Rating Rationale
June 25, 2019 | Mumbai
GP Petroleums Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.220 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long term bank bank facilities of GP Petroleums Limited (GPPL; part of the Gulf Petrochem Group) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' while reaffirmed the rating at 'CRISIL A-'. The short term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A2+'.

The outlook revision follows a similar rating action on GPPL's parent, Gulf Petrochem FZC, the flagship company of the Gulf Petrochem group. The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's expectation that Gulf Petrochem group's financial risk profile may weaken over the medium term if there is delay in correcting the high leverage. The group's leverage has remained high, contrary to CRISIL's earlier expectation of an improvement. The group reported debt/EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) of 5.91 times as on December 31, 2018 as compared to 5.79 times as on December 31, 2017. The leverage remained high due to increase in working capital requirement as a result of higher scale of operations. Higher working capital requirements also led to modest debt protection metrics; interest coverage was at 2.9 times for 2018.
 
The ratings factor in GPPL's established market position in the Industrial lubricant segment and its healthy financial risk profile as reflected in its sound capital structure and debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by moderate scale of operations in the highly competitive lubricants industry, volatility in raw material prices, and working capital-intensive operations.

Analytical Approach

The ratings of GPPL factor in the support expected from its parent Gulf Petroleum group. CRISIL believes GPPL will, in case of exigencies, receive distress support from its parent, considering operational and managerial support from GP Group and shared name between GP group and GPPL group.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Association with Gulf Petrochem group and operational synergies
GPPL was acquired by the Gulf Petrochem group in July 2014 as a strategic move towards expanding the group's operations in India. Currently, the group, in India, has trading, bunkering, storage terminal and bitumen manufacturing businesses through other group entities. Given the superior bargaining power of the Gulf Petrochem group, GPPL has benefitted significantly in terms of lower procurement cost. The company now also has access to the customer and supplier network of the group in Middle East, Africa, Europe etc.

GPPL, through its association with Gulf Petrochem Group, has entered into a strategic alliance with REPSOL, S.A. of Spain for manufacturing and sales of Repsol's premium lubricants across India. Business risk profile will benefit significantly from association with both the Indian and global operations of the Gulf Petrochem group.
 
* Established position in the Industrial Lubricant segment
GPPL has majority of its revenues from this segment. Further, over time, it has established itself as a reliable and competitive supplier of industrial lubricants, especially to rubber processing industry, with a diversified clientele. The company, due to its association with GPFZC and groups procurement capabilities, is able to procure the inputs at competitive rates, enabling them to compete with public sector companies in this highly price sensitive segment. CRISIL believes that the company, taking advantage of the capabilities of the group, should be able sustain its position in this segment.
 
* Healthy financial Risk profile:
GPPL has an above-average financial risk profile, reflected in adequate liquidity and healthy capital structure. Networth of Rs 203 crore as on March 31, 2019 led to a strong total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio of 0.89 time. Financial risk profile is expected to improve over the medium term term, backed by absence of debt funded capex and healthy accruals.
 
Weaknesses:
* Moderate scale of operations and exposure to volatility in forex rates
Scale of operations is moderate, with turnover of over Rs 600 crore in fiscal 2019; however, its operations are susceptible to intense competition. The company derives most of its revenue from sale of industrial and automotive lubricants, which are sold under its established IPOL brand. While the company has an established brand, GPPL continues to compete with other large players, such as Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), as well as the unorganised segment. As a result, GPPL's revenue grew at a moderate compound annual rate of 9% over the five years through fiscal 2019.
Liquidity

GPPL has adequate liquidity driven by expected cash accruals of more than Rs 17 crore per annum in fiscal 2020 and 2021 as against nil term debt obligations. CRISIL expects internal accruals and unutilized bank lines to be sufficient to meet its capex, and incremental working capital requirements.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes GPPL will continue to benefit over the medium term from its strategic position as the flagship entity of the Gulf Petrochem group's Indian operations, however, the group's financial risk profile may moderate over the medium term driven by increasing debt levels.

Downside scenario:
* Weakening in credit profile of the parent, Gulf Petrochem FZC
* weakening in financial risk profile because of large, debt-funded capital expenditure
* Stretch in working capital cycle

Upside scenario:
* Improvement in the credit profile of the parent
* Substantial increase in revenue, along with profitability levels and steady working capital cycle.

About the Company

Incorporated as Sah Petroleums Ltd (SPL) in 1983, the name was changed to GPPL post acquisition by GPFZCH of the Gulf Petrochem group in fiscal 2015. It designs, manufactures, and markets industrial and automotive lubricants, process oils, transformer oils, and greases. The products are sold under the IPOL brand in India and abroad. It has tie-up with REPSOL, S.A. for manufacturing and marketing of its products in India.

About the Group
GPFZCH was incorporated in 1998 as a Free Zone Establishment and was reconstituted as a Free Zone Company (FZC) in 2006. It operates in the UAE under an industrial licence issued by the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (Sharjah). The company trades in, stores, and refines oil, and manufactures grease. It is promoted by Mr Ashok Goel and Mr Sudhir Goel. The promoter family has a presence in petroleum and petroleum-related businesses across the world.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 608 560
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 16 16
PAT Margin % 2.7 2.9
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.67 0.63
Interest coverage Times 5.3 5.3

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 125 CRISIL A-/Negative
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 95 CRISIL A2+
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  125.00  CRISIL A-/Negative      04-05-18  CRISIL A-/Stable      31-12-16  CRISIL A-/Stable  CRISIL A-/Stable 
            31-03-18  CRISIL A-/Stable      28-03-16  CRISIL A-/Stable   
                    05-02-16  CRISIL A-/Stable   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  95.00  CRISIL A2+      04-05-18  CRISIL A2+      31-12-16  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
            31-03-18  CRISIL A2+      28-03-16  CRISIL A2+   
                    05-02-16  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 125 CRISIL A-/Negative Cash Credit 55 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of Credit 95 CRISIL A2+ Letter of Credit 145 CRISIL A2+
-- 0 -- Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 20 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 220 -- Total 220 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for rating instruments backed by guarantees
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Petrochemical Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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