicality in the steel industry.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL Ratings has combined the business and financial risk profiles of MSL and Santpuria Alloys Pvt Ltd (SAPL). This is because the two companies, together referred to as the Mongia group, are under a common management with significant operational and financial links. MSL is also the major customer for goods manufactured by SAPL, which serves as a backward integration initiative.

 

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:

Healthy financial risk profile: Networth increased to Rs 117.58 crore as on March 31, 2021, from Rs 98.96 crore as on March 31, 2020, due to accretion to reserves and no withdrawal. Gearing has remained at less than 1 time (0.63 time as on March 31, 2021). Debt protection metrics continue to be above average, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to debt ratios of 4.75 times and 0.36 time, respectively, for fiscal 2021.

 

Established brand and supplier relationships: The group's brand has a strong recall in the thermo mechanically treated (TMT) bars industry in Jharkhand and Bihar. It has more than 500 dealers in Jharkhand and is further expanding into Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Moreover, the promoters have established healthy relationships with raw material suppliers, such as Atibir Industries Company Ltd, mines of Coal India Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AAA/CCR AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') and various pellet manufacturers.

 

Weaknesses:

Exposure to intense competition: The secondary steel industry is highly fragmented with many unorganised players having small capacities. This is because of low entry barriers and limited differentiation in end products.

 

Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets (GCAs) were 119 days as on March 31, 2021, because of sizeable inventory of 46 days. There is no fixed policy on maintaining finished goods inventory, which varies depending on the market scenario. However, the group attempts to maintain it around 30 days to ensure seamless delivery.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilisation was moderate at 82% on average for the 11 months through September 2021. Cash accrual is expected to be over Rs 30 crore, which should be sufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 4-6 crore over the medium term. In addition, it will cushion the liquidity of the company.

 

Current ratio was moderate at 1.27 times as on March 31, 2021. Low gearing and moderate networth support the company’s financial flexibility and provide the financial cushion required in case of any adverse conditions or downturn in the business.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes the Mongia group will continue to benefit from its promoters' extensive experience and the group’s established brand presence.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

* Steady increase in revenue and stable operating margin, leading to higher cash accrual above Rs 40 crore

* Improvement in the working capital cycle, with reduction in GCAs

Downward factors

* Fall in net cash accrual to below Rs 25 crore per fiscal on account of lower revenue or operating profit

* Large, debt-funded capex, leading to deterioration in capital structure and liquidity

* Bank limit utilisation above 90% on average

About the Group

MSL and SAPL, incorporated in 1995 and 2004, respectively, are part of the Jharkhand-based Mongia group. SAPL manufactures sponge iron and trades in coal and iron products; while MSL produces steel products, including ingots, TMT bars and other long steel items. SAPL supplies its entire production to MSL. All products are sold under the Mongia Steel brand.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2021

2020

Operating income

Rs.Crore

454.26

402.04

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs.Crore

18.63

13.55

PAT margin

%

4.10

3.37

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.63

0.70

Interest coverage

Times

4.75

5.41

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` 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.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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)

Complexity Level

Rating assigned with outlook

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

31.00

NA

CRISIL BBB+/Stable

NA

Long Term Loan

NA

NA

31-Mar-2027

21.24

NA

CRISIL BBB+/Stable

NA

Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

3.00

NA

CRISIL A2

NA

Standby Line of Credit

NA

NA

NA

5.00

NA

CRISIL BBB+/Stable

NA

Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

10.00

NA

CRISIL A2

NA

Working Capital Demand Loan

NA

NA

Mar-2022

14.02

NA

CRISIL BBB+/Stable

NA

Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits

NA

NA

NA

5.80

NA

CRISIL BBB+/Stable

Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated

Extent of Consolidation

Rationale for Consolidation

Mongia Steel Ltd

100%

Under common management, operate in the same business, and have financial and operational linkages

Santpuria Alloys Pvt Ltd

100%

Under common management, operate in the same business, and have financial and operational linkages

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2021 (History) 2020  2019  2018  Start of 2018
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 77.06 CRISIL BBB+/Stable   -- 31-12-20 CRISIL BBB/Stable 13-12-19 CRISIL BBB/Stable 19-09-18 CRISIL BBB/Stable CRISIL BBB/Stable
      --   -- 03-04-20 CRISIL BBB/Stable   -- 27-04-18 CRISIL BB+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* Suspended
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 13.0 CRISIL A2   -- 31-12-20 CRISIL A3+ 13-12-19 CRISIL A3+ / CRISIL BBB/Stable 19-09-18 CRISIL A3+ CRISIL A3+
      --   -- 03-04-20 CRISIL A3+ / CRISIL BBB/Stable   -- 27-04-18 CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)* --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 10 State Bank of India CRISIL A2
Cash Credit 31 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Letter of Credit 3 State Bank of India CRISIL A2
Long Term Loan 21.24 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 5.8 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Standby Line of Credit 5 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 14.02 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB+/Stable

This Annexure has been updated on 11-Feb-23 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 24-Jan-23 received from the rated entity.

Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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