Rating Rationale
February 29, 2024 | Mumbai
Ganga Papers India Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed and Withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.53.35 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB-/Stable (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A3 (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
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 ratings on the bank facilities of Ganga Papers India Limited (GPIL). The ratings have been withdrawn, following a request from the company, and on receipt of a no-objection certificate from the banker. The rating action is in line with the policy of CRISIL Ratings on withdrawal of bank loan ratings.

 

The reaffirm reflects the stable business risk profile of the company supported by revenue of Rs 295 crores in fiscal 2023 from Rs 280 crores in fiscal 2022 driven by volumetric growth and improved realization. In the current fiscal 2024, the company has achieved revenue of Rs 183 crores till YTD December 2023 and is expected to achieve revenue of Rs 240-250 crores for full fiscal 2024 due to softening of input prices leading to moderation in realization. Operating margin is expected to improve to 3-4% because of softening raw material prices over the medium term.

 

The ratings reflect the extensive experience of the promoters in the paper industry and the diversified product portfolio of GPIL. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to cyclicality in the paper industry and susceptibility to volatility in input prices.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the promoters in the paper industry: The three-decade-long experience of the promoters in the paper industry, their strong understanding of market dynamics and healthy relationships with customers and suppliers will continue to support the business risk profile. The diversified product portfolio comprises fluting paper, test liner kraft, AOCC pulp, OCC Pulp, ONP pulp and de-ink pulp. The company has an installed capacity of 1,08,000 metric tonnes per annum.

 

  • Above-average financial risk profile: Net worth stood at Rs 27.6 crore as on March 31, 2023, and is likely to reach Rs 29-30 crore, as on March 31, 2024, supported by healthy accretion to reserves. Gearing stood at 1.6 times as on March 31, 2023, and should be near 1.5-1.6 times as on March 31, 2024, aided by lower reliance on external debt.  Capital structure is expected to remain above average over the medium term. Debt protection metrics were healthy, indicated by interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 3.3 times and 0.12 time, respectively, in fiscal 2023.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Exposure to cyclicality in the paper industry: The paper industry is inherently cyclical, mainly due to the long gestation period involved in capacity addition and lead time for raw material generation. Given its commoditized nature, price of paper tends to fluctuate sharply and adversely affects profitability of paper manufacturers. Demand for paper is also linked to the level of economic activity. Hence, cyclical downturns or any imbalance in the demand-supply scenario may cause volatility in realizations. Furthermore, ability to pass on any hike in raw materials cost to end-customers, amidst the demand-supply dynamics, will remain a key monitorable.

 

  • Susceptibility to volatility in input prices: Operating margin dropped to 3.1% in fiscal 2023 from 4.2% in fiscal 2022, as the company faced a lag of 3-4 months in passing on the hike in raw material cost to its customers. Moreover, being a non-integrated player, GPIL is highly dependent upon procurement of imported wastepaper, unlike other leading players in the paper industry. This restricts the operating margin and exposes the company to risks related to foreign exchange rates and supply chain movement.

Liquidity: Adequate

Net cash accrual of Rs 4-8 crore expected per annum will sufficiently cover incremental working capital expenses, post servicing of yearly debt of Rs 2-4 crore in the medium term. Fund-based limit was utilized at 50% on an average over the 12 months through October 2023. The current ratio was modest at 1.15 times as on March 31, 2023.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes GPIL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters in the paper industry and their established relationships with clients.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained growth in revenue (by 40%) and operating margin (to 6-6.5%), leading to higher cash accrual.
  • Improvement in financial risk profile, with gearing under 1.25 times

 

Downward factors:

  • Decline in revenue, leading to net cash accrual below Rs 6 crore.
  • Any large debt-funded capex or substantial increase in working capital requirement, weakening liquidity and financial risk profile.

About the Company

GPL was initially incorporated as Kasat Paper & Pulp by the promoter, Mr Shrikant Kasat. It was subsequently converted into a public limited company in December 1992. Operations are currently managed by Mr RK Chaudhary and his friend, Mr Sandeep Kanoria. The company manufactures kraft paper and newsprint paper.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

295

279.7

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

3.2

5.3

PAT margin

%

1.1

1.9

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

1.6

1.7

Interest coverage

Times

3.3

4.4

Status of noncooperation with previous CRA:

GPIL has not cooperated with ICRA Ltd, which has classified it as non-cooperative through a release dated June 28, 2017. The reason provided by ICRA is non-furnishing of information for monitoring the ratings.

 

GPIL has not cooperated with Brickwork Ratings India Private Ltd, which has classified it as non-cooperative through a release dated February 22, 2023. The reason provided by Brickwork is non-furnishing of information for monitoring the ratings.

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 Bank guarantee NA NA NA 2 NA CRISIL A3 (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 4.5 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Packing credit NA NA NA 35 NA CRISIL A3 (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Term loan NA NA Mar-2027 11.85 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
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/ST 51.35 CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Rating reaffirmed and withdrawn)   --   -- 22-12-22 CRISIL BBB-/Stable / CRISIL A3 30-04-21 CRISIL B /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* CRISIL BB /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*
      --   --   -- 14-11-22 Withdrawn (Issuer Not Cooperating)*   -- --
      --   --   -- 28-06-22 CRISIL B /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 2.0 CRISIL A3 (Rating reaffirmed and withdrawn)   --   -- 22-12-22 CRISIL A3   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 2 Punjab National Bank CRISIL A3 (Rating reaffirmed and withdrawn)
Cash Credit 4.5 Punjab National Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Rating reaffirmed and withdrawn)
Packing Credit 35 Punjab National Bank CRISIL A3 (Rating reaffirmed and withdrawn)
Term Loan 11.85 Punjab National Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Rating reaffirmed and withdrawn)
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 Paper Industry

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