Rating Rationale
February 12, 2025 | Mumbai
Plaza Wires Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.35 Crore
Long Term RatingCrisil BBB-/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable'; Rating 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 revised its outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Plaza Wires Ltd (PWL) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' and has reaffirmed the rating at 'Crisil BBB-'.

 

The revision in outlook reflects weakening in the operating margin of PWL, which has weakened the overall business risk profile. Operating margin had dropped to 5.0% in fiscal 2024, and 3.1% in the first half of fiscal 2025, which is below expectations of Crisil Ratings. Decline in operating margin is due to several factors, including expenses related to the initial public offering (IPO), fixed-price contracts formed during a phase of increased copper price volatility, and operational cost associated with capacity expansion. The fresh capacities are scheduled to commence commercial operations in February 2025; however, a slower-than-expected ramp-up could further weaken profitability. The rapid establishment of the new plant, leading to enhancements in revenue and operating profitability, are key monitorable.

 

The rating continues to reflect extensive experience of the promoters in the electrical components industry and the comfortable financial risk profile of PWL. These strengths are partially offset by the moderate scale of operations and low operating profitability.

Analytical Approach

Crisil Ratings has evaluated the standalone business and financial risk profiles of PWL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the promoters: Presence of over two decades in the electrical components industry has enabled the promoters to gain strong understanding of market dynamics and build healthy relationships with customers and suppliers. These factor have helped enhance the brand presence of Plaza Cable and enabled the promoters to develop a strong, pan-India distributor channel, comprising around 500 dealers/distributors and over 15 branches. The existing plant is operating at full capacity, generating revenue of around Rs 198 crore for fiscal 2024. The company has raised public funding to set up a new plant, which should commence operations in February 2025. With the existing plant and anticipated support from the new facility, revenue is projected to exceed Rs 300 crore for fiscal 2026.
     
  • Comfortable financial risk profile: Networth was healthy around Rs 119 crore as on March 31, 2024, aided by fresh infusion of equity via IPO. Low dependence on external debt should help maintain a comfortable capital structure, with gearing projected to be in the range of 0.20-0.25 time for fiscal 2025. However, decline in the operating margin has led to moderation in debt protection metrics with net cash accrual to adjusted debt and interest coverage ratios projected to be in the range of 0.25-0.30 time and 2.5-3 times, respectively, for fiscal 2025. Going forward, with expected growth in scale of operations, prudent working capital management should keep the total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio in the range of 0.4-0.5 time in the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Moderate scale of operations: Revenue has been moderate, as indicated by projected net sales of around Rs 220 crore in fiscal 2025 (Rs 95 crore booked till September 2024). The company is functioning at nearly full capacity and is in the process of enhancing its manufacturing capabilities further. The new facility is scheduled to commence operations in February 2025, and contribute significantly to revenue in fiscal 2026, with expectations exceeding Rs 300 crore. The management is actively pursuing new orders from various government and private projects, to align with the increased capacity. However, intense competition from unorganised players and limited value addition may continue to restrict scalability and profitability of organised players. Expansion of operations through a distributor network and acquisition of new customers are key monitorable.

 

  • Low operating profitability: In fiscal 2024 and the first half of fiscal 2025, operating margin declined to 3.0-4.0%, owing to several factors, including IPO related expenses, fixed-price contracts signed during a phase of increased copper price volatility, and operational cost associated with capacity expansion. Additionally, raw material cost forms 75-80% of revenue, making operating performance highly sensitive to fluctuations in copper prices. With low value addition, any significant changes in input prices could hamper realisations, thereby reducing fixed cost absorption and profitability. However, the company is likely to see improvement in scale and pricing for new fixed-price projects. As a result, the operating margin is expected to recover to historical levels of 7-8%. Going forward, sustained improvement in operating margin amid scale remains a key monitorable.

Liquidity: Adequate

Expected net cash accrual of Rs 5-6 crore should comfortably cover the annual debt obligation of Rs 3-4 crore for fiscal 2025. Access to funds raised via IPO and efficient working capital management have ensured low dependence on the bank limit, wherein utilisation has averaged 58% over the 12 months through December 2024. Current ratio is expected to be healthy at 3.0-3.5 times as on March 31, 2025.

