Rating Rationale
July 28, 2020 | Mumbai
Nalwa Steel and Power Limited
'CCR BBB-/Stable' rating assigned   
 
Rating Action
Corporate Credit Rating   CCR BBB-/Stable (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned it 'CCR BBB-/Stable' corporate credit rating to Nalwa Steel and Power Limited (NSPL).
 
The rating reflects the company's established market position in the secondary steel industry backed by integrated operations, efficient working capital management, and moderate leverage. These strengths are partially offset by its susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices, intense competition and cyclicality inherent in the steel industry; and sizeable exposure to investments and advances in group concerns.
 
NSPL has exposure to associate and group entities in the form of equity/preference share investments and inter-corporate deposits of Rs 1,289 crore as on July 27, 2020. The rating takes into account the management's committed stance of reducing such investments on a continued basis and ensuring that NSPL's balance sheet or cash flow is not leveraged for any such non-core investments.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has taken a standalone view of the business and financial risk profiles of NSPL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position: NSPL has presence of over three decades in the secondary steel industry. The company has integrated operations with capacities to produce sponge iron, billets, thermo-mechanically-treated (TMT) bars and wire rods, along with a captive power plant of 24 MW. In 2020, it recorded an estimated topline of over Rs 1,100 crore, of which around 70% was derived from manufacturing operations while the remaining came from trading (export) in pellets. NSPL benefits from its association with the Jindal Steel Power Ltd (JSPL) group. The company markets its products under Jindal's Panther brand and uses the group's established distribution network. All transactions are conducted at arm's length. The aforesaid coupled with job-work income led to healthy operating margin of more than 15% in manufacturing and 2-2.5% margin in the trading business.
 
* Efficient working capital management: NSPL's working capital cycle is efficient as it receives quick payments and timely advances from its key customer, JSPL, while maintaining moderate to low inventory. Gross current assets were at 75-118 days over the three fiscals ended March 31, 2019. The company also receives moderate credit from its suppliers, which help it manage its working capital requirement effectively. Though the company currently does not have any working capital bank limit, it plans to avail a fund-based limit of Rs 50-100 crore for any unforeseen exigencies.
 
* Moderate financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is supported by moderate bank debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) ratio of less than 2.3 times in fiscal 2020. Further, with no large capital expenditure (capex) plan or additional debt, the bank debt to EBITDA ratio is expected to remain below 2.5 times, as planned by the management. Debt protection metrics were adequate in fiscal 2020, with interest coverage at more than 3 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of 0.11 time. Nonetheless, the overall financial risk profile remains partly constrained by large investments and advances to associate and group companies.
 
Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and to cyclicality in the steel industry:
Cost of production and profit margin are heavily dependent on raw material prices (iron ore, iron and coal) and realisation from finished goods. The price and supply of the main raw material, iron ore, directly impacts the realisations of finished goods. Further, demand for products such as TMT bars and wire rods is linked to demand from end-users, such as real estate, civil construction and engineering industries, which is cyclical. Slowdown in demand in these sectors will impact the group's operating performance. 
 
* Large investments or advances to group entities: NSPL has invested around Rs 1,289 crore in group entities and associates. These are long-term investments and the track record of steady income on these investments is limited. Hence, although the investments will reduce in future gradually, these will continue to constrain the company's financial flexibility.
Liquidity Adequate

NSPL is expected to have adequate liquidity over the medium term, driven by expected annual cash accrual of Rs 60-75 crore in fiscals 2021 and 2022 against long-term debt obligation of Rs 30-48 crore in each fiscal. Further, the company is likely to obtain new working capital limit which along with need-based support from the group entities will cushion the liquidity. The company maintains adequate liquidity in its current account on a regular basis. It also relies on return of funds from its investments from time to time to meet any cash flow shortfalls. Absence of a fund-based working capital bank line limits its financial flexibility to some extent currently. Liquidity will remain contingent to the return of funds from the investee companies and overall cash flow management.

Outlook:- Stable
CRISIL believes NSPL will continue to benefit from its established market position in the industry and experienced management.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Growth in revenue and sustained operating profitability, with external debt to EBITDA ratio of less than 2 times on continued basis
* Improvement in liquidity, with sizeable monetisation of investments
 
Downward factors
* Stretch in working capital cycle or lower cash accrual (less than Rs.50 crore)
* Inability to reduce investment in group companies
* Debt-funded capex, weakening the financial risk profile

About the Company

NSPL produces sponge iron, MS billets, wire rods and TMT bars. Also, a part of its revenue is derived from job-work for JSPL and trading in pellets to the Middle East and China. Its manufacturing unit is in Taraimal, Chhattisgarh.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2020* 2019
Operating income Rs crore 1177 1620
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 33 15
PAT margin % 2.80 0.90
Adjusted debt / adjusted networth Times 0.68 0.45
Interest coverage Times 3.50 3.55
*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 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 levels Rating assigned with outlook
NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
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
--  CCR  0.00  CCR BBB-/Stable    --    --    --    --  -- 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry

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