Rating Rationale
February 19, 2020 | Mumbai
Nahar Spinning Mills Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1508.4 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Negative
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1
 
Rs.23.5 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of Nahar Spinning Mills Limited (Nahar) continue to reflect Nahar's established position in the cotton yarn and knitted garments segments, its large scale and moderately integrated operations across the textile value chain, and healthy financial flexibility. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatile cotton and cotton yarn prices, and foreign exchange rates, the average financial risk profile, and working capital-intensive operations.
 
CRISIL believes Nahar's performance will recover in second half of fiscal 2020 with moderation in cotton prices post arrival of new cotton stock and improvement in cotton-yarn spreads considering decline in cotton prices from November 2019 (Rs 38,000 per candy against Rs 42,000 per candy earlier). As a result, Nahar is expected to report flat revenues in current fiscal compared to fiscal 2019 and OPBDIT margin of ~4%. The reaffirmation also factors in Nahar's adequate financial flexibility, with low average bank limit utilisation of about 80% (unutilised bank lines of Rs 100-150 crore) and availability of need-based support from Nahar Capital and Financial Services Ltd (Nahar Capital) which had cash and equivalent of over Rs 200 crore as on March 31, 2019.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in the cotton yarn and knitted garments segments: Nahar is one of India's largest cotton yarn manufacturers, and a leading manufacturer and exporter of knitted garments, with revenue of Rs 2,308 crore in fiscal 2019. Revenue has recorded modest compound annual growth rate of 0.9% over the five fiscals through March 2019. It is also one of the top ten spinners in the domestic market. It has an established position in several export markets in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, and Vietnam. Domestic clients include many large, reputed home textile and denim manufacturers. The company also has longstanding relationships with key international garment retailers in USA and Canada, and thus, benefits from the diversified geographical reach, lending stability to revenue. During current fiscal, export demand moderated due to decline in demand from China, ban on exports to Pakistan and reduced competitiveness of Indian spinners in global market due to higher domestic cotton prices compared to global prices.
 
* Large scale and moderately integrated operations across the textile value chain: Nahar consumes over 400,000 bales of cotton every year, and is therefore, one of the largest buyers of cotton in India. Large-scale procurement should keep bargaining power high over the medium term. Also, operations are partially forward integrated, with presence in knitted garments, supporting operating efficiencies.
 
* Healthy financial flexibility: Financial flexibility is healthy, as reflected in moderate bank limit utilisation of 81% over the 12 months ending September 30, 2019. Moreover, it derives need-based support from Nahar Capital, which had cash and equivalent of over Rs 200 crore as of September 2019; these investments can be liquidated and infused into Nahar on a need basis.
 
Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to volatility in cotton and cotton yarn prices, and foreign exchange rates: The company derives over 90% of total revenue from the yarn segment, which remains susceptible to volatility in cotton and cotton yarn prices. As a result, the operating margin has fluctuated between 1% and 21% over the eight fiscals through 2019. Demand for cotton and yarn, to a large extent, is driven by international demand-supply dynamics. In the past decade, the industry has seen four cycles (fiscals 2012, 2015 and 2018 and 2020), when demand spiralled and then fell rapidly. Additionally, as Nahar derives close to two-thirds of its revenue from overseas markets, and hence, remains exposed to any significant volatility in forex rates
 
* Average financial risk profile, with working capital-intensive operations: The financial risk profile is constrained by working capital-intensive operations (gross current assets of 174 days during fiscal 2019), driven by seasonal production of cotton, leading to high reliance on debt. Although the cotton procurement policy has been changed to maintain lower raw material inventory, working capital borrowings remain large constraining debt protection metrics. For instance, adjusted interest cover was moderate at 4.13 times during fiscal 2019 and is expected to moderate in fiscal 2020 due to decline in profitability. Adequate liquidity and comfortable financial flexibility should continue to support debt repayments. Also, the company has put on hold its planned capital expenditure as of now.
Liquidity Adequate

