Rating Rationale
May 27, 2024 | Mumbai
The Sandur Manganese And Iron Ores Limited
Ratings continues on 'Watch Positive'; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.1630 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.430 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A/Watch Positive (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
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' ratings on the bank facilities of The Sandur Manganese And Iron Ores Ltd (SMIORE) continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications’.

 

The rating was placed on positive watch on May 8, 2024, on account of corporate announcement that SMIORE has signed a binding share purchase agreement to acquire 80% stake in Arjas Steel Pvt Ltd (ASPL) from the private equity firm ADV Partners for enterprise value of Rs 3,000 crore. The remaining stake of 19.12% in ASPL will be acquired by the promoters of SMIORE through a holding company.. CRISIL Ratings will resolve the watch and take appropriate rating action, if warranted, once the transaction is concluded and detailed information regarding the business and financial risk profiles of the post consolidated entity is available.

 

The rating continues to reflect strong market position of the company in the mining industry with a track record of seven decades, its large mining reserve and a strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to regulatory changes and inherent cyclicality in the steel sector.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Long track record and extensive mining reserves: SMIORE was set up in 1954 when Y R Ghorpade, the former Maharaja of Sandur, transferred the mining lease awarded to him in favour of the company. The company has two mining leases valid up to December 31, 2033, with estimated reserve of 110 MT of iron ore and around 17 MT of manganese ore and production capacity of 3.81 MTPA for iron ore and 0.46 MTPA for the latter. The production capacity was recently enhanced for iron ore and manganese from 1.6 MTPA and 0.286 MTPA, respectively. The company is among the few entities classified in category A mining leases with production capacity of more than 1 MTPA of iron ore. Increase in mining capacity, which is available for production for full year from fiscal 2025, will drive revenue over the medium term. The extensive reserves, long validity of the mining license and presence of seven decades in the mining industry will continue to benefit the company. However, revenue, quality of ores and realisation from the mining segment will be key monitorables over the medium term.

 

  • Strong financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is strong supported by healthy capital structure and robust debt protection metrics. Networth was strong at Rs 1,933.82 crore and gearing low at 0.1 time as on March 31, 2023, and will remain strong over the medium term. Debt protection metrics continue to be robust, as reflected in interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 15.75 times and 1.58 times, respectively, in fiscal 2023, and are likely to remain strong over the medium term with healthy profitability and moderate debt.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Exposure to regulatory risks associated with the mining industry: The mining industry in India is highly regulated by various state and central government agencies. Production, sale, expansion, environmental clearances and extension/renewal of licenses are governed by various regulations and policies. Unfavourable changes in the regulations may have an adverse impact on the business risk profile. However, the company is classified as a Category A mining company and has a track record of seven decades of regulatory compliance and absence of operational disruptions owing to environmental, societal or company-specific regulatory issues. Its mines are rated five-star by the Indian Bureau of Mines, Government of India, under its Sustainable Development Framework (SDF). While exposure to regulatory risk will remain a key monitorable, the scientific and systematic mining processes followed by the company, in adherence to existing rules and regulations, mitigates this risk.

 

  • Susceptibility to cyclicality in the steel sector: SMIORE has significant exposure to the steel sector as majority of its products find application in the steel industry, which is inherently cyclical. This makes the company vulnerable to decline in demand or realisation during a downturn in the steel industry and may impact the volumes and operating cash flow. However, cost of production and favourable demand-supply scenario in Karnataka mitigate this risk.

Liquidity: Strong

Bank limit utilisation was low at 37% on average for the 11 months through November 2023. Cash accrual, expected over Rs 600 crore, will sufficiently cover yearly term debt obligation over the medium term. Current ratio was healthy at 2.45 times as on March 31, 2023. The company has liquid investments of around Rs 960 crore supporting liquidity. Low gearing and strong networth support financial flexibility and will cushion in case of adverse conditions or downturns in the business

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Increase in revenue and profitability leading to operating profit over Rs 600 crore
  • Sustenance of strong financial risk profile with healthy capital structure and financial flexibility
  • Timely completion of acquisition of ASPL

 

Downward factors:

  • Lower-than-expected revenue from enhanced capacities or significant fall in profitability, leading to operating profit below Rs 300 crore
  • Weakening in the financial risk profile, with high leverage and moderation in financial flexibility

About the Company

SMIORE mines low-phosphorous manganese and iron ore in the Hosapete-Ballari region of Karnataka. It is the fifth-largest iron ore miner in Karnataka and the third-largest miner of manganese ore in India. It is the flagship business of the Ghorpades, the royal family of Sandur. SMIORE has a 95,000-TPA ferroalloy plant, a 32-MW captive power plant and a 0.5-MTPA coke oven plant with two waste recovery boilers

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Reported revenue

Rs crore

2184.65

2283.97

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

270.91

675.12

PAT margin

%

12.40

29.55

Adjusted debt / adjusted networth

Times

0.11

0.19

Interest coverage

Times

14.27

25.49

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 Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 295 NA CRISIL A/Watch Positive
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2028 135 NA CRISIL A/Watch Positive
NA Proposed term Loan NA NA NA 1200 NA CRISIL A/Watch Positive
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 1630.0 CRISIL A/Watch Positive 08-05-24 CRISIL A/Watch Positive   -- 04-11-22 CRISIL A/Stable 23-08-21 CRISIL A/Stable CRISIL A-/Stable
      -- 02-02-24 CRISIL A/Positive   --   -- 02-03-21 CRISIL A-/Stable --
Non-Fund Based Facilities LT/ST   --   --   -- 04-11-22 CRISIL A1 23-08-21 CRISIL A1 CRISIL A2+
      --   --   --   -- 02-03-21 CRISIL A2+ --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Proposed Term Loan 1200 Not Applicable CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Term Loan 92 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Term Loan 43 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Working Capital Facility 100 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Working Capital Facility 35 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Working Capital Facility 60 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Working Capital Facility 50 IndusInd Bank Limited CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Working Capital Facility 50 RBL Bank Limited CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
Rating Criteria for Mining Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Aveek Datta
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 99204 93912
B: +91 22 3342 3000
AVEEK.DATTA@crisil.com

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Jayashree Nandakumar
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 44 6656 3100
jayashree.nandakumar@crisil.com


Athul Unnikrishnan Sreelatha
Associate Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 4040 5800
athul.sreelatha@crisil.com


ACHUTH SEKHAR
Senior Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 4040 5800
ACHUTH.SEKHAR@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') that is provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). To avoid doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. 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 providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the report. In preparing our report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for 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 report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Ratings are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any securities/instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL Ratings assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinions and analysis. The rating contained in the report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. 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 or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains.

Neither CRISIL Ratings nor its affiliates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, 'CRISIL Ratings Parties') guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the report, and no CRISIL Ratings Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the report. EACH CRISIL RATINGS PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Ratings Party 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.

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. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its website, www.crisilratings.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee - more details about ratings by CRISIL Ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL Ratings and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on in its reports. CRISIL Ratings has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to:
https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html.

Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL Ratings public website, www.crisilratings.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without prior written consent from CRISIL Ratings.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL Ratings Limited. CRISIL Ratings is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited.

 

 

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.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html