Rating Rationale
July 27, 2018 | Mumbai
The KCP Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Positive'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.879.19 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Positive (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.70 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL A-/Positive (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Rs.125 Crore Fixed Deposits FA/Positive (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
 
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facilities, non-convertible debentures, and fixed deposits of The KCP Limited (part of the KCP group) to 'Positive' from 'Stable', while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL A-/FA'; the short-term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A2+'.
 
The outlook revision reflects expected improvement in the group's operating performance driven by healthy cash generation from the expanded capacities in the cement and sugar segments. The group is expected to commission its brownfield cement capacity during the second-half of fiscal 2019, while the expanded sugar capacity was commissioned in January 2018. The company is nearing an end to its capex cycle with the commissioning of these plants. Furthermore, capex being incurred for the brownfield expansion of the cement capacity is lower than earlier estimated as the group is not incurring capex for railway siding. Hence, while debt level will peak during mid-fiscal 2019, it will decline thereafter.
 
The rating continue to reflect the KCP group's established track record in the cement segment in South India and the sugar sector in Vietnam, and adequate financial risk profile because of healthy gearing and debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by sub-par performance of the engineering and hotel divisions, susceptibility to business cycles and continuing demand-supply mismatch in South India's cement markets.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of The KCP Ltd, KCP Vietnam Industries Ltd (KCP Vietnam), and joint venture, Fives Cail KCP Ltd. This is because the three entities, collectively referred to as the KCP group, have common management and financial links.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established track record in the cement and sugar businesses: The cement business witnessed volume growth of around 24% in fiscal 2018. Overall sales from this segment increased to Rs 951 crore in fiscal 2018 from Rs 848 crore in fiscal 2017. Operating profit declined to Rs 693 per tonne in fiscal 2018 from Rs 813 per tonne in fiscal 2017 because of lower realisations (in line with prices in South India) and increase in fuel and freight costs. Over the medium term, the cement division is expected to benefit from volume increase in South India due to higher infrastructure spending in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
 
The group's brownfield expansion programme, at an estimated cost of Rs 350 crore, will increase cement capacity by 1.66 million tonne per annum (mtpa) at its unit in Muktyala, Andhra Pradesh; project also includes a clinker unit of 1.55 mtpa. Overall capacity of the group will increase to 4.2 mtpa post commissioning of the brownfield capacity, from 2.52 mtpa as on March 31, 2018.
 
The group also expanded its sugar capacity to 11,000 tonnes crushed per day (tcd) from 9,000 tcd in January 2018. Revenue from this segment increased by 10% in fiscal 2018, led by higher sales volume due to better quality and recovery rates of cane crushed. However, realizations declined with decrease in global prices. The group will continue to benefit over the medium term from its steady revenue and profitability from the sugar division and expected improvement in demand outlook in the cement segment.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is backed by steady cash accrual, healthy capital structure, and comfortable debt protection metrics. Gearing was comfortable at 0.63 time as on March 31, 2018. Despite debt-funded capacity expansion, debt protection metrics were robust because of healthy operating margin and cash accrual: interest coverage and net cash accrual to debt ratios are expected to remain over 5 times and 0.30 time, respectively, over the medium term.
 
Weakness
* Weak performance of the engineering and hotel businesses: The engineering and capital goods industry is highly vulnerable to economic cycles on account of its links with the capex plans of customers, which are in turn affected by slowdown in industrial growth. Despite healthy order book, profitability of the engineering division is expected to remain subdued due to intense competition. The group is also present in the hotel industry, where it has been able to ramp up occupancy levels. While performance in both these segments is likely to improve gradually, high fixed cost will continue to pose risks to profitability over the medium term.
 
* Demand-supply mismatch in South Indias cement industry: Demand in South India grew by a mere 2.5-3.5% year-on-year in fiscal 2018, mainly because of de-growth in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. However, the group's key markets of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana registered healthy growth on the back of high spend on infrastructure development in capital city of Andhra Pradesh. Demand for cement in South India is expected to clock a compound annual growth rate of 5.5-6.5% during fiscals 2018-23.
Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes the KCP group's business risk profile will benefit over the medium term from improving cash generation from enhanced facilities in the sugar and cement divisions. Furthermore, debt levels are expected to decline with completion of capex and debt repayment.
 
