Rating Rationale
September 06, 2023 | Mumbai
Chemcon Speciality Chemicals Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.53 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB+/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable'; Rating 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 revised its outlook on the long term bank facilities of Chemcon Speciality Chemicals Limited (CSCL) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' while reaffirmed the rating at ‘CRISIL BBB+’.

 

The revision in outlook reflects subdue business risk profile with lower-than-expected revenue and sharp decline in operating margin. Though, it grown y-o-y 17.5% to Rs 302 crore during FY23, revenue remains range bound at Rs 250-300 crore during past five years ended FY23. The company reported revenue of Rs 79 crore during Q1FY24 against Rs 89 crore during Q1FY23. Simultaneously, company witnessed sharp decline in operating margin from 32.44% in FY22 to 24.40% in FY23 and down trend continued during Q1FY24 with operating margin of 9.72% backed by change in revenue mix. The ability of company to achieve steady revenue growth with healthy profitability will be key monitorable.

 

The rating reflects the extensive experience of promoters in the industrial chemical industry, and robust financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital intensive operations and exposure to foreign exchange volatility and to changes in government regulations.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established market position with large clientele, and track record of over three decades: CSCL has been manufacturing specialty chemical for more than three decades and has established itself as a reliable supplier of specialty chemicals, these products are used in end user industries such as Pharmaceutical, oil exploration and refining. The business risk profile is supported by strong market position in Bromides, HMDS and CMIC in world. CSCL derives around 59% of its revenues from exports commanding operating margin over 24.4% during FY23.

 

  • Robust financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is healthy marked by networth of over Rs 457 crore and gearing of 0.14 times as on March 31, 2023. CSCL has healthy debt protection measures with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 51.59 times and 0.76 times, respectively, in FY23.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Working capital intensive operations: CSCL’s operations are working capital intensive reflected in the high debtors and inventory of around 3 months and 4 months respectively as on March 31, 2023.

 

  • Exposure to foreign exchange volatility and to changes in government regulations: CSCL derives around 59% of its revenue from exports to multiple geographies and hence exposed volatility in foreign exchange rates. However, the risk is partially mitigated by imports of around 45-50% providing a natural hedge and monthly price reset arrangements with its customers to pass though foreign exchange movements. Bromine, being a corrosive and hazardous material, is subject to environmental and other government regulations, any adverse change in these regulations, in any of the markets it operates, could impact the business risk profile of the company.

Liquidity: Adequate

Liquidity backed by healthy cash accruals, absence of any term debt, healthy financial flexibility, and bank balance. CSCL is expected to generate annual cash accruals of Rs 35-60 crore backed by healthy profitability and steady scale. Despite the high working capital requirements, company has rarely utilized its Rs 53 crore bank limits over the last 12 months to July 2023. CSCL had healthy cash bank balance of around Rs 210 crore as on March 31, 2023 and availed working capital limit against portion of funds. It also had a healthy current ratio of 3.41 times on March 31, 2023.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL Ratings believes credit risk profile of company may weaken in 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:

  • Elongation of gross current assets (excluding unencumbered cash and bank balance) over 280-300 days
  • Large debt funded capex or investment, weakening capital structure

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 manufacturing facility based in Savli District. Vadodara.

Key Financial Indicators

Particulars

Unit

2023

2022

Revenue

Rs crore

302.88

257.11

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

55.11

63.84

PAT margin

%

18.20

24.83

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.14

0.09

Interest coverage

Times

51.59

146.47

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 the
instrument
Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs. Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 53 NA CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 53.0 CRISIL BBB+/Negative   -- 10-06-22 CRISIL BBB+/Stable 17-12-21 CRISIL BBB+/Watch Negative 29-09-20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable CRISIL BBB/Stable
      --   -- 17-03-22 CRISIL BBB+/Watch Negative 21-09-21 CRISIL BBB+/Watch Negative 24-03-20 CRISIL BBB/Stable --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST   --   --   --   --   -- CRISIL A3+
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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