Rating Rationale
April 06, 2020 | Mumbai
Rashmi Cement Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.100 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.80 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' ratings on the bank facilities of Rashmi Cement Limited (RCL; a part of the Rashmi group).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the group's established market position in the iron and steel industry, healthy operating efficiencies, and robust financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the ongoing dispute with South Eastern Railways (SER), and exposure to volatility in the prices of input and finished goods.
 
Operating performance in fiscal 2021 is likely to be impacted following measures taken by various state governments as well as central government towards containment of COVID-19 which includes temporary closure of non-critical establishments, inter-state transportation etc. along-with severe restrictions on travel and visiting areas of mass gatherings. As steel is an essential commodity, Rashmi Group's production is unlikely to be impacted by the lockdown announced by the central government. However, the supply chain could be temporarily disrupted, and sales volume may be affected adversely due to global decline in demand, if the global pandemic prolongs further. Since these measures are imposed at a broader level and across sectors, they are expected to impact the business profile of the group. The ability of the business to revert back to operational stability and any relief measures given by the government will be a key monitorable and CRISIL will continue monitoring these events. Any disruption in operations, however, will be supported by the group's healthy financial risk profile and liquidity.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has consolidated the business and financial risk profiles of RCL, Orissa Metaliks Pvt Ltd (OMPL), and Rashmi Metaliks Ltd (RML). The entities, collectively referred to as the Rashmi group, have common management, and significant operational and financial linkages.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position
The Rashmi group is one of the largest players in the iron and steel industry in Eastern India. Over the years, it has also increased its foothold in export marketsBacked by the established market position, revenue reached to about Rs 6,482 crore (on consolidated basis) in fiscal 2019 from Rs 1,293 crore in fiscal 2013, at a compound annual growth rate of above 30%. Revenue should remain healthy going forward, too, given the recent capacity expansion.
 
* Healthy operating efficiencies
Integrated nature of operations has continued to support . Apart from the benefits derived from the value chain, the group is supported by its presence in railway siding and captive power plant segments. Furthermore, the group is nimble-footed in terms of customer base
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile
The financial risk profile has been healthy and may continue to be so over the medium term, supported by steady accretion to reserve and timely infusion of equity. Networth was strong at Rs 4,319.64 crore as on March 31, 2019, backed by gearing low at 0.09 time, thereby enhancing financial flexibility. Gearing is likely to remain stable over the medium term, as the projected capital expenditure (capex) will mostly be funded by internal cash accrual. Debt protection metrics were strong, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios at 23.23 times and 2.49 times, respectively, in fiscal 2019.
 
Weaknesses
* Ongoing dispute with SER
The Rashmi group and SER have been embroiled in a legal dispute over the freight charges paid by them for transporting iron ore. According to the railways, the group had fraudulently transported iron ore under concessional freight rates for consumption at the group's plant in West Bengal. Though, currently, there is no crystallised payable monetary liability to the railways, any imposition of penalties may constrain financial risk profile.
 
* Vulnerability to volatility in the prices of raw material and finished goods
Operating margin is vulnerable to fluctuations in input prices and realisations of finished goods. The prices and supply of the key raw material (iron ore) directly impact the realisations of finished goods. Any sharp delta in input prices with the absence of almost a similar difference in realisations could dent profitability significantly. Driven by such volatility, the margin had dipped sharply in fiscals 2015 and 2016.
Liquidity Strong

Liquidity has been strong and should remain so going forward as well. Cash accrual improved to around Rs 1000 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 583 crore in the previous fiscal. Cash flow from operations have been positive in the five fiscals through 2019 due to prudent working capital management. Nil utilisation of the fund-based working capital limit in last 12 months through February, 2020 (averaging 6% during the 10 months through January 2019) and significant unencumbered cash and cash equivalents (of around Rs 500 crore as on December 31, 2019) enhance financial flexibility.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Rashmi group will continue to benefit from an established market position, significant backward integration, negligible debt, and healthy cash accrual.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustenance of revenue at above Rs 6,000 crore, with the operating margins steady at similar levels
* Early resolution of, and significantly lower liability to, the ongoing legal dispute with SER
 
Downward factors
* Larger-than-expected, debt-funded capex plan
* Sizeable stretch in working capital cycle
* Any significant decline in revenue due to impact of the Novel Cornonavirus-19, leading to cash accrual falling below Rs 250 crore
* Crystallisation of significant liability as an outcome of the legal dispute with SER

About the Group

The Rashmi group, based in Kolkata, was formed in 1991 with incorporation of RCL and is promoted by Mr Sajjan Kumar Patwari and his family. RML was incorporated in 2004 to increase its spread in the steel industry. OMPL was incorporated in 2006 but started its operations from fiscal 2016 when some of the assets were sold to OMPL from RML for better operations management. The group has been a part of the iron and steel industry for over four decades.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 6482.4 3676.09
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 688.01 352.62
PAT margin % 10.6 9.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.09 0.04
Interest coverage Times 23.23 31.8

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. Cr) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 10 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 6 CRISIL A1
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 40 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Non Fund based limits NA NA NA 19 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 25 CRISIL A/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entity consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
RCL 100% Group company having significant operational and financial linkages
RML 100% Group company having significant operational and financial linkages
OMPL 100% Group company having significant operational and financial linkages
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
Commercial Paper  ST    --    --  30-03-19  Withdrawal  21-03-18  CRISIL A1    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  35.00  CRISIL A/Stable      30-03-19  CRISIL A/Stable  21-03-18  CRISIL A/Stable      CRISIL BBB/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  65.00  CRISIL A1      30-03-19  CRISIL A1  21-03-18  CRISIL A1      CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+ 
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
Bank Guarantee 6 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 6 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 10 CRISIL A/Stable Bank Guarantee 4 Withdrawn
Letter of Credit 40 CRISIL A1 Cash Credit 10 CRISIL A/Stable
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 25 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 10 Withdrawn
Proposed Non Fund based limits 19 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 50 CRISIL A1
-- 0 -- Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 5 CRISIL A/Stable
-- 0 -- Proposed Non Fund based limits 9 CRISIL A1
-- 0 -- Proposed Non Fund based limits 6 Withdrawn
Total 100 -- Total 100 --
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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