Rating Rationale
January 07, 2020 | Mumbai
Sarda Energy and Minerals Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.876.4 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.735 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 to the bank loan facilities of Sarda Energy and Minerals Limited (SEML; part of the Sarda group).
 
The ratings continue to reflect Sarda group's established market position supported by diversified revenue streams and integrated operations, and a healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to the cyclical nature of the steel and ferro alloys industry and large investment in associate entities.
 
During the first half of fiscal 2020, on a standalone basis, SEML had reported  profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 121 crore on total revenue of Rs 802 crore, against a PAT of Rs 111 crore on total revenue of Rs 861 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The operating margins were impacted on account of declining realisations amid downturn in steel cycle, however the PAT margin improved due to SEML exercising the option of adopting new tax regime leading to lower tax outgo. Sarda Metals and Alloys Limited (SMAL; rated CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+) operating performance during first half of fiscal was also impacted due to 15 days maintenance shutdown in June 2019 and closure of one furnace for repairing the furnace lining from September 2019 to end of November 2019.
 
Though the group's profitability moderated during the first half of fiscal 2020, financial risk profile remained healthy. Any further moderation in profitability and/or cash accruals would be sensitive to ratings and, thus, would be a key monitorable.
 
As on December 20, 2019, SEML has infused its entire equity commitment in the ongoing 96 MW hydro power project undertaken under Madhya Bharat Power Corporation Limited (MBPCL). The project is expected to achieve commercial operation date (COD) in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and total project debt in MBPCL is expected to reach around Rs 930 crore at the time of COD.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profile of SEML and SMAL together referred to as the Sarda group. SMAL is a fully owned subsidiary of SEML and both are engaged in similar businesses. Further, SEML has guaranteed Rs 60.0 crore debt of SMAL and has also provided support to the latter through unsecured loans in the past. CRISIL has also moderately consolidated SEML's subsidiaries MBPCL and Chhattisgarh Hydro Power LLP (CHP LLP) owing to expected equity infusion in these entities to support projects over the medium term. The remaining subsidiaries, joint ventures, and controlled entities are treated as financial investments.
 
Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position: The Sarda group is one of the largest manufacturers of manganese-based ferroalloys in India and caters to both the domestic as well as global markets. This is supported by the extensive industry experience of the promoters and qualified management. Revenue is diversified across sale of intermediate and finished steel products, ferroalloys, and surplus power from the captive power plant. Product mix is backed by the ability to manufacture different grades of steel products and niche-grade manganese-based ferroalloy products.
 
* Integrated nature of operations: Operations are backward integrated with a captive iron-ore mine that meets 40-50% of the total iron ore requirement and a captive power plant that meets 100% of the total power requirement, leading to high operational efficiency. Surplus power generated is sold to state distribution companies or traded on the Indian Energy Exchange. Flexibility of changing the revenue mix within intermediate steel products and final products, as well power sales helps in successfully manoeuvring business cycles and sustaining the operating margin. Bulk procurement of raw materials for the group saves raw material cost. Similarly, proximity of SMAL to Vishakhapatnam port saves logistics cost and helps target global markets. This is also reflected in the stable and healthy operating margin of around 14% during the downturn in fiscal 2016.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Debt protection metrics were healthy, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios estimated at 5.9 times and 0.4 time, respectively, for fiscal 2019. The capital structure is also strong, with gearing at 0.43 time as on March 31, 2019. The financial risk profile is expected to be sustained over the medium term in the absence of any major debt-funded capital expenditure (capex)/investment plans.
 
Weaknesses
* Exposure to cyclicality in the steel and ferro-alloy industry: The industry is closely linked to the domestic and global economy, as growth depends upon the level of construction and infrastructure activities. Any downturn in the economic cycle adversely impacts demand as seen during fiscal 2016. Furthermore, any changes in government policies on imports/exports also affects the industry as exports contribute 20-30% of the group's turnover. In addition to the demand risk, the industry also remains exposed to volatility in raw material prices and finished product realisations, which can impact the operating margin. The prices are largely subject to global commodity prices. However, this is partially offset by the integrated nature of operations, favourable domestic industry scenario, flexibility in changing the revenue mix between steel and steel intermediates, ferroalloys and power, and ability to pass through the change in raw material prices to customers. Any significant change in the demand and pricing scenario will remain a key monitorable.
 
