Rating Rationale
June 28, 2022 | Mumbai
Thermax Babcock and Wilcox Energy Solutions Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL AA+ / Stable / CRISIL A1+ '
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.1640 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+’ ratings on the bank facilities of Thermax Babcock and Wilcox Energy Solutions Ltd (TBWES).

 

The ratings continue to reflect the strong technological, managerial, operational and financial support the company receives from its parent, Thermax Ltd (Thermax, rated ‘CRISIL AA+/ Stable/ CRISIL A1+’). The ratings also reflect TBWES’ strong financial risk profile, established market position in the boilers segment and diverse revenue profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by exposure to cyclical vagaries of end-user industries and moderate operating profitability on account of its exposure to intense competition.

 

Revenue for fiscal 2022 grew around 30% to Rs 1,600 crore, compared to fiscal 2021, which was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Revenue is expected to show healthy growth in fiscal 2023 backed by strong order book. The operating margin was also robust at ~9% in fiscal 2022 and is expected to remain at 8-10% over the medium term.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL Ratings has factored in business, financial and managerial support from TBWES's parent, Thermax.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths

Strong support from the parent, Thermax

Thermax has transferred its flagship boilers and heaters (B&H) business to TBWES in the second half of fiscal 2020. Given that B&H is one of the core product offerings of Thermax, TBWES receives strong support from Thermax in project execution. Besides, financial support is also expected to be forthcoming in case of any exigencies.

 

Established market position in the boilers segment

The B&H division is one of the flagship offerings of Thermax (which is also the market leader in low- and medium-capacity boilers) with annual turnover of Rs 1,500-2,000 crore. The B&H division caters to a diverse set of end-user industries, including power, oil and gas, steel and cement, providing diverse streams of revenue. Furthermore, overseas orders contribute to 25-30% of overall revenue of the B&H segment.

 

CRISIL Ratings believes Thermax’s diverse product profile and geographical presence in the B&H segment will strengthen TBWES’ overall market position, resulting in healthy business risk profile.

 

Healthy financial risk profile

Networth is estimated to be sizeable at Rs 600 crore as on March 31, 2022. Besides, the entire long-term debt on the books of TBWES is from Thermax. Due to high networth, modest capital expenditure (capex) and adequate accrual, TBWES is expected to sustain its healthy capital structure over the medium term, with total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio estimated at 1.6 times as on March 31, 2022. Furthermore, TBWES has strong liquidity, supported by cash surplus of over Rs 350 crore and nil external debt obligation.

 

Weaknesses

Exposure to cyclical vagaries of end-user industries 

The operating performance is susceptible to business cycles and overall infrastructure spends of end-user industries. The existing order book of over Rs 1,800 crore (as of December 31, 2021) provides good revenue visibility over the next 4-5 quarters.

 

Modest operating profitability due to intense competition in the industry

TBWES is exposed to intense competition, and hence, faces pricing pressure from other large incumbents in the B&H space. Therefore, operating margin has largely remained at 8-10% in the past. Operating margin is also moderately vulnerable to fluctuations in input prices. Since most orders do not have price escalation clauses, it exposes the operating margin to further risk of variation.

Liquidity- Strong

TBWES enjoys strong liquidity driven by expectation of support from the parent, Thermax, to provide ongoing and need-based support in case of exigencies. On standalone basis, liquidity is expected to remain healthy on account of nil external debt obligation and cash accrual of Rs 90-120 crore in fiscals 2023 and 2024. Capex is also expected to remain nominal and would be met entirely through internal accrual. The company also had cash and cash equivalent of over Rs 350 crore as on March 31, 2022, and working capital limits of Rs 140 crore which was only marginally utilised at 50% on average.

Outlook Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes TBWES will continue to derive strong support from Thermax over the medium term, thereby sustaining its stable credit risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Improvement in the credit risk profile of the parent, Thermax
  • Double-digit growth in revenue with improvement in operating profitability to over 12% on sustained basis
  • Sustenance of strong financial risk profile with TOLTNW ratio at less than 1.2 times and strong liquidity position

 
Downward factors

  • Deterioration in the credit risk profile of the parent
  • Operating profitability reducing to under 7% either due to cost overruns or weakening market position
  • Major debt-funded capex or acquisition, leading to significant moderation in credit metrics and TOLTNW ratio weakening to over 2.0 times
  • Change in stance of support from Thermax

About the Company

TBWES was an erstwhile joint venture between Thermax Ltd and the US-based Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc. The company has a plant in Shirwal, Maharashtra. It manufactures super critical boilers for thermal power plants. Thermax acquired 100% stake in TBWES in fiscal 2019; post which TBWES became a fully owned subsidiary of the former. Furthermore, effective from the second half of fiscal 2020, Thermax has also transferred its B&H division to TBWES in order to optimally utilise the existing capacities in TBWES.

Key Financial Indicators

 

Unit

2021

2020

Operating income

Rs crore

1252

2025

Profit after tax

Rs crore

9

29

PAT margin

%

0.7

1.4

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.4

0.8

Interest coverage

Times

2.9

6.6

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. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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 crore)

Complexity level

Rating assigned with outlook

NA

Fund-based facility

NA

NA

NA

140

NA

CRISIL AA+/Stable

NA

Non-fund-based facility

NA

NA

NA

1475

NA

CRISIL A1+

NA

Proposed non-fund-based limits

NA

NA

NA

25

NA

CRISIL A1+

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 140.0 CRISIL AA+/Stable   -- 06-04-21 CRISIL AA+/Stable 23-04-20 CRISIL AA+/Stable   -- --
      --   --   -- 20-04-20 CRISIL AA+/Stable / CRISIL A1+   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 1500.0 CRISIL A1+   -- 06-04-21 CRISIL A1+ 23-04-20 CRISIL A1+   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Fund-Based Facilities 5 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Fund-Based Facilities 25 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Fund-Based Facilities 50 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Fund-Based Facilities 60 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Non-Fund Based Limit 425 CRISIL A1+
Non-Fund Based Limit 240 CRISIL A1+
Non-Fund Based Limit 500 CRISIL A1+
Non-Fund Based Limit 310 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Non Fund based limits 25 CRISIL A1+
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
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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