Rating Rationale
February 07, 2019 | Mumbai
GRP Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.105.46 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' rating on the bank facilities of GRP Limited (GRP).
 
The ratings continue to reflect an established market position in the reclaimed rubber industry, and adequate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the susceptibility to fluctuations in natural rubber prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates, intensifying competition and high dependence on the tyre industry.
 
Revenue grew by 10% in the first half of fiscal 2019 led by steady volume growth of 11%. Operating margin improved 150 basis points year-over-year to 7.1%. Over the medium term, revenue is expected to grow 7-8% led by steady demand from the tyre industry and increase in scale of operations in polymer composites and industrial polymer segments. Operating margin is expected to improve to around 9%, led by improving efficiencies and ramp-up in the polymer composites segment. Ability of the company to scale-up revenue and profitability from new segments will be a key monitorable going forward.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of GRP and its subsidiaries, Grip Polymers Ltd and Gripsurya Recycling LLP. CRISIL has also proportionately consolidated GRP's joint venture (JV), Marangoni GRP Pvt Ltd., to the extent of its shareholding in the JV, to reflect support required to the extent of its interest in this business. This is because all the entities, collectively referred to as GRP, are in the same business and have operational synergies.

Please refer Annexure - Details of consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position in the reclaimed rubber industry: GRP is one of the top three manufacturers of reclaimed rubber globally and the largest in India. The company has built healthy relationships with both domestic and many international tyre manufacturers and distributors. Exports contribute to around two-thirds of the total revenue. The company largely exports to the US, Europe and Latin American countries. Domestic customers include several large and prominent original equipment manufacturers. The company is expected to additionally benefit from increase in composition of reclaim rubber in tyres manufactured by global tyre players.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is marked by adequate networth, capital structure, and debt protection metrics. Absence of any major debt-funded capex plans, over the medium term, should enhance the financial risk profile. Adequate networth (Rs 129 crore as on September 30, 2018) and gearing (0.45 time as on September 30, 2018) support debt protection metrics, with net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios at 16% and 3.7 times, respectively, for the first half of fiscal 2019. Steady profitability is expected to keep metrics adequate, over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices and forex rates: Raw material cost accounts for around half of the operating income. End-of-life rubber tyre, the key raw material, is procured from an extensive chain of suppliers. Raw material prices are linked to global crude oil prices. Significant volatility in crude oil prices can lead to fluctuations in margins and continues to be a monitorable. With a sizeable proportion of revenue being derived from exports, volatility in forex rates can also affect profitability. Operating margin has fluctuated between 6-9% over the last three years through September 2018.
 
* High dependence on tyre industry: GRP is highly dependent on performance of the tyre industry, which contributes to around 60% of the revenue. Contribution of reclaimed rubber in overall consumption remains low at 7-8%. Cyclicality in demand from the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segment will continue to affect growth prospects of tyre manufacturers.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate marked by comfortable cushion between annual accruals and repayments, even if the bank limit utilization is high and the cash and equivalents are modest.  Annual accrual of Rs 20-25 crore should comfortably cover maturing term debt of Rs 2-4 crore over the next two fiscals. Bank limits of Rs 57 crore were utilized at an average of 88% over the 12 months through October 2018. Capex is expected to be moderate at Rs 12-15 crore annually, which will be funded through a prudent mix of debt to equity. Working capital requirement will remain moderate, led by moderate inventory (maintained in anticipation of increased demand during certain periods of the year) and receivables of 45-50 and 60-65 days respectively.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes GRP's operating performance will continue to benefit from its established market position in the reclaimed rubber industry and adequate financial risk profile, supported by moderate gearing and adequate debt protection metrics.
 
Upside scenario:
* Higher-than-expected revenue growth driven most likely by fast scale-up in polymer composites and industrial polymer segments
* Sustained improvement in the operating profitability to over 9% backed by better growth and higher profitability in polymer composites segment
 
Downside scenario:
* Material decline in operating profitability and/or lower-than-expected revenue growth
* Any large increase in working capital requirements and/or large debt funded capex weakening the financial risk profile

About the Company

GRP was established in 1974 by Mr Rajendra V Gandhi, under the guidance of Mr Kandathil Philip, the founder-director of MRF Ltd and one of the pioneers of the rubber industry in India. The company manufactures reclaimed rubber (recycled rubber) from end-of-life tyres and tubes. All split and punched products made from waste tyres are exported and have applications in agricultural equipment, rubber mats, and dock bumper assemblies. GRP currently has an installed capacity of 66,000 tonne per annum (tpa) for reclaimed rubber, 2,600 tpa for split and punch products, 2,600 tpa for industrial polymers and 1,500 tpa for polymer composites. It has received an approval from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India, for its nylon recovery pilot plant.
 
The operating income for the first six months of fiscal 2019 was Rs 167.4 crore with PAT of Rs 2.6 crore as against Rs 152.0 crore and Rs 0.6 crore, respectively, in the comparable period of the previous year.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Operating income Rs crore 300 304
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore -0.8 7
PAT margin % -0.3 2.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.46 0.54
Interest coverage Times 4.20 7.54

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 57.00 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Letter of Credit$ NA NA NA 5.00 CRISIL A2
NA Term Loan NA NA 13-Feb-19 0.90 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 02-Nov-21 5.24 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed working capital facility NA NA NA 37.32 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
$Interchangeable with bank guarantee

Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Name of company Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
GRP Ltd Full Parent company
Grip Polymers Ltd Full Wholly owned subsidiary-significant operational and financial linkages
Gripsurya Recycling LLP Full Subsidiary-significant operational and financial linkages
Marangoni GRP Pvt Ltd Proportionate Joint venture-support to the extent of interest in business
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  100.46  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      12-02-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  14-08-17  CRISIL A-/Negative  22-07-16  CRISIL A-/Stable  CRISIL A-/Negative 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  5.00  CRISIL A2      12-02-18  CRISIL A2  14-08-17  CRISIL A2+  22-07-16  CRISIL A2+  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 57 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 63.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Letter of Credit$ 5 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit$ 5 CRISIL A2
Proposed Working Capital Facility 37.32 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 22.85 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Term Loan 6.14 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Term Loan 14.11 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 105.46 -- Total 105.46 --
$Interchangeable with bank guarantee
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Auto Component Suppliers
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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