Rating Rationale
January 31, 2019 | Mumbai
Responsive Industries Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.240 Crore (Reduced from Rs.570 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Negative (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB+/Negative/CRISIL A2' ratings on the bank facilities of Responsive Industries Ltd (Responsive; part of the Responsive group). The rating on the external commercial borrowing and proposed long term bank loan facility has been withdrawn in line with CRISIL policy of withdrawal of ratings.

For fiscal 2019, the group's net cash accrual is expected at about Rs 140 crore, led by profitability from high-end products. However, the consolidated operating income is expected to be lower by about 20%, fiscal-on-fiscal at around Rs 1,000 crore. During fiscal 2019, the company exited low-margin vinyl flooring segment and the share of high-margin products such as contract sheet vinyl was increased. Consequently, the operating margin rose to 19% for the first six months of fiscal 2019 vis-Ã' -vis 10%, in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Sustainability of improved profitability will be a key monitorable, given the sequential decline in operating income. The operations remain working capital intensive; however debtors have declined and are estimated at around 90 days as on March 31, 2019, from 105 days, a year earlier.

The financial risk profile remains adequate due to low gearing and adequate debt protection metrics. However, there is a capital expenditure of Rs 700 crore to be incurred in three phases over the next three to five years. The capex is modular in nature and will be incurred depending on the industry scenario. In the first phase, Rs 210 crore capex is committed to be incurred over the next two years and will be entirely funded through internal accruals. During the current fiscal, Rs 140 crore has been extended as advance to the machinery supplier. The capex is for setting up luxury vinyl tile (LVT) capacity in the UAE and the products will compete with hard flooring segments such as ceramic, marble and wood. There is healthy demand for LVT, particularly in export market. However, marketing and distribution expenses are expected to be higher, post commercialisation. Timely implementation of the capex and ramp-up of operations will be a key monitorable over the medium term.

The ratings continue to reflect an established market position in PVC-based products and shipping ropes businesses, and an adequate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by customer concentration in revenue, operating margin susceptible to volatility in foreign exchange (forex) rates and raw material prices and, working capital-intensive operations, and a modest return on capital employed (RoCE).

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Responsive and its subsidiaries, Axiom Cordages Ltd (Axiom) and Responsive, Hong Kong. That's because these companies, together referred to as the Responsive group, have common management and suppliers. CRISIL has also amortised goodwill on consolidation over five fiscals, beginning fiscal 2014.

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 in PVC-based flooring products and shipping ropes businesses: The promoters have extensive experience in the PVC flooring products and shipping ropes industry, and have set up a strong network of dealers, distributors and ship chandlers over the years. The group earns over 90% of revenue from three key business segments: vinyl/PVC flooring, PVC leather cloth, and shipping ropes. It has a strong market position in each of these businesses. It offers a complete range of PVC flooring and sheeting products which has aided in strengthening the position in the domestic market. Through Axiom, shipping ropes are exported to the Middle-East, Eastern Europe, North and South America, and Africa.

* Adequate financial risk profile:  Financial risk profile is supported by comfortable capital structure and adequate debt protection metrics. Entire debt is short-term working capital as the term debt is repaid in fiscal 2019, as per the schedule. In the absence of debt funding for the capex, and moderate working capital management, the gearing is likely to be about 0.2 time over the medium term.

Weaknesses
* Exposure to customer concentration risks: The Responsive group's performance will remain susceptible to the macroeconomic environment over the medium term and its exposure to customer concentration risks. Nearly one-third revenue is from single-customer both in domestic and export market. Operating performance is susceptible to reduction in bulk ordering by clients because of uncertainties in the business environment. However, the management is taking steps to diversify its customer profile. The group also faces competition from large global players in the vinyl flooring segment and from Korean manufacturers in the shipping ropes segment.

* Capital-intensive operations and modest RoCE: The manufacture of vinyl-based products is capital intensive and technology driven, requiring intense ongoing innovation and upgrade. The RoCE has been low in the four fiscals through 2018 and will remain constrained through the capex cycle. Operations continue to be working capital intensive with debtors of 90 days expected as on March 31, 2019.

* Operating margin susceptible to volatility in forex rates and raw material prices: Operating profitability remain exposed to volatile forex rates. Until 2018 margins have fluctuated also due to volatile raw material prices. With exit from highly competitive low-margin segment from the current fiscal, the susceptibility is expected to reduce. The operating margin stood at 19% in the first half of fiscal 2019 compared to 10% in the first half of fiscal 2018). However, sustainability of this improvement will be a monitorable over the medium term.
Liquidity

Liquidity is moderate, supported by unencumbered cash and liquid investments of about Rs 14 crore as on September 30, 2018, at a standalone level, and no term debt obligation.  Liquidity is constrained by a long working capital cycle, with standalone debtors at about 70 days as on September 30, 2018 which has declined from 78 days as on September 30, 2017. The cycle has also stretched due to pending refunds under the goods and services tax. The modest bank limit was utilised at an average of 88% during the 12 months through November 2018. The company has on-going capex plans of Rs 210 crore over the next three years which is expected to be funded through internal accruals.  

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes the Responsive group's business risk profile was impacted with scaling down of its low-margin segment. However, the profit margin improved and its sustainability will be a rating sensitivity factor. The ratings may be downgraded if there is lengthening of working capital cycle, significant debt-funding, time or cost overruns for the capex or lower-than-expected operating margin. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Stable' in case of sustained improvement in the group's business performance while it reduces its receivables, and maintains a comfortable capital.

About the Group

Responsive was incorporated in 1982 in Mumbai (Maharashtra). Its products include PVC flooring, automotive upholstery solutions, fast-moving consumer durables, pharmaceutical packaging, and transparent sheeting. The company has 11 sales offices and more than 300 distribution agents and retailers in 70 countries. Axiom manufactures shipping ropes. The group's facilities are in Boisar near Palghar (Maharashtra).

For the first six months of fiscal 2019, standalone profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 34.7 crore on a net operating revenue of Rs 436.0 crore, against a PAT of Rs 4.3 crore on net operating revenue of Rs 527.7 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
As on/For the period ended March 31 2018 2017
Revenue (net of excise) Rs crore 1,247 2006
Adjusted PAT* Rs crore -3.9 -3.1
Adjusted PAT margin* % -0.31 -0.2
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.3 0.4
Interest coverage Times 7.5 7.8
*Reported PAT is Rs 9.4 crore and Rs 10.2 crore for fiscals 2018 and 2017, respectively. The PAT is adjusted for goodwill amortisation of Rs 13.3 crore

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 180.0 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 60.00 CRISIL A2
 
Annexure - Details of Consolidation
S. No Name of Entity   Consolidation
1 Axiom Cordages Limited Fully consolidated
2 Responsive Industries Ltd, Hong Kong Fully consolidated
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  180.00  CRISIL BBB+/Negative          29-11-17  CRISIL BBB+/Negative  08-11-16  CRISIL A-/Negative  CRISIL A-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  60.00  CRISIL A2          29-11-17  CRISIL A2  08-11-16  CRISIL A2+  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
Cash Credit 180 CRISIL BBB+/Negative Cash Credit 120 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
External Commercial Borrowings 125 Withdrawn External Commercial Borrowings 125 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Letter of Credit 60 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit 120 CRISIL A2
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 205 Withdrawn Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 205 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Total 570 -- Total 570 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Framework for Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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