Outlook: Negative

Crisil Ratings believes that delay in stabilization of new plant could impact the operating profitability and hence the overall business risk profile of PWL

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Timely stabilisation of capex, leading to significant growth in revenue and operating margin above 8%, hence higher-than-expected cash accrual
  • Sustenance of comfortable financial risk profile amidst efficient working capital management

 

Downward factors:

  • Delay in stabilisation of capex, leading to stagnant revenue and operating margin dropping below 4%, leading to lower-than-expected accrual
  • Any large, debt-funded capital expenditure, or a further stretch in the working capital cycle, weakening the financial risk profile.

About the Company

Set up as a partnership entity (Plaza Electrical Industries) in 2004, the firm got reconstituted into a private limited company with the current name in 2007. The company manufactures various types of copper wires under its Plaza Cable brand; its facility is at Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. Mr Sanjay Gupta and his family members are the promoters. Operations are managed by Mr Sanjay Gupta and Mr Abhishek Gupta. The company has been converted into a limited company in fiscal 2022.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs crore

198.81

182.49

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

3.67

7.30

PAT margin

%

1.85

4.00

Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth

Times

0.35

0.75

Interest coverage

Times

2.29

3.72

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 Levels Rating Outstanding with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 27.74 NA Crisil BBB-/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Mar-26 4.75 NA Crisil BBB-/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Mar-26 2.51 NA Crisil BBB-/Negative
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2025 (History) 2024  2023  2022  Start of 2022
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 35.0 Crisil BBB-/Negative   --   -- 11-12-23 Crisil BBB-/Stable 29-09-22 Crisil BBB-/Stable Crisil BBB-/Stable
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 25 Punjab National Bank Crisil BBB-/Negative
Cash Credit 2.74 Standard Chartered Bank Crisil BBB-/Negative
Term Loan 4.75 Punjab National Bank Crisil BBB-/Negative
Term Loan 2.51 Punjab National Bank Crisil BBB-/Negative
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Criteria for manufacturing, trading and corporate services sector (including approach for financial ratios)
Basics of Ratings (including default recognition, assessing information adequacy)

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Ramkumar Uppara
Media Relations
Crisil Limited
M: +91 98201 77907
B: +91 22 6137 3000
ramkumar.uppara@crisil.com

Sanjay Lawrence
Media Relations
Crisil Limited
M: +91 89833 21061
B: +91 22 6137 3000
sanjay.lawrence@crisil.com


Nitin Kansal
Director
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
nitin.kansal@crisil.com


Gaurav Arora
Associate Director
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
gaurav.arora@crisil.com


Tushar Aggarwal
Rating Analyst
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
Tushar.Aggarwal@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to Crisil Ratings. However, Crisil Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About Crisil Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of Crisil Limited, an S&P Global Company)

Crisil Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).

Crisil Ratings Limited ('Crisil Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crisil Limited ('Crisil'). Crisil Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").

For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About Crisil Limited

Crisil is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
Crisil respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from Crisil. For further information on Crisil's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') provided by Crisil Ratings Limited ('Crisil Ratings'). For the avoidance of doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for use only within the jurisdiction of India. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as Crisil Ratings provision or intention to provide any services in jurisdictions where Crisil Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between Crisil Ratings and the user.

The report is a statement of opinion as on the date it is expressed, and it is not intended to and does not constitute investment advice within meaning of any laws or regulations (including US laws and regulations). The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe to any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way.

Crisil Ratings and its associates do not act as a fiduciary. The report is based on the information believed to be reliable as of the date it is published, Crisil Ratings does not perform an audit or undertake due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on for preparation of the report. THE REPORT IS PROVIDED ON “AS IS” BASIS. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS, CRISIL RATINGS DISCLAIMS WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, ERROR-FREE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, NON-INTERRUPTION, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR INTENDED USAGE. In no event shall Crisil Ratings, its associates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

The report is confidential information of Crisil Ratings and Crisil Ratings reserves all rights, titles and interest in the rating report. The report shall not be altered, disseminated, distributed, redistributed, licensed, sub-licensed, sold, assigned or published any content thereof or offer access to any third party without prior written consent of Crisil Ratings.

Crisil Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains or its associates. Ratings are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by Crisil Ratings. Crisil Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors.

Crisil Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For more detail, please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html. Public ratings and analysis by Crisil Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its websites, www.crisilratings.com and https://www.ratingsanalytica.com (free of charge). Crisil Ratings shall not have the obligation to update the information in the Crisil Ratings report following its publication although Crisil Ratings may disseminate its opinion and/or analysis. Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee.  Rating criteria by Crisil Ratings are available on the Crisil Ratings website, www.crisilratings.com. For the latest rating information on any company rated by Crisil Ratings, you may contact the Crisil Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

Crisil Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on Crisil Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisilratings.com/en/home/our-business/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html