Rating Rationale
January 02, 2023 | Mumbai
Prince Pipes and Fittings Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'; CP Withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.668 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial PaperCRISIL A1+ (Withdrawn)
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 Prince Pipes and Fittings Limited (PPFL) at CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1+.

 

CRISIL Ratings has withdrawn its rating on Rs. 50 crore of commercial paper, on receipt of redemption confirmation. The withdrawal is in line with CRISIL Ratings' policy on withdrawal of ratings.

 

The ratings reflect the strong business risk profile marked by its market position in domestic plastic pipe industry supported by diverse product portfolio, geographical presence, and end-user industry, extensive experience of promoters, and a robust financial risk profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by presence in a highly competitive industry, moderate capacity utilization, susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices, and moderate working capital requirements.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of promoters: The promoters have been involved in the pipes & fittings industry for over three decades. Over their extensive tenure, the promoters have developed a sound understanding of the local market dynamics and established strong relations with suppliers and customers.

 

  • Strong business risk profile marked by company’s market position in domestic plastic pipe industry supported by diverse product portfolio, geographical presence, and end-user industry: PPFL is one of the top six players in the pipes & fittings market in India. The growing market position is supported by well-known brands ‘Prince’ and ‘Trubore’ and the diverse product offerings with presence in un-plasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC), Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), Polypropylene random (PPR) and High-density polyethylene (HDPE) segments. PPFL has an established track record and market position in the segments it operates in backed by its widespread distribution network pan India and seven strategically located plants in Athal, Haridwar, Chennai, Kolhapur, Dadra, Jaipur and Telangana. Business risk profile continues to remain strong with company registering sales volumes of 69,707 MT in H1FY2023 as compared to sales volume of 61,312 MT in H1FY2022. Thus despite of dip in RM prices, increase in volume will continue to support the revenue profile.

 

  • Robust financial risk profile: A strong networth, healthy capital structure, and healthy debt-protection metrics keep the financial risk profile robust despite the on-going capex. Networth was strong at Rs 1265.2 crore and gearing was low at 0.12 time, as on 31st March 2022.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Presence in a highly competitive industry, moderate capacity utilization and susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices: The pipes and fittings industry is highly competitive, especially in the commoditized products segment, which has low differentiation, thus resulting in the brand facing competition from both organized and un-organized segments. PPFL is also susceptible to volatility in the prices of key raw material, PVC, which is a crude oil derivative and hence affected by change in crude oil prices, and foreign exchange rates, albeit partly offset by its ability to pass on price fluctuations to the consumers. Company had registered margins in the range of ~12-17% in the past five fiscal through fiscal 2022. Margins are expected to decline in FY2023 on account of continuous decline in PVC prices. However, higher demand is expected on account of lower prices over medium term as seen from growth in volume sales.

 

  • Moderate working capital requirements: Company has moderately intensive working capital operations, with Gross current asset (GCA) days in the range of 120-175 days over last five fiscals ended 2022. GCA days were 167 days as on 31st March 2022, driven by debtors and inventory of 60 days and 101 days, respectively. Company has moderate inventory holding as it is dealing in multiple SKUs and hence has to maintain raw material and finished goods inventory for the same.

Liquidity: Strong

Liquidity is backed by large cash accruals, absence of any long-term debt, moderate bank limit utilization, and a healthy cash & bank balance. The average utilization in bank lines is 68% over the 12 months ended June 2022. The cushion in bank lines will support the incremental working capital requirements. Unencumbered cash and bank balance and liquid investments were more than Rs 110 crore as on Sept 30, 2022. The company is also expected to maintain liquidity back up for the full extent of outstanding rated short-term facilities.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes PPFL’s business risk profile will continue to benefit from the extensive industry experience of its promoters, its established market position and robust financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward Factors

  • Sustained growth in revenue and operating margin of over 15%
  • Efficient working capital management and sustenance of financial risk profile.

