Rating Rationale
April 07, 2022 | Mumbai
Linc Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.94 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1 (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 reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1’ ratings on the bank facilities of Linc Limited (Linc; erstwhile Linc Pen and Plastics Limited).

 

The ratings continue to reflect the company’s established market position in the domestic pen industry, improving profitability, increasing geographical diversity in revenue owing to focus on export and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition and vulnerability to volatility in raw material prices.

Key rating drivers and detailed description

Strengths:

  • Established market position in the organized sector of the domestic pen industry: Strong market position will continue to support the business. The company is a leading player in the over Rs 4,500-crore domestic pen industry, with market share of 8-9%. Its position is particularly strong in east and north India. The company has association of over 20 years with Japan's Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd as an exclusive distributor of Uniball writing instruments in India. Besides maintaining healthy presence in the pen segment, Linc is expanding business to include high-value products and its new brand, Pentonic.

 

  • Increasing geographical diversity in revenue: The company has a wide distribution network comprising exclusive channel partners, distributors, sales representatives and retail outlets across India, as well as corporate clients. While its brands are registered in over 50 countries, the Indian market accounts for 70-75% of revenue.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: Gearing and total outside liabilities to tangible net worth ratio were strong at 0.06 and 0.49 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2021. Debt protection metrics were comfortable, as reflected in interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 4.15 and 1.29 times, respectively, in fiscal 2021.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Vulnerability to volatility in raw material prices: As cost of the key raw material, plastic granules, accounts for over 65% of cost of production, profitability will remain susceptible to fluctuations in the prices of raw materials. However, controlled and selective advertisement expenses, focus on improving average realizations through high-value products and modernization of the manufacturing unit should enhance profitability.

 

  • Exposure to intense competition: The company faces intense competition in its mainstay category (pens priced up to Rs 10 per piece) from the unorganized sector. The competition constrains pricing power, depressing profitability.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilization was moderate at 8% on average for the 12 months through January 2022. Cash accrual is expected to be free against no term debt obligation over the medium term. Current ratio was healthy at 1.92 times as on March 31, 2021. Low gearing and healthy net worth support the financial flexibility to withstand adverse conditions or downturns in the business. The company did not avail the moratorium provided by the Reserve Bank of India for Covid-19 related stress.

Outlook: Stable

Linc will continue to benefit from its established market position, supported by its strong brand equity.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward Factors

  • Increase in revenue above Rs 400 crore with sustained earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin of around 10% leading to higher cash accrual.
  • Improvement in the working capital cycle.

 

Downward Factors

  • Decline in profitability below 6% or stretched working capital cycle.
  • Large, debt-funded capital expenditure weakening the capital structure.

About the company

Linc was set up by Mr S M Jalan in 1994 and listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1995. The company manufactures writing pens and trades stationery, mainly pencils and erasers; it has over 200 products. Its manufacturing units are at Falta and Serakole in West Bengal. Operations are managed by Mr Deepak Jalan.

Key financial indicators

Particulars

Unit

2021

2020

Operating income

Rs crore

258.65

405

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

0.04

19.25

PAT margin

%

--

4.8

Adjusted debt / adjusted net worth

Times

0.06

0.33

Adjusted Interest coverage

Times

4.15

7.55

 

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 instrument

Date of allotment

Coupon

rate (%)

Maturity

date

Issue size

(Rs crore)

Complexity

level

Rating assigned

with outlook

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

7.5

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

30

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Fund-Based Facilities

NA

NA

NA

2

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Fund-Based Facilities

NA

NA

NA

20

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

2.5

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Non-Fund Based Limit

NA

NA

NA

2

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits

NA

NA

NA

30

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

 

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 89.5 CRISIL A/Stable   -- 28-01-21 CRISIL A/Stable 23-06-20 CRISIL A/Stable 29-03-19 CRISIL A/Stable CRISIL A/Stable
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 4.5 CRISIL A1   -- 28-01-21 CRISIL A1 23-06-20 CRISIL A1 29-03-19 CRISIL A1 CRISIL A1 / CRISIL A/Stable
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 30 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Cash Credit 7.5 IDBI Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Fund-Based Facilities 20 Citibank N. A. CRISIL A/Stable
Fund-Based Facilities 2 YES Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Letter of Credit 2.5 IDBI Bank Limited CRISIL A1
Non-Fund Based Limit 2 YES Bank Limited CRISIL A1
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 30 Not Applicable CRISIL A/Stable

This Annexure has been updated on 12-Feb-23 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 25-Jan-23 received from the rated entity.

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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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