Rating Rationale
September 22, 2017 | Mumbai
SRF Limited
Rated amount enhanced 
 
Rating Action
Rs.300 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.300 Crore Commercial Paper (Enhanced From Rs.50 Crore) CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the commercial paper, while enhancing the rated amount to Rs 300 crore and 'CRISIL AA+/Stable' rating on the Rs 300-crore non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of SRF Limited (SRF).

CRISIL had assigned its 'CRISIL AA+/Stable' rating to non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and 'CRISIL A1+' rating to commercial paper in June 2017. The ratings reflect the strong business risk profile, driven by market leadership, diversified revenue, and superior operating efficiency. The ratings also factor in a 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.

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 its extensive experience in handling fluorine gas, the company is the sole producer of some key refrigerants in the country. In the fluoro-specialities segment (under chemicals and polymer [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 the technical textiles (TT) business, the company is the largest player in India. Its market position in the packing films (PF) business is supported by large capacity and high volume of specialised products. CRISIL believes 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 (39% of revenue in fiscal 2017), CP business (33%), and PF business (27%). The company's management has successfully diversified geographical presence through investments and acquisitions in the TT and PF businesses. The diversified revenue stream protects against a downswing in any one business, and keeps operating margin stable. This was evident in fiscal 2017, when, despite a fall in the EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) margin in the CP business to 19% from 24% in the previous fiscal, the overall EBIT margin of SRF remained steady, at 15% (16% in fiscal 2016). The EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) margin also remained stable, at 20.1% in fiscal 2017, compared to 20.9% in the previous fiscal. The margin, which reduced to 13% in fiscal 2014 from 21% in fiscal 2012 due to discontinuation of clean development mechanism, has been supported in the recent past by strong performance in the three business verticals. 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. 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 Rs 3040 crore as on March 31, 2017, and comfortable gearing of 0.75 time and debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.87 times. The gearing is expected to remain below 1.0 time and debt/EBITDA is expected to moderate to 2.0 times over the medium term, despite regular capital expenditure (capex). Low cost of borrowings and moderate gearing kept the interest coverage ratio well over 5.0 times in the past three fiscals. SRF has healthy liquidity, driven by a large consolidated cash and bank balance of Rs 300 crore as on March 31, 2017, ample annual cash accrual of Rs 700 crore in fiscal 2017, and working capital lines of Rs 825 crore, which were 30% utilised, on average, over the 12 months ended December 31, 2016. The 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 2017 and the first quarter of fiscal 2018, with the EBIT margin remaining at 19% and 15%, respectively, as against 24% in fiscal 2016. Nonetheless, the segment will remain a focus area for growth.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes SRF's business risk profile will remain strong supported by its market leadership and healthy operating efficiency. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if there is a significant increase in revenue and profitability, while financial risk profile remains strong. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if operating margin declines significantly, or if any large, debt-funded expansion weakens the capital structure.

About the Company

The company was set up 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, 2 in South Africa, and 2 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
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. Cr. 4,823  4,600 
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 515  423 
PAT Margins % 10.7 9.2
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.83  1.07 
Interest coverage Times 10.03  7.68 

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 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 300 CRISIL A1+
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  300  CRISIL A1+  02-06-17  CRISIL A1+    --    --    --  -- 
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  300  CRISIL AA+/Stable  02-06-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable    --    --    --  -- 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Criteria for rating Short-Term Debt (including Commercial Paper)

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