Upside scenario
* Higher-than-anticipated sales growth while maintaining diversity in revenue
* Consistent improvement in adjusted gearing and debt protection metrics
* Significant increase in cash generation
 
Downside scenario
* Deterioration in business risk profile due to slower-than-anticipated sales in the cement and sugar divisions
* Higher losses in the engineering or hotel businesses weakening credit metrics
* Weakening of capital structure resulting from increased capex or any cost or time overrun in ongoing capacity expansion.

About the Company

The KCP group was founded in 1941 by Mr V Ramakrishna, a first-generation entrepreneur who began operations by setting up a sugar unit. The cement division commenced operations in 1958 and currently, the group has two units: one each in Macherla, Guntur district (capacity of 0.66 mtpa) and Muktyala, Krishna district (1.86 mtpa); Andhra Pradesh. The heavy engineering division, set up in 1955 at Tiruvottiyur in Chennai, undertakes casting, fabrication, and machining of heavy equipment for core industries (sugar, cement, steel, and power).
 
KCP Vietnam, which began operations in 1999, has capacity of 11,000 tcd. The group has also set up a 128-room four-star hotel in Hyderabad that began operations in April 2016.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Units 2018  2017
Revenue Rs. Cr. 1,467 1,212
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. 112 97
PAT Margin % 7.6 8.0
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.63 0.63
Interest coverage Times 6.17 4.57
 

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 31.03.2018 6.47 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loan^ NA NA 30.09.2017 3.54 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loan NA NA 28.02.2022 42.64 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loan^ NA NA 31.03.2018 12.71 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loan NA NA 31.03.2022 49.75 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loan NA NA 30.06.2019 6.81 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loan NA NA 31.03.2021 44.80 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loan NA NA 31.12.2020 30.00 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Term Loans# NA NA NA 45.00 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Non-Convertible debenture* NA NA NA 70.00 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 101.00 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 94.50 CRISIL A2+
NA Proposed Term Loan NA NA NA 35.00 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Short Term Loan NA NA NA 20.00 CRISIL A2+
NA Proposed Long term bank loan facility NA NA NA 386.97 CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Fixed Deposits NA NA NA 125.00 FA/Positive
^CRISIL is awaiting independent confirmation of redemption before withdrawing ratings on these instruments
*Yet to be issued
#Not yet availed
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
Fixed Deposits  FD  125.00  FA/Positive      31-07-17  FA/Stable  05-07-16  FA/Stable  08-04-15  FA-/Stable  FA-/Negative 
                04-04-16  FA-/Positive  31-03-15  FA-/Stable   
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  0.00
27-07-18 
CRISIL A-/Positive      31-07-17  CRISIL A-/Stable  05-07-16  CRISIL A-/Stable  08-04-15  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  CRISIL BBB+/Negative 
                04-04-16  CRISIL BBB+/Positive  31-03-15  CRISIL BBB+/Stable   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  784.69  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A2+      31-07-17  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  05-07-16  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  08-04-15  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2  CRISIL BBB+/Negative/ CRISIL A2 
                04-04-16  CRISIL BBB+/Positive/ CRISIL A2  31-03-15  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  94.50  CRISIL A2+      31-07-17  CRISIL A2+  05-07-16  CRISIL A2+  08-04-15  CRISIL A2  CRISIL A2 
                04-04-16  CRISIL A2  31-03-15  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 101 CRISIL A-/Positive Cash Credit 101 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 94.5 CRISIL A2+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 94.5 CRISIL A2+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 386.97 CRISIL A-/Positive Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 386.97 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Term Loan 35 CRISIL A-/Positive Proposed Term Loan 35 CRISIL A-/Stable
Short Term Loan 20 CRISIL A2+ Short Term Loan 20 CRISIL A2+
Term Loan 241.72 CRISIL A-/Positive Term Loan 241.72 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 879.19 -- Total 879.19 --
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 Cement Industry
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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