Rating Rationale
March 21, 2024 | Mumbai
Pokarna Engineered Stone Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.370 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2+ (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 A2+' ratings on the bank facilities of Pokarna Engineered Stone Ltd (PESL; part of the Pokarna group).

 

The ratings continue to reflect the established market position of PESL in the engineered stones business, supported by the extensive experience of its promoters and established client relationships, and the company’s comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are offset by susceptibility to demand risk and to volatility in input costs and fluctuations in foreign exchange (forex) rates.

Analytical Approach

Unsecured loan (Rs 10.61 crore as on March 31, 2023), extended by the promoters and related parties, has been treated as debt as it may not be retained in the business over the medium term. CRISIL Ratings has continued treating intercorporate deposits (ICDs) of Rs 77.33 crore as 75% equity and 25% debt as the ICDs will remain in the business with no major repayment expected over the medium term

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established position in the engineered stones business, supported by the extensive experience of the promoters and established client relationships: PESL is the largest exporter of quartz surfaces in India and continues to benefit from its established relationship with Breton S.p.A and access to the latter’s patented technology for manufacturing quartz surface products. The promoters’ experience of nearly three decades and healthy relationships with customers have enabled the company to establish and maintain a strong market position

 

  • Improved business performance: Business performance improved in fiscal 2023 with revenue rising to Rs 668 crore from Rs 581 crore in fiscal 2023, backed by higher demand for Quartz. Revenue is expected to be flattish in fiscal 2024 on account of sluggish demand from the US because of higher interest rates, intensifying competition, and uncertainties due to geopolitical situations. The operating margin of PESL has picked up in fiscal 2024 (above 30% in the first half) with higher contribution of premium coloured quartz.

 

  • Comfortable financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is supported by healthy capital structure and comfortable debt protection metrics. Networth and gearing were at Rs 498 crore and 0.95 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2023. Healthy operating margin from the high-margin premium quartz surfaces business should result in strong net cash accrual leading to reduction of debt over the medium term, keeping the debt protection metrics healthy. Interest coverage is expected over 4.5 times over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to demand risk: More than 85% of the revenue comes from the US and heightened competition and increased interest rates in the key market have impacted revenue growth of PESL in fiscal 2024. Growth will remain dependent on demand from key markets.

 

  • Susceptibility to volatility in input costs and fluctuation in forex rates: Quartz lumps, resin binders, pigments and additives are key raw materials for manufacturing quartz surfaces. The operating margin is susceptible to the prices of these products, especially resins and pigments, which are linked to crude prices and are highly volatile. Fluctuations in forex rates also impact the operating margin.

Liquidity: Strong

Bank limit utilisation was moderate at 31%, on average, for the 12 months through November 2023. Cash accrual is expected over Rs 125 crore against term debt obligation of Rs 35-40 crore over the medium term, and will cushion liquidity. Current ratio was healthy at 1.75 times on March 31, 2023, and the company had healthy cash and bank balance of around Rs 53 crore as on December 31, 2023. Low gearing and moderate networth support its financial flexibility and provide the financial cushion to withstand adverse conditions or downturn in the business.

Outlook: Stable

PESL will continue to benefit from its established market position, supported by its promoters' extensive industry experience and established relationships with customers.

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Upward factors

  • Significant reduction in debt resulting in gearing below 0.5 time and better debt protection metrics.
  • Revenue rising to Rs 750-800 crore and operating margin over 30% resulting in substantial cash accrual and improvement in liquidity.

 

Downward factors

  • Significant decline in revenue and profitability, resulting in subdued debt protection metrics.
  • Unanticipated capex, large dividend payout or stretch in the working capital cycle leading to increase in gearing to over 1 time.

About the Company

PESL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pokarna Ltd and is the largest manufacturer and exporter of quartz surfaces in India. The technological know-how and machinery for this division was obtained from Breton S.p.a (Italy). Pokarna Ltd had set up an engineered stone (quartz) manufacturing division in 2006, which was later hived off into a separate company, PESL.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit 

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs.Crore

668.36

581.40

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs.Crore

67.89

78.58

PAT margin

%

10.16

13.52

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.71

0.94

Interest coverage

Times

4.52

4.88

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

Foreign bill discounting

NA

NA

NA

105.25

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Letter of credit

NA

NA

NA

25

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Long-term loan

NA

NA

31-Aug-2026

23.74

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Long-term loan

NA

NA

31-Mar-2029

3.51

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Long-term loan

NA

NA

31-Mar-2029

212.5

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

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 345.0 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 03-01-23 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable 14-06-22 CRISIL BBB+/Positive / CRISIL A2 16-11-21 CRISIL A3+ / CRISIL BBB/Positive CRISIL BBB-/Negative / CRISIL A3
      --   --   --   -- 01-02-21 CRISIL BBB-/Stable / CRISIL A3 --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 25.0 CRISIL A2+   -- 03-01-23 CRISIL A2+ 14-06-22 CRISIL A2 16-11-21 CRISIL A3+ CRISIL A3
      --   --   --   -- 01-02-21 CRISIL A3 --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Foreign Bill Discounting 105.25 Union Bank of India CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 25 Union Bank of India CRISIL A2+
Long Term Loan 23.74 Union Bank of India CRISIL A-/Stable
Long Term Loan 3.51 Union Bank of India CRISIL A-/Stable
Long Term Loan 212.5 Union Bank of India CRISIL A-/Stable
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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