Rating Rationale
June 28, 2019 | Mumbai
Blue Star Limited
Rating reaffirmed  
Rating Action
Rs.500 Crore Commercial Paper 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 to the commercial paper programme of Blue Star Limited (BSL).
 
The rating reflects BSL's healthy business risk profile driven by its diversified revenue profile from Electro-mechanical projects (EMP) and unitary products (UP) segments. The ratings factor in the BSL's market leadership position in the EMP segment and the increasing market share in the UP segment along with its healthy financial risk profile marked high networth and strong debt protection metrics. These rating strengths are partially offset by susceptibility of operating performance in EMP segment to cyclical demand in end-user industries and working capital intensive operations.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has consolidated the business and financial risk profile of Blue Star Ltd and its subsidiaries Blue Star Engineering and Electronics Ltd (BSEEL), Blue Star Qatar (Qatar), and JV's Blue Star M&E Engineering (Sdn) Bhd (Malaysia) and Blue Star Oman Electro ' Mechanical Company LLC (Oman) due to the similar nature of operation of these entities.

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
* Diversified revenue profile:

BSL operates both in Industrial segment through EMP segment and consumer segment through UP segment mitigating the risk of slowdown in any one product segment and industry. Furthermore, revenue is supported by increasing contribution of UP segment (43% as of March 2019), which have higher operating profitability.

*  Healthy market position across business segments:
BSL has an established track record and strong market position the EMP segment, where it is the market leader. In the UP segment it is the largest player in commercial refrigeration segment and has increased its market share in the room air-conditioning industry to 12.3% from 4% in fiscal 2013. Company has a widespread distribution network of over 4200 outlets in more than 650 locations across the country.

* Robust financial risk profile:
Financial risk profile is backed by comfortable networth, low gearing, and strong debt protection metrics. Networth was over Rs 800 crore as on March 31, 2019, with steady growth in cash accrual. Interest coverage ratio was over 6 times for fiscal 2019.

Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to downturns in end-user industries:

The demand for EMP segment is dependent on capex in end user industries which are co related to economic environment because of large capital requirement of end-user industries, as witnessed in performance over the past few years.

* Working capital intensive operations:
The operations are working capital intensive due to the EPC nature of operations in the EMP segment. The same can be witnessed in high GCA days of over 180 days as on March 31, 2019. However, majority of the working capital is financed through creditors and advance from customers.
Liquidity

The company has healthy liquidity in the form of cash and cash equivalents of Rs 100 crore as on March 31, 2019. The repayments are expected to be in the range of Rs. 20-30 crores per annum and NCA of over Rs 150 crores. The company has fund based facilities of Rs 700 crore which are utilized at the rate of 20%. The company has a capital expenditure plan of Rs 200 crore to be partly funded by Rs 120 crore of debt in fiscal 2020. CRISIL expects internal accruals, and unutilized bank lines to be sufficient to meet its repayment obligations as well as incremental working capital requirements.

About the Company

BSL was established in 1943 by late Mr. Mohan T Advani. The company is India's leading central air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration company and its manufacturing facilities are spread across various locations in India including Ahmedabad, Dadra, Wada and Himachal Pradesh. The company's operations can be classified in to three segments, namely Electro Mechanical Projects and Packaged Air Conditioning Systems (EMP), unitary products (UP) and PE&IS each contributing 50%, 45% and 5% to the consolidated net sales of the company in FY 2017, respectively. It has presence in 19 international markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 2019* 2018
Revenue Rs crore 5235 4665
Profit after tax Rs crore 209 146
PAT margin % 4.0 3.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.39 0.48
Interest Coverage Times 7.81 9.61

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 Cr) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 500.00 CRISIL A1+

Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Blue Star Engineering and Electronics Ltd, Blue Star Qatar (Qatar), and JV's Blue Star M&E Engineering (Sdn) Bhd (Malaysia) and Blue Star Oman Electro ' Mechanical Company LLC (Oman)
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  500.00  CRISIL A1+      27-06-18  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
            18-01-18  CRISIL A1+           
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Consumer Durable Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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