Rating Rationale
August 31, 2020 | Mumbai
RR Kabel Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.473 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Positive' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank loan facilities of RR Kabel Limited (RR Kabel) to 'Stable' from 'Positive' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL A+'; the short-term facility has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.
 
The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's expectation of a muted operating performance in fiscal 2021 as the sluggish domestic demand scenario owing to the Covid-19 pandemic should lead to a slowdown in growth in the operating income of the company. For the three months through June 2020, operating income declined by around 48% due to the lockdown by the central and various state governments for containing the pandemic. As these measures were imposed at a broader level and across sectors, they have impacted the business risk profile of the company in terms of temporary closure of production facility and of establishments of dealers-distributors-retailers.
 
However, the performance is expected to normalise once economic activity resumes. The ability of the business to revert back to operational stability and any relief measures given by the government to the sector will be key monitorables.
 
Operating income in fiscal 2020 on a standalone basis was similar to that in the previous fiscal because of the lockdown impact towards year-end along with the subdued industry scenario. However, the operating margin was steady at around 9% (8.9% in fiscal 2019) as the company was able to effectively manage the volatility in copper prices.
 
The financial risk profile remains strong, driven by a robust capital structure and healthy debt protection metrics. The interest coverage ratio was 6.20 times and the net cash accrual to total debt ratio 0.27 time for fiscal 2020.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters and strong market position in the home wires and cables industry in India, and a healthy financial risk profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition, and vulnerability of profitability to volatility in raw material prices, economic downturns, and intense competition.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has treated preference share capital of Rs 400 crore as part of equity as these shares are fully convertible and do not carry any preference dividend. CRISIL has also combined the business and financial risk profile of Ram Ratna Electricals Ltd as this company is in the process of being merged with RR Kabel with effect from fiscal 2020.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of the promoters: The promoters, members of the Kabra family, have been trading in and manufacturing various types of copper wires and cables (such as enamelled copper winding wires) for more than 40 years. Furthermore, they have extensive experience in the electrical accessories business through other group companies such as Ram Ratna Wires Ltd ('CRISIL BBB+/Negative/CRISIL A2'). Also, TPG Asia (private equity investor) had invested Rs 615 crore in the company (including primary and secondary issue) in fiscal 2019.
 
* Strong market position in the home wires and cables industry in India: The wires and cables industry in India had a market size of around Rs 54,000 crore in fiscal 2020, of which RR Kabel is estimated to have 3% market share and is the fifth-largest player. In fiscal 2020, the industry is estimated to have grown at only 4-5% over the previous fiscal due to the subdued economic sentiment. However, with the expected easing of the impact of the pandemic, the industry is likely to grow at a healthy rate from fiscal 2022. The company's market position is boosted by the strong network of over 1,200 dealers-distributors and 5 depots across the country. It is the largest exporter of housing wires from India; exports contribute around 30% to its revenue. The company is also aggressively spending to increase brand awareness to further strengthen the market position in the industry.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: The networth was large at over Rs 850 crore and the total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio healthy at 0.75 time, estimated as on March 31, 2020. The capital structure is expected to improve further over the medium term driven by steady cash accrual in the absence of any major debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) plan. Debt protection metrics are strong, as reflected in the interest coverage ratio of 6.20 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of 0.27 time, estimated for fiscal 2020. Working capital intensity is in line with industry peers as reflected in gross current assets of 120-130 days; however, the company is seeking to increase the share of vendor financing to further reduce the debtor cycle.
 
Weaknesses
* Exposure to intense competition: The house wires and electrical cables segment is highly fragmented with a large number of unorganised players, constraining the pricing power of organised sector players. Competition is also faced from other organised sector players such as Polycab India Ltd ('CRISIL AA/Positive/CRISIL A1+'), Havells India Ltd, Finolex Cables Ltd ('CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+') and KEI Industries Ltd. Some of the larger players also have backward integrated capabilities, which support operating efficiency. Competition from organised and unorganised players should continue to impact operating performance.
 
* Susceptibility to economic downturns: Domestic wires contribute more than 70% of revenue, and end-users of the products include construction (real estate), power and automobile industries. Growth in these industries is, in turn, linked to the economic environment; any slowdown in gross domestic product growth could lead to moderation in demand for electrical cables.
 
* Vulnerability to fluctuation in raw material prices: Copper and aluminium are the primary raw materials used in the manufacture of cables and account for 70-80% of the company's product value. Though it revises the prices every month on the basis of the previous month (M-1) LME prices, profitability would be impacted if it is unable to pass on the price increase to customers.
Liquidity Strong

Cash accrual is expected at more than Rs 130 crore per fiscal in fiscals 2021 and 2022, against long-term repayment obligation of only Rs 16 crore per fiscal. Average utilisation of the fund-based limit of Rs 598 crore was moderate at 38% during the 12 months through July 2020. Cash and cash equivalents were Rs 202 crore as on June 30, 2020. Internal cash accrual and unutilised bank lines should be sufficient to meet repayment obligation as well as incremental working capital requirement, over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

The business risk profile is expected to be sustained over the medium term, despite the short-term impact of the pandemic, driven by a healthy market position in the wires and cables industry and an established distribution network.

Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Considerable improvement in operating performance, leading to an increase in market share.
* A significantly better operating margin, leading to a sustained improvement in the return on capital employed to above 18%
 
Downward factors
* Weaker-than-expected operating performance, leading to lower margins and cash accrual
* Higher-than-expected debt-funded capex, leading to weakening of the capital structure with a sustained increase in the net debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) ratio to above 2 times on a sustainable basis.

About the Company

RR Kabel is the flagship company of the Ram Ratna group. The company primarily manufactures low-density electric cables and house wires. It is among the larger organised players, and holds around 3% share in the domestic cables market.
 
For the three months through June 2020, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 16 crore on operating income of Rs 388 crore, as against Rs 66 crore and Rs 740 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 2020* 2019
Revenue Rs crore 2474 2241
Profit after tax Rs crore 223 200
PAT margin % 4.8 4.1
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.48 0.44
Interest coverage Times 6.20 6.56
*CRISIL adjusted numbers including Ram Ratna Electricals Ltd w.e.f. April 1, 2019.

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 level Rating with outlook
NA Fund Based Facilities NA NA NA 100.00 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Fund Based Facilities* NA NA NA 275.00 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 16.50 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Sep-20 60.00 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Non-Fund Based Facilities NA NA NA 21.50 NA CRISIL A1+
*Interchangeable with CC/OD/WCDL/EIF/CBN/EBD/IIF/WCDL/PCFC/PSFC/EPC /EBD/PBD/PIF/LC/BG
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  451.50  CRISIL A+/Stable      06-05-19  CRISIL A+/Positive    --  28-07-17  Withdrawal  CRISIL BBB+/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  21.50  CRISIL A1+      06-05-19  CRISIL A1+    --  28-07-17  Withdrawal  CRISIL A2 
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
Fund-Based Facilities 100 CRISIL A+/Stable Fund-Based Facilities 100 CRISIL A+/Positive
Fund-Based Facilities* 275 CRISIL A+/Stable Fund-Based Facilities* 275 CRISIL A+/Positive
Non-Fund Based Limit 21.5 CRISIL A1+ Non-Fund Based Limit 21.5 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 16.5 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 16.5 CRISIL A+/Positive
Term Loan 60 CRISIL A+/Stable Term Loan 60 CRISIL A+/Positive
Total 473 -- Total 473 --
*Interchangeable with CC/OD/WCDL/EIF/CBN/EBD/IIF/WCDL/PCFC/PSFC/EPC /EBD/PBD/PIF/LC/BG
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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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