* Significant investment in associate entities: Equity investments in subsidiaries (excluding SMAL), joint ventures and controlled entities as on March 31, 2019 were around Rs 453 crore; the investments are largely in unrelated businesses such as hydro power segment, with weaker credit risk profiles as well as back-ended returns. Time and cost overruns in MBPCL have constrained the return on investment. Further investments are envisaged in MBPCL for the completion of the project and in CHP LLP for expansion during fiscal 2020 and 2021. Management has articulated that no major capex will be undertaken by the group till MBPCL project is operational. Higher-than-expected investments or funding support through loans and advances will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.
Liquidity Strong

Sarda group's liquidity is strong with expected net cash accruals of Rs 250-300 crore each in fiscals 2020 and 2021 as against maturing debt of Rs 54 crore in fiscal 2020 (residual debt repayment of Rs 15 crore in FY20) and Rs 61 crore in fiscal 2021. Net cash accruals (NCA) are adequate even after factoring investment plans in the group entities during fiscal 2020 and 2021. Average bank limit utilisation was 65% during the 12 months through October 2019. Cash and bank balance of over Rs 100 crore as on September 30, 2019 also supports liquidity.

Outlook: Stable

The operating performance is likely to be sustained over the medium term due to the established market position, integrated operations, and strong financial risk profile.
 
Rating sensitivity factors:
Upward factors:
* Sustenance of operating margin at over 22% combined with steady growth in revenue leading to higher than expected net cash accruals.
* Liquidity improving on account of reduced exposure to related entities along with further improvement in working capital cycle.
 
Downward factors:
* Sustained decline in operating profitability to below 16% due to lower operating income or higher operating cost thus resulting into lower than expected net cash accruals.
* Higher than expected exposure towards related entities or higher than expected debt funded capital expenditure weakening debt protection metrics and liquidity
* Stretch in working capital cycle.

About the Group

Based in Chhattisgarh, the Sarda group is promoted by Mr Kamal Kishore Sarda, who manages operations along with his son, Mr Pankaj Sarda, with the help of professionals. It manufactures iron pellets, sponge iron, billets, wire rods, and wires, along with ferroalloys and eco- friendly fly ash brick. The group has thermal power plants and a waste-heat recovery boiler to generate power that is largely used for captive consumption.
 
SEML, incorporated in 1973, is the flagship company of the group. It is a vertically integrated producer of steel with captive iron ore mines and also manufactures and exports niche-grade manganese-based ferroalloys, with self-sufficient captive power from waste heat and coal. SMAL, incorporated in October 2008, is a wholly owned subsidiary of SEML and operates a 2 x 33-megavolt ampere ferroalloy plant backed by an 80-megawatt captive thermal power plant. The group also has interests in hydropower projects through special project vehicles, MBPCL and CHP LLP.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 2278 2140
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 221 204
PAT margin % 9.7 9.6
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.43 0.58
Interest coverage Times 5.91 5.20

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 Term Loan NA NA Mar - 2024 36.29 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar - 2024 36.29 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar - 2024 10.62 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Jun - 2025 32.85 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar - 2026 91.35 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Dec - 2024 50.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA N 187.67 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Short Term Loan NA NA N 20.00 CRISIL A1
NA Letter of Credit NA NA N 292.90 CRISIL A1
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA N 38.50 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA N 79.93 CRISIL A+/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Name of the entity Extent of consolidation
Sarda Metals and Alloys Limited Full Consolidation
Madhya Bharat Power Corporation Limited Moderate Consolidation
Chhattisgarh Hydro Power LLP Moderate Consolidation
Sarda Energy & Minerals Hongkong Limited Financial Investment
Sarda Global Ventures Pte. Limited Financial Investment
Sarda Global Trading DMCC Financial Investment
Sarda Energy Limited Financial Investment
Parvatiya Power Limited Financial Investment
Sarda Hydro Power LLP Financial Investment
Natural Resources Energy Private Limited Financial Investment
Shri Ram Electricity LLP Financial Investment
Raipur Infrastructure Company Limited Financial Investment
Madanpur South Coal Company Limited Financial Investment
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  545.00  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1      20-05-19  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1    --    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  331.40  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1      20-05-19  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1    --    --  -- 
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 38.5 CRISIL A+/Stable Bank Guarantee 38.5 CRISIL A+/Stable
Cash Credit 187.67 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit 187.67 CRISIL A+/Stable
Letter of Credit 292.9 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 292.9 CRISIL A1
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 79.93 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Bank Guarantee 6.5 CRISIL A+/Stable
Short Term Loan 20 CRISIL A1 Proposed Cash Credit Limit 4.18 CRISIL A+/Stable
Term Loan 257.4 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15.78 CRISIL A+/Stable
-- 0 -- Short Term Loan 60 CRISIL A1
-- 0 -- Term Loan 129.47 CRISIL A+/Stable
Total 876.4 -- Total 735 --
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 Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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