Rating Rationale
June 19, 2024 | Mumbai
Chemcon Speciality Chemicals Limited
Rating reaffirmed at 'CRISIL BBB+/Negative'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.53 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB+/Negative (Reaffirmed)
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 reaffirmed its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Chemcon Speciality Chemicals Ltd (CSCL) at ‘CRISIL BBB+/Negative’.

 

The rating reflects the subdued business risk profile, with lower-than-expected revenue of Rs 267 crore in fiscal 2024 against Rs 301 crore in fiscal 2023. Turnover has remained range bound at Rs 250-300 crore during the six fiscals through 2024. Operating margin also weakened sharply from 24.40% in fiscal 2023 to 10.06% in fiscal 2024 on account of increase in raw material costs and decline in demand from the domestic and international markets. The ability to achieve steady revenue growth with healthy profitability needs to be seen. And any delay in recovery of operating margin or further decline shall impact on the business risk profile and will remain closely monitored.

 

Financial risk profile remained healthy with networth of Rs 476 crores with adjusted gearing and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio were also comfortable at 0.09 time and 0.14 time, respectively as of March 31, 2024. Liquidity remained adequate with low utilization of working capital limits and sufficient cash accruals against meagre debt repayments of Rs 0.18-0.23 crores over the medium term.

 

The rating reflects the extensive experience of the promoters in the industrial chemical industry, and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates, exposure to changes in government regulations, and working capital-intensive operations.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established market position with large clientele: The company has been manufacturing speciality chemicals for more than three decades. Its products find application in the pharmaceuticals, oil exploration and refining industries. Business risk profile is also supported by a strong market position in bromides, Hexamethyl Disiliazane (HMDS) and Chloromethyl Isopropyl Carbonate (CMIC). CSCL derives around 41% of its revenue from exports. The company achieved revenue of Rs 267 crores in fiscal 2024. The ability of the company to achieve steady revenue growth with healthy profitability will be key monitorable.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: High accretion of profit after tax (PAT) led to a strong networth of Rs 476 crore as on March 31, 2024. Adjusted gearing and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio were also comfortable at 0.09 time and 0.14 time, respectively, as debt comprises fixed deposit (FD)-backed overdraft and meagre term loan. This, along with above-average profitability, led to robust debt protection metrics, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 7.69 times and 0.69 time, respectively, in fiscal 2024. The metrics are expected to remain stable over the medium term due to low reliance on bank debt.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and forex rates: Since the prices of most of the company’s raw materials are volatile, profitability remains exposed to any adverse movement in input rates as this can only be passed on to end customers with a time lag. Operating margin has fluctuated in the eight quarters through fiscal 2024.

 

Profitability is also exposed to any sharp fluctuation in forex rates as ~41% of the total revenue comes from exports. However, imports of 30-35% provide a natural hedge and monthly price reset arrangements with customers also provide some relief. Furthermore, bromine, being a corrosive and hazardous material, is subject to environmental and other government regulations. Any adverse change in these in any of the markets the company operates in could impact business risk profile.

 

  • Working capital intensive operations: Gross current assets were 252 days due to stretched receivables of around 112 days and large inventory of around 94 days, respectively, as on March 31, 2024. The company maintains an average inventory of 60-90 days for uninterrupted production as key raw materials are subject to sudden unavailability. Also, it offers credit of 60-90 days to customers, though depending on creditworthiness, this can go up to 120 days. Against these, the company receives credit of 30-60 days from its suppliers.

Liquidity: Adequate

Annual cash accrual is expected to be Rs 32-38 crore over the medium term, backed by healthy profitability and steady scale. Despite large working capital requirement, bank limit of Rs 53 crore has been rarely utilised in the 12 months through May 2024. However, FDOD limit of Rs 125 crore was utilised 35-45% in the five months through May 2024. CSCL had a healthy cash bank balance of around Rs 170 crore as on March 31, 2024 (free FDs of ~Rs 32 crore) and availed of working capital limit against a portion of funds. Current ratio was strong at 5.55 times.

Outlook: Negative

Credit risk profile may weaken over the medium term due to expected moderation in operating performance, though financial risk profile is expected to sustain.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sharp rise in revenue along with operating margin of over 25%
  • Sustained financial risk profile

 

Downward factors

  • Steady decline in revenue and operating margin falling below 10%, or further stretch in working capital resulting in weak return on capital employed
  • Any large capital expenditure adversely impacting financial risk profile

About the Company

CSCL, is a Vadodara, Gujarat based company incorporated in 1988, involved in manufacture of Pharmaceutical intermediates and Oilfield Chemicals. The company has a manufacturing facility based in Savli District. Vadodara.

Key Financial Indicators

Particulars

Unit

2024

2023

Revenue

Rs crore

267.09

302.88

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

19.19

55.11

PAT margin

%

7.19

18.20

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.09

0.14

Interest coverage

Times

7.69

51.59

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 assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 53 NA CRISIL BBB+/Negative
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 53.0 CRISIL BBB+/Negative   -- 06-09-23 CRISIL BBB+/Negative 10-06-22 CRISIL BBB+/Stable 17-12-21 CRISIL BBB+/Watch Negative CRISIL BBB+/Stable
      --   --   -- 17-03-22 CRISIL BBB+/Watch Negative 21-09-21 CRISIL BBB+/Watch Negative --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 35 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Cash Credit 18 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Chemical Industry

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