Nahar's liquidity position is moderate; it had unutilised bank lines of Rs.50-200 crore at September 30, 2019 (bank limit utilisation has fluctuated between 70%-95% during January-September 2019) and is expected to generate cash accruals of ~Rs.45 crore in fiscal 2020. Internal accruals, cushion in bank limits are expected to be sufficient for debt repayments of Rs 65 crore during fiscal 2020. Accruals are expected to increase to over Rs 100 crore in fiscal 2021, which should enable the company service its debt obligations of Rs 21 crore in 2021. Presently the company has no major capex plan and focus is on increasing existing capacity utilization. Liquidity is further supported by group support especially from Nahar Capital, which has cash and equivalents over Rs 200 crore.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believe that debt metrics to moderate during fiscal 2020 due to decline in export demand and weak cotton yarn cotton spreads. Expected recovery in export demand and lower cotton prices should drive recovery in operating performance and debt metrics in the near term.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factor
*Steady and sustained recovery in operating performance, and recovery of EBITDA margins to over 8%
*Improved cash generation and prudent working capital management as well as capital spending, also benefitting credit metrics ' for instance TOL/TNW remaining below 1.2 times and interest cover of above 4 times
 
Downward factor
*Continuing weak operating performance or slower than expected recovery in operating performance, resulting in EBITDA margins of below 3% and continuing losses at net level
*Weakened cash generation, along with elongation in working capital cycle and increased capex impacting credit metrics; for instance TOL/TNW increasing over 1.6-1.7 times.

About the Company

Nahar is the flagship company of the Nahar group, a business conglomerate that operates in the spinning, garments, and hosiery segments. After the group was restructured in fiscal 2007, Nahar acquired the entire textile business of the erstwhile Nahar Exports Ltd, while the group company and other investments were transferred to a new company, Nahar Capital.
 
Nahar has manufacturing units in Ludhiana, Jitwal Kalan, Jodhan, and Lalru, all in Punjab; and at Raisen, Mandideep in Madhya Pradesh. It undertakes spinning, mercerising-cum-dyeing, knitting, and garmenting activities. Besides, it has two co-generation power plants in Ludhiana and Lalru, with capacities of 3.8 megawatt (MW) and 4.8 MW, respectively. The company also has solar power stations of 0.81 MW and 0.78 MW at Jodhan and Lalru, respectively, and is in the process of installing a 1.3 MW solar power station at Mandideep.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, OPBDIT was Rs 42 crore on operating income of Rs 1518 crore, against OPBDIT of Rs 183 crore on operating income of Rs 1691 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 2,308 2,136
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 65 (32)
PAT Margin % 2.8 (1.5)
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 1.01 1.22
Interest coverage Times 4.13 1.80
 

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 Term Loan NA NA Jun-2024 20.93 CRISIL A/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA Sep-2020 21.53 CRISIL A/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA Sep-2023 27.72 CRISIL A/Negative
NA Cash Credit* NA NA NA 990 CRISIL A/Negative
NA Letter of Credit# NA NA NA 165 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Term Loan NA NA NA 27.83 CRISIL A/Negative
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 32.39 CRISIL A/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2027 114 CRISIL A/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2025 109 CRISIL A/Negative
*Interchangeable with packing credit foreign currency/overdraft
#Interchangeable with bank guarantee/buyer's credit
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  23.50  CRISIL A1      24-12-19  CRISIL A1  26-06-18  CRISIL A1  22-08-17  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
            14-01-19  CRISIL A1           
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1343.40  CRISIL A/Negative      24-12-19  CRISIL A/Negative  26-06-18  CRISIL A/Stable  22-08-17  CRISIL A/Stable  CRISIL A/Stable 
            14-01-19  CRISIL A/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  165.00  CRISIL A1      24-12-19  CRISIL A1  26-06-18  CRISIL A1  22-08-17  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
            14-01-19  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
Cash Credit* 990 CRISIL A/Negative Cash Credit* 1000 CRISIL A/Negative
Letter of Credit# 165 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit# 165 CRISIL A1
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 32.39 CRISIL A/Negative Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 154.19 CRISIL A/Negative
Proposed Term Loan 27.83 CRISIL A/Negative Proposed Term Loan 7.5 CRISIL A/Negative
Term Loan 293.18 CRISIL A/Negative Term Loan 181.71 CRISIL A/Negative
Total 1508.4 -- Total 1508.4 --
*Interchangeable with packing credit foreign currency/overdraft
#Interchangeable with bank guarantee/buyer's credit
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 Cotton Textile Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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