Rating Rationale
October 31, 2018 | Mumbai
Real Ispat and Power Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.91.7 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A-/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A2+')
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 Real Ispat and Power Limited (RIPL; part of the Real group) to 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' from CRISIL A-/Positive/CRISIL A2+'
 
The upgrade reflects improvement in the business risk profile driven by healthy revenue growth and better operating profitability following ramp-up of operations from new capacities, duly supported by higher realisations and strong demand.
 
In fiscal 2018, operating income improved by over 60% year-on-year due to ramp-up of new capacities while operating margin expanded by about 450 bps supported by better domestic demand and spreads. The moderate (~25%) revenue growth and margin is expected to be sustained due to stable demand for long products driven by government-led initiatives in the infrastructure segments. Healthy level of integration in operations also bolsters operating efficiencies and market position of the group.
 
A strong growth in cash accruals and efficient working capital cycle led to very limited reliance on working capital bank debt and also enabled the group to pre-close its outstanding term debts. Financial risk profile stands robust with gearing of less than 0.3 times as on March 31, 2018 and robust debt protection metrics. The group is likely to undertake an acquisition/capex over medium term, however the financial risk profile should continue to remain sound marked by healthy networth and strong cash accruals. Nonetheless, the extent of capex/acquisition and its funding will be monitored.
 
The rating continues to reflect a strong financial risk profile because of a healthy networth, a comfortable capital structure, and strong debt protection metrics and an established market position in the secondary steel industry backed by integrated operations and a strong clientele. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to demand cyclicality, volatility in raw material prices and changes in government regulations.

Analytical Approach
For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has consolidated the business and financial risk profiles of RIPL and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Shivalay Ispat and Power Pvt Ltd (SIPPL), Real Power Pvt Ltd (RPPL), and API Ispat and Powertech Pvt Ltd (API). That's because all these companies, together referred to as the Real group, share a common management and have significant financial linkages. Moreover, they have significant operational synergies as they are in the same business.
Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in the secondary steel industry:
The Real group has established market position backed by promoters' extensive experience in secondary steel industry, integrated facilities, healthy relations with customers and suppliers, and a robust distribution network. This is reflected in strong ramp-up from its new capacities and higher utilisation rates.
 
* Integrated operations leading to better operational efficiency:
Real group produces sponge iron, billets & ingots, thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) bars, rounds, wire rods and steel wires. The facilities are also supported by captive power plants, and waste heat recovery plants, which result in healthy integration, cost efficiency and diversity in revenue. The group has a diversified product mix at multiple points of sale across the value chain that provides flexibility to sell intermediate products as well as use them for captive consumption.
 
* Strong financial risk profile:
The networth was robust at Rs 406.03 crore and the gearing low at 0.28 time, as on March 31, 2018 aided by healthy accretion on the back of improved profitability. The debt protection metrics are healthy too, with interest coverage ratio of 14.5 times and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio of 1.6 times for fiscal 2018. With pre-payment of existing term debt in Q1 of 2019 and sustenance in operating performance the financial risk profile is expected to improve further over the medium term. Nonetheless, an extent of acquisition or capex and its funding remains critical and shall have a bearing on financial risk profile and liquidity.
 
Weakness
* 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.
 
The group currently has no captive iron ore or coal mines. Raw material availability becomes a critical factor with high capacity utilisations. However, this is partially offset by the long-term linkages and fuel supply agreements with suppliers and mine owners and proximity to the mines.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Real group will continue to benefit from its established market position, healthy operating efficiency and strong financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to positive if considerable increase in revenue, sustenance of healthy profitability, and efficient working capital management strengthen the business risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'negative' if lower-than-expected revenue or profitability, a stretch in the working capital cycle, or larger-than-anticipated, debt funded capex/acquisition weakens the financial risk profile.

About the Company

The Real group is a Raipur-based integrated steel producer, promoted by Mr Rajesh Agrawal, Mr Umesh Agrawal, and Mr Ramesh Agrawal. It has sponge iron plants, induction furnaces, automatic hot rolling mills, a wire-drawing unit, and power plants.
 
RIPL, the group's flagship company, was incorporated in 1999 as Real Ispat Pvt Ltd. It was reconstituted as a limited company with the current name in 2005. Its final products, TMT bars, wire rods, and steel wires, are sold under the GK TMT brand.
 
SIPPL was incorporated in 2004, promoted by the Kedia family of Raipur. Subsequently, in August 2011, the company was acquired by the Real group, and it became wholly-owned subsidiary of RIPL. The company manufactures sponge iron and generates power.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018* 2017
Revenue Rs crore 1446.30 884.14
PAT Rs crore 157.72 62.24
PAT Margin % 10.9 7.0
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.28 0.85
Interest coverage Times 14.5 6.3
*Provisional

Status of non cooperation with previous CRA
RIPL has not cooperated with Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited, which has classified it as issuer not cooperative vide release dated 13-Jul-2018. The reason provided by Brickwork Ratings is non-furnishing of information for monitoring of ratings.

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 50 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 28 CRISIL A1
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1 CRISIL A1
NA Foreign Exchange Facility NA NA NA 0.4 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 12.3 CRISIL A/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  62.70  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1      28-07-17  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A2+  06-05-16  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  08-09-15  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  -- 
            07-07-17  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A2+           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  29.00  CRISIL A1      28-07-17  CRISIL A2+  06-05-16  CRISIL A2+  08-09-15  CRISIL A2+  -- 
            07-07-17  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
Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 50 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 50 CRISIL A-/Positive
Foreign Exchange Facility .4 CRISIL A1 Foreign Exchange Facility .7 CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 28 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 25 CRISIL A2+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 12.3 CRISIL A/Stable Term Loan 15 CRISIL A-/Positive
Total 91.7 -- Total 91.7 --
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
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
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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