Rating Rationale
April 26, 2019 | Mumbai
Gee Limited
'CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.70 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Stable (Assigned)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+' ratings on the bank facilities of Gee Limited (Gee)
 
The ratings reflect the promoters' extensive experience in the welding electrodes industry and Gee's established market position and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to intense competition and volatility in raw material prices.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Promoters' established presence in welding electrodes industry and Gee's established market position: The promoters, the Agarwal family, have been associated with the welding electrode industry for around four decades. They have helped Gee withstand business cycles, establish market position, and maintain strong relationships with customers and suppliers. The market position is supported by large distribution network, diverse end-user industries, reputed clientele and product approval from domestic and international agencies.

* Healthy financial risk profile: Steady accrual, stable working capital cycle and the absence of large capital expenditure should ensure the financial risk profile remains healthy. Networth was adequate around Rs 68.7 crore while total outside liability to adjusted networth (TOLANW) ratio was low at 1.2 times as on March 31, 2018. Networth and TOLANW is expected to be around Rs.77-82 crore and 0.7-0.8 times respectively over the medium term, supported by moderate accruals and absence of any significant debt funded capex. Debt protection metrics are comfortable with interest coverage of 2.6 times as in fiscal 2018, likely to remain around 2.6-3 times over medium term.

Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to volatile raw material prices: The price of the key raw material, steel, is highly volatile. The absence of any long-term contract with suppliers with regard to price accentuates Gee's exposure to volatility in raw material prices. Because of fragmented nature of industry, Gee's bargaining power is moderate. It restricts Gee from fully passing on the input cost increases to customers or retaining any benefit of lower input cost.

* Intense competition in the welding electrode industry and exposure to tender based business: Welding electrode industry is highly competitive with significant unorganized sector. The orders from large projects and institutions are through tenders and this constrains profitability. Presence of large unorganized sector restricts penetration in the retail segment due to highly competitive prices offered by the unorganised sector. CRISIL believes that the intense competition and tender based nature of business will constrain Gee's business risk profile over the medium term.
Liquidity

Net cash accruals (NCA) were at Rs.7.03 crores in fiscal 2018, expected to be around Rs.8-9 crores per fiscal over the medium term against maturing debt of around Rs.2.6 crore per annum. Capex plans of Rs 6-7 crore over the medium term may be adequately funded by net cash accrual. Bank limit, of Rs 59.35 crore, was utilised at a moderate 81.1% in the 12 months through December 2018. The enhancement in limit expected in fiscal 2021 should support working capital, despite addition to capacity on completion of the planned capex.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Gee will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its management and a comfortable capital structure. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if the business risk profile improves with ramp-up in scale of operations and profitability while maintaining its financial risk profile. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if decline in revenue and profitability, any large debt-funded capex, or stretch in working capital cycle weakens financial risk profile, including liquidity.

About the Company

Gee was incorporated in 1960, but started operations in 1969. It manufactures a variety of welding electrodes. The company is currently managed by Mr S L Agarwal and his brother, Mr S M Agarwal. Gee has three facilities, one each in Mumbai, Thane, and Kolkata. The company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Operating income Rs crore 217.20 190.1
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 3.4 4.6
PAT margins % 1.6 2.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.81 0.70
Interest coverage Times 2.6 2.6

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 59.35 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Dec 2019 0.65 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 10.0 CRISIL A3+
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  60.00  CRISIL BBB/Stable  29-03-19  Withdrawn  30-06-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  30-03-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable      CRISIL BBB-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  10.00  CRISIL A3+  29-03-19  Withdrawn  30-06-18  CRISIL A3 (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  30-03-17  CRISIL A3+      CRISIL A3 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 59.35 CRISIL BBB/Stable Cash Credit 42.5 Withdrawn
Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A3+ Letter of Credit 10 Withdrawn
Rupee Term Loan .65 CRISIL BBB/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15.92 Withdrawn
-- 0 -- Term Loan 9.58 Withdrawn
Total 70 -- Total 78 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Framework for Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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