Rating Rationale
March 21, 2024 | Mumbai
Pokarna Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.34.98 Crore (Reduced from Rs.60 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
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 reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Pokarna Ltd (PL; part of the Pokarna group) at 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'. CRISIL Ratings has also withdrawn Rs.25.02 crore of proposed working capital facility at company’s request. The withdrawal is in line with CRISIL Ratings' withdrawal policy.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the established market position of the group in the granite and engineered stones business, supported by the extensive experience of its promoters; established client relationships; and comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to demand from the key market and exposure to volatility in input costs and fluctuations in foreign exchange (forex) rates.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has combined the business and financial risk profiles of PL and Pokarna Engineered Stone Ltd (PESL; rated ‘CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+’), together referred to as the Pokarna group.

 

Unsecured loans (outstanding at Rs 25.48 crore as on March 31, 2023) extended by the promoters and related parties have been treated as debt as these may not be retained in the business over the medium term; also, CRISIL Ratings has continued treating ICDs (intercorporate deposits) of Rs 77.33 crore as 75% equity and 25% debt as these have remained in the business, with no major repayment expected 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:

  • Established position in the granite and engineered stones business: The Pokarna group is the largest exporter of quartz surfaces in India, and a leading exporter of granite slabs and blocks. The group benefits from its established relationship with Breton S.p.A and access to its patented technology for manufacturing quartz surface products. The promoters’ experience of around three decades in the stone industry, long track record of operations and healthy relationships with customers have enabled the group to establish a strong market position.

 

  • Improved business performance, though likely to be flattish this fiscal: Business risk profile improved in fiscal 2023 with revenue of Rs 729 crore against Rs 651 crore in fiscal 2023 following higher demand from the quartz segment. Revenue is expected to be flattish this fiscal on account of sluggish demand from the US following higher interest rates, increased competition, and uncertainties due to geopolitical situations. Operating margin improved to above 30% in the nine months of fiscal 2024 on the back of higher contribution from premium coloured quartz.

 

  • Comfortable financial risk profile: Networth and gearing were strong at Rs 583 crore and 0.65 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2023. Healthy operating margin should result in strong net cash accrual, which in turn will reduce debt burden over the medium term. Strong operating performance is expected to keep debt protection metrics robust, with interest coverage ratio of more than 4.5 times.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to demand risk: Capacity utilisation of granite processing units has been low in the past few years because of heightened competition from Brazil and China. Demand for quartz is also exposed to concentration risks with more than 85% of the company’s revenue coming from the US.

 

  • Susceptibility to input costs and fluctuation in forex rates: Operating margin varies based on the prices of key raw materials such as quartz lumps, resin binders, pigments and additives. Of these, the prices of resins and pigments are linked to crude prices and are hence highly volatile. Fluctuations in forex rates also impact margin.

Liquidity: Strong

Bank limit utilisation was moderate at around 38% for the 12 months through November 2023. Expected annual cash accrual of over Rs 125 crore will be sufficient to meet yearly repayment obligations of around Rs 40 crore, over the medium term; the remaining will cushion liquidity. Current ratio was healthy at 1.63 times as on March 31, 2023. Cash and bank balance stood at around Rs 53 crore as on December 31, 2023. Strong gearing and networth support financial flexibility and provide cushion against any adverse condition or downturn in the business.

Outlook: Stable

The Pokarna group will continue to benefit from its established market position, promoters' extensive experience and longstanding relations with customers.

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Upward factors

  • Significant reduction in debt resulting in gearing below 0.5 time and improvement in debt protection metrics.
  • Revenue growth above Rs 800 crore and improvement in operating margin to over 30% resulting in substantial cash accrual and better liquidity.

 

Downward factors

  • Significant decline in revenue and profitability resulting in subdued debt protection metrics.
  • Any unanticipated capital expenditure, large dividend payout or stretch in working capital cycle weakening gearing to over 1 time.

About the Group

Set up in 1991 by Mr Ashok Jain, Mr Gautam Jain, Mr Prakash Jain, and their family members, PL exports granites from its quarries in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. It also manufactures ready-made garments under the Stanza brand. PESL manufactures engineered quartz (also known as engineered stone) under the Quantra brand.

 

For the nine months through December 2023, the group clocked revenue and profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 536.31 crore and Rs 71.85 crore, respectively; against Rs 573.18 crore and Rs 55.12 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators

Combined

 

 

 

As on/for the period ended March 31

 Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs.Crore

728.97

650.69

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs.Crore

65.81

78.30

PAT margin

%

9.03

12.03

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.64

0.83

Interest coverage

Times

4.26

4.71

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

Export Packing Credit

NA

NA

NA

20

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Foreign Currency Term Loan

NA

NA

30-Sept-2024

4.98

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Foreign Documentary Bills Purchase

NA

NA

NA

5

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

5

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Proposed Working Capital Facility

NA

NA

NA

25.02

NA

Withdrawn

Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated

Extent of Consolidation

Rationale for Consolidation

Pokarna Engineered Stone Limited

Full

Wholly owned subsidiary

Pokarna Limited

Full

Parent

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT/ST 55.0 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 03-01-23 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable 14-06-22 CRISIL BBB+/Positive / CRISIL A2 16-11-21 CRISIL A3+ / CRISIL BBB/Positive CRISIL BBB-/Negative / CRISIL A3
      --   --   --   -- 01-02-21 CRISIL BBB-/Stable / CRISIL A3 --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 5.0 CRISIL A2+   -- 03-01-23 CRISIL A2+ 14-06-22 CRISIL A2 16-11-21 CRISIL A3+ CRISIL A3
      --   --   --   -- 01-02-21 CRISIL A3 --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Export Packing Credit 20 Union Bank of India CRISIL A2+
Foreign Currency Term Loan 4.98 Union Bank of India CRISIL A-/Stable
Foreign Documentary Bills Purchase 5 Union Bank of India CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 5 Union Bank of India CRISIL A2+
Proposed Working Capital Facility 25.02 Not Applicable Withdrawn
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 Mining Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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