Rating Rationale
July 06, 2018 | Mumbai
SRF Limited
Rated amount enhanced  
 
Rating Action
Rs.300 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.400 Crore Commercial Paper (Enhanced from Rs.300 Crore) CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL's ratings on the debt instruments of SRF Limited (SRF) continue to reflect its strong business risk profile, driven by market leadership, diversified revenue, and superior operating efficiency. The ratings also factor in strong financial risk profile because of healthy cash accrual, robust networth, and comfortable gearing. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to low return from the fluoro-specialties segment (currently capital intensive), in which the company continues to invest.

During fiscal 2018, the company incurred one of its largest capital expenditures (capex) ever, which coupled with lower earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) led to moderation in the financial risk profile. This capex was primarily towards setting up facilities for the chemicals and polymer (CP) business (including fluoro-speciality and chloromethanes) and the Packaging Films business (PF). Thus, debt to EBITDA ratio increased to 3.25 times as on March 31, 2018, which is significantly higher than previous expectations. Nonetheless, since a large part of this capex was incurred during second half of fiscal 2018, benefits from this will be visible from fiscal 2019. This coupled with continuing healthy performance in refrigerants, technical textile (TT) business, and packing films (PF) business (PF) will keep financial risk profile strong. Debt to EBITDA ratio is expected to improve and remain between 2.6 to 3.0 times for fiscal 2019, and will remain a key monitorable.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of SRF and all its subsidiaries, as all the entities have the same management and operate in similar businesses.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Market leadership
SRF is the market leader in most of its businesses. Due to extensive experience in handling fluorine gas, it is the sole producer of some key refrigerants in the country. In the fluoro-specialities segment (under CP business), continuous investment in research & development (R&D), and improved manufacturing capability have made SRF a one-of-its-kind player exporting from India products, which find application in pharma and agro-based chemicals. In TT business, the company is the largest player in India. Its market position in the PF business is supported by large capacity and high volume of value-added products. SRF will sustain its healthy market share, given its leadership position, established track record, and large R&D capability leading to technical expertise.

* Diversified revenue and superior operating efficiency
SRF has a diversified revenue profile, with presence in the TT business (37% of revenue in fiscal 2018), CP business (32%), and PF business (31%). The management has successfully diversified geographical presence through investments in the PF businesses. The diversified revenue stream protects against downswing in any one business, and keeps operating margin steady. Furthermore, cost efficiency measures in the TT and PF businesses, strong R&D capability in fluoro-specialities, and market leadership in refrigerants has kept margins higher than that of peers. EBITDA margin though moderated to 17.3% in fiscal 2018 (20.8% in fiscal 2017) remained healthy due to slowdown in the specialty chemicals business. Nonetheless, SRF's operating performance will likely remain stable over the medium term, supported by diversity in revenue.

* Strong financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is backed by robust networth of about Rs 3,500 crore as on March 31, 2018, and comfortable gearing of 0.91 times. Though debt to EBITDA ratio increased to 3.25 times in fiscal 2018 (2.87 previous year), this has been primarily due to one of the largest ever capex incurred, especially in the CP business. With benefits from capex accruing, debt to EBITDA ratio is expected to improve and remain between 2.6 to 3.0 times for fiscal 2019 and will remain a key monitorable.

Gearing is expected to remain below 1.0 time. Low cost of borrowing and moderate gearing has kept the interest coverage ratio well over 7.0 times in the past three fiscals. SRF has healthy liquidity, driven by a large consolidated cash and bank balance of Rs 200 crore and ample annual cash accrual of about Rs 700 crore during fiscal 2018. Liquidity is further supported by working capital lines of Rs 825 crore which remain largely unutilized. Financial risk profile will likely remain strong over the medium term, backed by healthy cash accrual, comfortable gearing, and ample liquidity.

Weakness
* Susceptibility to low return in fluoro-specialties segment
The company is continuously incurring capex in its fluoro-speciality segment (under the CP business) to expand manufacturing facilities, and bolster R&D capabilities. Over the past five years, the CP business has accounted for 50% of the total capital employed and 60% of capex, driven primarily by capex in fluoro-specialities. However, the profitability of a molecule in this segment depends on successful commercialisation and acceptability. Furthermore, existing inventory with overseas agri-players resulted in lower growth for the fluoro-speciality segment, and low operating profitability of the CP business in fiscal 2018. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margin for this segment was 16% as against 24% in fiscal 2016. Nonetheless, the segment will remain a focus area for growth.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes SRF will continue to benefit from market leadership and healthy operating efficiency.

Upside scenario
* Significant increase in revenue and profitability with strong financial risk profile

Downside scenario
* Delay in improvement of operating profitability or large, debt-funded expansion, which adversely effects the Debt to EBITDA ratio.

About the Company

The company was established in 1970 as Shri Ram Fibres by Mr Arun Bharat Ram, and got its present name in 1990. It is a part of the Shri Ram group of companies. SRF has 11 manufacturing units in India, two in South Africa, and two in Thailand, with sales spread across 75 countries.

SRF is primarily present in the TT, CP, and PF business verticals. Under the TT segment, the company manufactures tyre cord fabrics, belting fabrics, coated fabrics and industrial yarns. In the CP segment, it manufactures fluoro-chemicals, fluoro-speciality chemicals, and engineering plastics.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 5,595 4,823
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 462 515
PAT Margin % 8.3 10.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.91 0.83
Interest coverage Times 8.05 10.03
*Based on audited financial for quarter and year ended March 31, 2018

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
INE647A07033 Non-Convertible Debentures 30-Jun-2017 7.33% 30-Jun-2020 300.0 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 400.0 CRISIL A1+
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
Commercial Paper  ST  400.00  CRISIL A1+      22-09-17  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
            02-06-17  CRISIL A1+           
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  300.00
06-07-18 
CRISIL AA+/Stable      22-09-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable    --    --  -- 
            02-06-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable           
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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