Rating Rationale
October 30, 2024 | Mumbai
Aditya Ultra Steel Limited
'CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+ ' assigned to Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.75 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Stable (Assigned)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Assigned)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

 

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has assigned its ‘CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+’ ratings to the bank facilities of Aditya Ultra Steel Limited (AUSL).

 

The ratings reflect the extensive industry experience of the promoters of AUSL along with benefits derived by the company from association with established brand, Kamdhenu, and moderate scale of operation, efficient working capital cycle and above average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices, and vulnerability to cyclicality in the infrastructure and real estate sectors and financial risk profile exposed to contingent liabilities.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has taken a standalone approach for arriving at the ratings of AUSL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the promoters, established brand position and moderate scale of operations: The promoters have more than three decades of experience, through group entities engaged in similar industry. Since the takeover of AUSL’s operations in fiscal 2017, its scale has significantly increased, backed by the industry acumen of the promoters and continuous focus on improving efficiency of the manufacturing facility. The company sells its products under the Kamdhenu brand, which is an established domestic thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) bar brand. Benefits from the well-established dealer network and marketing support provided has helped Kamdhenu in establishing its presence in Tier-3 cities of Gujarat. The company is the sole supplier of Kamdhenu TMT bars in Gujarat. The scale of operations registered a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% through the three fiscals ended 2024 backed by improvement in quantity sold at healthy price realisation for TMT bars though the same declined marginally in fiscal 2024 with revenue of Rs 587.80 crore against Rs 530.45 crore achieved in fiscal 2023. Going forward, revenue will improve owing to higher demand, with improved performance driven by higher construction activity and stabilising prices, revenue is expected to grow 16-17% for fiscals 2025 and 2026.

 

  • Efficient working capital cycle: The working capital cycle is efficient as reflected in gross current assets (GCAs) of 42-68 days over the three fiscals ended March 31, 2024. GCAs have remained healthy driven by efficient inventory policy and debtors’ collection cycle. AUSL offers maximum credit of 7-10 days to its customers (Kamdhenu distribution network) resulting in minimal debtors' level. However, higher sales during the last month of the fiscal led to an increase in debtor level as on March 31, 2024. A moderate inventory of around a month is maintained driven by different sizes of bars being stocked as per business requirements. Inventory days are expected to remain at 30-40 over the medium term. Minimal credit of 20-40 days is received from local suppliers. Going forward, the working capital cycle is expected to remain moderate over the medium term.

 

  • Above average financial risk profile: Limited reliance on external funds yielded a gearing of 1.48 times and total outside liabilities to adjusted tangible networth (TOL/ANW) ratio of 2.7 times as on March 31, 2024. Post listing, the networth is expected to strengthen with additional capital of around Rs 42 crore and gearing would improve to below 0.40 time and TOL/TNW to remain below 1 time over the medium term. In the absence of large debt funded capital expenditure (capex), the financial risk profile should remain comfortable owing to steady accretion to profits and scheduled debt repayment. Debt protection measures are adequate as reflected in interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 2.84 times and 0.17 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2024. Debt protection measures are expected to improve over the medium term, backed by an expected increase in overall profitability and reduction on debt reliance.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices, and vulnerability to cyclicality in the infrastructure and real estate sectors: Cost of production and profit margin are heavily dependent on raw material prices (sponge iron and mild steel scrap). On account of the variation in raw material prices, operating margin has also been volatile. Furthermore, profitability is linked to the fortunes of the inherently cyclical steel industry, which has a strong correlation with overall growth in gross domestic product (GDP). Operating margin remained volatile at 1.85-3.11% in the five fiscals ended 2024 with 3.11% operating margin in fiscal 2024. However, it is expected to improve over the medium term, with softening in steel prices and with the installation of captive power plant. However, operating performance is expected to remain susceptible to volatility in raw material prices and offtake by key users.

 

  • Financial risk profile exposed to contingent liabilities: AUSL is exposed to contingent liabilities including corporate guarantees provided to group companies. The total contingent liabilities with respect to corporate guarantees as on March 31, 2024, is Rs 70.98 crore extended to VMS TMT Pvt Ltd. Though the same is expected to release, any crystallisation of contingent liabilities will impact the financial risk profile adversely as the company is expected to generate net cash accrual of Rs 12-15 crore over the medium term. Hence, financial risk profile will remain exposed considering this potential debt obligation.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilisation averaged 69% for the 12 months ended September 2024 (Fund Base + Non-Fund Base). Expected cash accrual of Rs 11 crore is sufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 4.2 crore for fiscal 2025. In addition, it will act as cushion to the liquidity of the company. Current ratio is moderate at 1.27 times as on March 31, 2024. Cash and bank balance was healthy around Rs 3.77 crore as on March 31, 2024. Moderate gearing supports financial flexibility, which helps to withstand adverse conditions or downturns in the business.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes the group will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters, and established relationships with clients.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sustained increase in revenue by 20% and operating margin over 3.7%, leading to higher cash accrual
  • Improvement in the financial risk profile with sustenance of working capital cycle

 

Downward factors

  • Decline in revenue or profitability margin, leading to net cash accrual lower than Rs 6 crore.
  • Large debt-funded capital expenditure weakens capital structure
  • Increase in its working capital requirements thus weakening the liquidity and financial risk profiles.

About the Company

AUSL was incorporated in 2011. The company is engaged in the manufacture of TMT bars. The company manufactures TMT bars from billets in a reheating furnace and a rolling mill, mainly catering to the construction industry and infrastructure development. The company's manufacturing facility is in Rajkot, Gujarat and has a production capacity of 1,08,000 metric ton for TMT bars. The company is managed by Mr Manoj Jain and his son, Mr Varun Jain.

Key Financial Indicators – CRISIL Ratings Adjusted numbers

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs crore

587.80

531.57

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

7.69

3.70

PAT margins

%

1.31

0.70

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

1.48

1.76

Interest coverage

Times

2.84

2.47

 

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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) Complexity Levels Rating Outstanding with Outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1.50 NA CRISIL A3+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 46.65 NA CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 25.00 NA CRISIL A3+
NA Working Capital Term Loan NA NA 07-Mar-27 1.85 NA CRISIL BBB/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 48.5 CRISIL BBB/Stable 24-07-24 Withdrawn (Issuer Not Cooperating)*   -- 30-12-22 CRISIL BB+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* 26-10-21 CRISIL BBB-/Stable CRISIL BBB-/Stable
      -- 16-02-24 CRISIL B /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*   --   -- 30-03-21 CRISIL BB+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 26.5 CRISIL A3+   --   --   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 1.5 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A3+
Cash Credit 46.65 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Stable
Letter of Credit 25 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A3+
Working Capital Term Loan 1.85 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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