 

Downward Factors

  • Significantly lower-than-expected revenue, with operating margin remaining below 10% on sustained basis
  • Weakening of capital structure, with gearing increasing beyond 1 time, because of large, debt-funded capex or acquisition or any large dividend payout or share buy-back
  • Sizeable stretch in the working capital cycle
  • Significant dividend pay-out or loans extended to promoters in order to meet liabilities arising out of litigation at promoters’ personal capacity

About the Company

Incorporated in 1987, PPFL is Mumbai-based company and engaged in manufacturing of plastic pipes and fittings using four different polymers: UPVC, CPVC, PPR and HDPE. The company has a corporate office in Mumbai (Maharashtra). PPFL is promoted by Mr Jayant Shamji Chheda, his two sons Mr Parag Jayant Chheda and Mr Vipul Jayant Chheda, and by Mrs. Tarla Jayant Chheda and Mrs. Heena Parag Chheda.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2022

2021

Operating income

Rs crore

2,656.91

2,071.52

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

249.4

221.15

PAT margins

%

9.39

10.68

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

0.12

0.08

Interest coverage

Times

30.18

17.15

 

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. Cr)

Complexity
Levels

Rating Assigned
with Outlook

NA

Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan

NA

NA

NA

217.0

NA

CRISIL A+/Stable

NA

Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

451.0

NA

CRISIL A1+

NA

Commercial Paper

NA

NA

7-365 days

50.0

Simple

Withdrawn

 

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 217.0 CRISIL A+/Stable 05-01-22 CRISIL A+/Stable 29-10-21 CRISIL A/Positive 30-09-20 CRISIL A-/Stable   -- --
      --   -- 26-10-21 CRISIL A/Positive   --   -- --
      --   -- 29-07-21 CRISIL A/Positive   --   -- --
      --   -- 23-07-21 CRISIL A/Positive   --   -- --
      --   -- 13-07-21 CRISIL A/Positive   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 451.0 CRISIL A1+ 05-01-22 CRISIL A1+ 29-10-21 CRISIL A1 30-09-20 CRISIL A2+   -- --
      --   -- 26-10-21 CRISIL A1   --   -- --
      --   -- 29-07-21 CRISIL A1   --   -- --
      --   -- 23-07-21 CRISIL A1   --   -- --
      --   -- 13-07-21 CRISIL A1   --   -- --
Commercial Paper ST 50.0 Withdrawn 05-01-22 CRISIL A1+ 29-10-21 CRISIL A1   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 27 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 25 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 32 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 40 DBS Bank India Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 25 IDFC FIRST Bank Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 30 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 25 Standard Chartered Bank Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan 13 IDFC FIRST Bank Limited CRISIL A+/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 25 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 45 IDFC FIRST Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 83 Standard Chartered Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 40 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 35 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 35 DBS Bank India Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 42 Standard Chartered Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 22 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 5 DBS Bank India Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 10 IDFC FIRST Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 2 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 4 IDFC FIRST Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 40 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 20 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 5 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 38 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A1+

This Annexure has been updated on 02-Jan-23 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 05-Jan-22 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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Aveek Datta
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 99204 93912
B: +91 22 3342 3000
AVEEK.DATTA@crisil.com

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Jaya Mirpuri
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
D:+91 20 4018 1926
jaya.mirpuri@crisil.com


Rushabh Pramod Borkar
Team Leader
CRISIL Ratings Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3390
rushabh.borkar@crisil.com


Raj Kumar Inani
Senior Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
Raj.Inani@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL Ratings. However, CRISIL Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About CRISIL Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of CRISIL Limited)

CRISIL Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).
 
CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited ('CRISIL'). CRISIL Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").
 
For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a global analytical company providing ratings, research, and risk and policy advisory services. We are India's leading ratings agency. We are also the foremost provider of high-end research to the world's largest banks and leading corporations.

CRISIL is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.


For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL. For further information on CRISIL's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') that is provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). To avoid doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as CRISIL Ratings providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the report. In preparing our report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Ratings are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any securities/instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL Ratings assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinions and analysis. The rating contained in the report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way. CRISIL Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains.

Neither CRISIL Ratings nor its affiliates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, 'CRISIL Ratings Parties') guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the report, and no CRISIL Ratings Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the report. EACH CRISIL RATINGS PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Ratings Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its website, www.crisilratings.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee - more details about ratings by CRISIL Ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL Ratings and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on in its reports. CRISIL Ratings has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to:
https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html.

Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL Ratings public website, www.crisilratings.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without prior written consent from CRISIL Ratings.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL Ratings Limited. CRISIL Ratings is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited.

 

 

CRISIL Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on CRISIL Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html