Rating Rationale
July 05, 2019 | Mumbai
Phil Ispat Private Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.26.02 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.23.02 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A3+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded the ratings on the bank loan facilities of Phil Ispat Private Limited (PIPL) to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' from 'CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+'
 
The upgrade reflects steadily improved credit risk profile of PIPL and its parent Gopal Sponge and Power Pvt Ltd (GSPPL). PIPL's standalone operating performance improved in last three fiscals ' reflected in strong increase in topline and profitability. Further through PIPL has acquired a new unit for which term debt of Rs.30 cr was contracted, its financial risk profile still remains comfortable.
 
Further there is sequential improvement in credit profile of Gopal Sponge group (combined profile of GSPPL and PIPL) reflected in an improved and sustained operating performance, driven by ramp-up of operations from new capacities, higher realisations, and strong demand. Also the group has healthy financial risk profile driven by limited debt. Revenue increased to Rs 311 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 174 crore in fiscal 2017. The growth, along with a sustained operating margin which remained at over 14% in fiscals 2018 and 2019, led to substantial cash accrual of around Rs 31 crore per fiscal. The financial risk profile remains healthy despite a debt-funded acquisition of a unit in fiscal 2019. The group acquired a 60,000 tonne per annum (tpa) sponge iron unit with a 5 megawatt (MW) Waste Heat Recovery Based (WHRB) power plant for which term debt of about Rs 30 crore was contracted. Despite this, the gearing is estimated at 0.35 time and the debt to EBIDTA (earnings before interest, depreciation, tax, and amortisation) ratio at less than 1 time as on March 31, 2019.  Debt protection metrics too remain healthy, reflected in the estimated interest coverage ratio of around 15 times in fiscal 2019.
 
The group is likely to sustain its performance over the medium term, driven by ramp-up at the newly acquired unit, slightly moderated but still comfortable realisations, and stable demand for steel because of government-led initiatives in infrastructure segments. With continued growth in cash accrual, a controlled working capital cycle, and absence of any large, debt funded capital expenditure (capex)/acquisition, the financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy over the medium term.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters in the steel industry, partly integrated operations, and a healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to cyclicality in the steel industry and to volatility in input prices, and exposure to intense competition and to changes in government regulations.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has factored in strong business and financial support from the parent, Gopal Sponge and Power Pvt Ltd (GSPPL; rated at CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2). PIPL is strategically important to GSPPL as they are in the same line of business and derive operational synergies.

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:
* Industry experience of the promoters and partly integrated operations

The promoters' experience of about 15 years in the steel industry, their strong understanding of the local market dynamics, and healthy relationship with customers and suppliers should continue to support the business. They have helped to successfully navigate through adverse business cycles, with many disruptions in demand and supply. The promoters have also been instrumental in improving PIPL's performance since its acquisition in fiscal 2012. Benefits from the promoters' extensive industry experience should continue.

Operations are partly integrated with a captive power plant and ingots/billets capacity, which utilises the sponge iron produced in house.

* Healthy financial risk profile
The networth is healthy, the gearing low, and the debt protection metrics strong. The networth improved to around Rs 120 crore as on March 31, 2019, from below Rs 50 crore as on March 31, 2016, driven by higher accretion to reserves. The gearing remained comfortable, estimated at 0.35 time as on March 31, 2019, slightly higher than a year earlier because of debt contracted for the acquisition. The gearing should improve over the medium term due to gradual debt repayment, healthy accretion to reserves, and the absence of any large, debt-funded capex. The interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios remained strong in fiscal 2019, estimated at around 15 times and 0.8 time, respectively, due to adequate cash accrual and limited debt.

PIPL's financial risk profile is also healthy on a standalone basis, networth is healthy at Rs 42.2 crore and gearing low at around 0.8 time as on march 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics are healthy with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios at 16.6 times and 0.33 time for fiscal 2019. The financial risk profile is expected to improve over the medium term supported by sustenance in profitability and gradual repayment of term debt in the absence of any major debt funded capex over the medium term.

* Business and financial support from parent:
PIPL is a subsidiary of GSPPL, PIPL benefits from the operational and financial support of GSPPL. PIPL had benefitted from GSSPL's established customer and supplier relationships and other operational synergies which helped to turnaround its operations. GSPPL has also provided corporate guarantee for PIPL's bank lines. PIPL will continue to benefit from support from its parent.

Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to demand fluctuations, volatility in raw material prices and changes in government regulations:

The group remains vulnerable to cyclicality in the steel industry given the close linkage between the growth of the industry and the domestic and global economy. While there has been a significant push by the government on steel-intensive sectors such as railways and infrastructure, any downturn in the economic cycle will adversely impact demand. Profitability remains susceptible to steel prices, fluctuations in raw material prices, and changes in government regulations in relation to imports and duties. Any significant change in the demand and pricing scenario will remain a key monitorable.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate. Net cash accrual is expected at Rs 36-42 per fiscal, against maturing term debt obligation of around Rs 3.5 crore and Rs 5.1 crore, in fiscals 2020 and 2021, respectively. Average utilisation of the bank limit was around 11% during the 12 months through April 2019. Furthermore, the promoters have been extending unsecured loans when required. The current ratio was healthy at 2.8 times as on March 31, 2019. Cash accrual, the unutilised bank limit, cash and cash equivalents should be sufficient to meet incremental working capital requirement over the medium term in the absence of any major unexpected debt-funded capex.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes PIPL will continue to benefit from the experience of the promoters and maintain a healthy financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of a sustained increase in revenue, along with stable profitability and prudent working capital management. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a significant decline in profitability, a stretch in the working capital cycle, or any large, debt-funded capex weakens the financial risk profile or if the credit profile of the parent GSPPL weakens.

About the Group

GSPPL was incorporated in March 2004 at Raipur, Chhattisgarh; Mr Ram Gopal Jhanwar and his wife, Ms Kusum Lata Jhanwar, along with their son, Mr Vijay Anand Jhanwar, are the promoters. The company manufactures sponge iron with a capacity of 200 tonne per day (tpd). The company also has a waste-heat-recovery-based power plant, with capacity of 5 MW. In fiscal 2012, it acquired a majority stake in PIPL (established in 2004 at Raipur), which has sponge iron producing capacity of 200 tpd. In fiscal 2015, the group diversified into manufacturing billets and ingots with installed capacity of 30,000 tpa.

The group has newly acquired a unit in PIPL with sponge iron capacity of 60,000 tpa, billet/ingot capacity of 57,600 tpa, and a waste-heat-recovery-based power plant of 5 MW.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 102.66 66.49
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 10.27 4.89
PAT margin % 10.0 7.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.09 0.22
Interest coverage Times 26.17 9.35

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 crore)
Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1 CRISIL A2
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 12 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 5 CRISIL A2
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 8 CRISIL A2
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 0.02 CRISIL BBB+/Stable

Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Gopal Sponge and Power Private Limited Full consolidation Common management and operational linkages
Phil Ispat Private Limited Full consolidation Subsidiary, common management and operational linkages
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  12.02  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      14-08-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable      08-08-16  CRISIL BBB/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
            02-02-18  CRISIL BB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*      18-07-16  CRISIL BBB/Stable   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  14.00  CRISIL A2      14-08-18  CRISIL A3+      08-08-16  CRISIL A3+  CRISIL A3+ 
            02-02-18  CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*      18-07-16  CRISIL A3+   
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A2 Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A3+
Cash Credit 12 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 12 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Letter of Credit 5 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit 5 CRISIL A3+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 8 CRISIL A2 Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 5.02 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .02 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 26.02 -- Total 23.02 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Framework for Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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