Rating Rationale
May 11, 2017 | Mumbai
Simplex Castings Limited
Issuer not cooperating, based on best-available information; Rating outlook revised to 'Stable', Ratings removed from 'Notice of Withdrawal'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.136.75 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating; Outlook revised from 'Positive' and rating reaffirmed)*
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating; Outlook revised from 'Positive' and Removed from 'Notice of Withdrawal'; Rating Reaffirmed)*
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating; Removed from 'Notice of Withdrawal' and Rating Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
 
Please note that the rating(s) are based on best available information with the credit rating agency: the entity whose debt is being published via this press release did not provide the requisite information needed to conduct the rating exercise and is therefore classified as 'non cooperative'.

Non Cooperation by Issuer
CRISIL has been consistently following up with Simplex Castings Ltd (SCL) for obtaining information through letters and emails dated January 24, 2017, March 7, 2017 and March 30, 2017, among others, apart from telephonic communication. However, the issuer has remained non-cooperative.

'The investors, lenders and all other market participants should exercise due caution while using the rating assigned/reviewed with the suffix 'ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'. These ratings lack a forward looking component as it is arrived at without any management interaction and is based on best available or limited or dated information on the company.'  
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the cash credit, corporate loan and long term loan of SCL to 'Stable' from 'Positive' and reaffirmed the rating at 'CRISIL BB+'. CRISIL has also removed the ratings on the working capital bank facilities (cash credit/bank guarantee/letter of credit/foreign exchange forward) from 'Notice of Withdrawal' in line with its revised withdrawal policy and has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BB+/CRISIL A4+' ratings to the facilities.

The outlook revision on the cash credit, corporate loan and long term loan reflects weaker-than-expected performance, as a decline in profitability and stretched receivables resulted in lower-than-expected net cash accrual. The operating margin declined sharply to 10.3% in fiscal 2016 from 14% in the previous fiscal. Consequently, net cash accrual was significantly lower-than-expected, at Rs 9 crore in fiscal 2016. Also, receivables have stretched significantly as reflected in debtors outstanding for over six months increasing sharply to Rs 11.5 crore as on March 31, 2016, from Rs 2.61 crore a year earlier. The operating margin improved marginally to 12.14%, while net cash accrual remained lower than expected at Rs 6.49 crore, in the three quarters ended December 31, 2016. Sustainable improvement in the operating margin while the working capital cycle is efficiently managed will be a key monitorable over the medium term.

The ratings reflect the extensive experience of the promoters in the steel castings and fabrication business, an established relationship with customers and suppliers, and a moderate financial risk profile supported by a comfortable capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations, and susceptibility to demand from end-user industries and to volatility in raw material prices.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive industry experience of the promoters:
An experience of over four decades in the steel castings, forgings and fabrication business has helped the promoters develop a healthy customer and supplier relationship, resulting in repeat orders from customers and substantial credit from suppliers.

* Moderate financial risk profile: The capital structure is comfortable with networth and gearing of Rs 80.73 crore and 0.91 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2016. Debt protection metrics were average with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 2.05 times and 0.12 time respectively for fiscal 2016.

Weakness

* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets were high at 224 days as on March 31, 2016, driven largely by inventory of 102 days and debtors of 118 days.

* Susceptibility to demand from end-user industries and to volatile raw material prices: Performance remains susceptible to demand from the key end-user industries of steel, railways, engineering and defence. Also, the operating margin is vulnerable to volatility in raw material prices as the entire price increase cannot be passed on to customers due to limited bargaining power
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes SCL will continue to benefit from the extensive industry experience of its promoters. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if significant and sustainable improvement in profitability, along with efficient working capital management, leads to high cash accrual. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of weakening of the financial risk profile, particularly liquidity, because of low cash accrual, a stretched working capital cycle, or any unanticipated debt-funded capital expenditure. 

About the Company

SCL, promoted by Mr Ketan Shah and his family, was established as a partnership firm in 1971 and was reconstituted as a private limited company in 1980, and then as a public limited company in 1993. The company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. It manufactures heavy engineering castings in grey cast iron, alloy cast iron, and stainless steel, which find application in industries such as railways, steel, oil and gas, power, and defence.

Profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 3.56 crore on operating income of Rs 207.4 crore in fiscal 2016, as against PAT of Rs 1.19 crore on operating income of Rs 167.9 crore in fiscal 2015.

For the nine-months ended December 31, 2016, PAT was Rs 1.35 crore on operating income of Rs 130.7 crore.

Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA:
The ratings were suspended by CARE Ltd on Dec 30, 2016. The reason provided by CARE Limited is absence of the requisite information from the company.

SCL has not provided required information for carrying out a review of the rating and hence Brickworks ratings was unable to carry out surveillance due to non-availability of information, despite follow 'up.

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 23 CRISIL A4+/Issuer not Cooperating
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 55 CRISIL BB+/Stable/Issuer not Cooperating
NA Corporate Loan NA NA Apr-2020 20 CRISIL BB+/Stable/Issuer not Cooperating
NA Foreign Exchange Forward NA NA NA 0.8 CRISIL A4+/Issuer not Cooperating
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 32 CRISIL A4+/Issuer not Cooperating
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Not Available 5.95 CRISIL BB+/Stable/Issuer not Cooperating
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  81.75  CRISIL BB+/Stable/ CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*    No Rating Change  12-04-16  CRISIL BB+/Positive/ CRISIL A4+  09-10-15  CRISIL BB+/Stable/ CRISIL A4+    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  55  CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  09-10-15  CRISIL A4+    --  -- 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 23 CRISIL A4+/Issuer Not Cooperating Bank Guarantee 23 CRISIL A4+(Notice of Withdrawal)
Cash Credit 55 CRISIL BB+/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating Cash Credit 55 CRISIL BB+/Positive(Notice of Withdrawal)
Corporate Loan 20 CRISIL BB+/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating Corporate Loan 20 CRISIL BB+/Positive
Foreign Exchange Forward .8 CRISIL A4+/Issuer Not Cooperating Foreign Exchange Forward .8 CRISIL A4+(Notice of Withdrawal)
Letter of Credit 32 CRISIL A4+/Issuer Not Cooperating Letter of Credit 32 CRISIL A4+(Notice of Withdrawal)
Long Term Loan 5.95 CRISIL BB+/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating Long Term Loan 5.95 CRISIL BB+/Positive
Total 136.75 -- Total 136.75 --
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
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
Criteria for rating Short-Term Debt (including Commercial Paper)

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