Rating Rationale
December 23, 2019 | Mumbai
Vardhman Acrylics Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.90 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Positive' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Vardhman Acrylics Limited (VAL) to 'Stable' from 'Positive' and reaffirmed the rating at 'CRISIL AA' and has reaffirmed the 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the company's short-term facilities.

The outlook revision follows the announcement by the company's parent, Vardhman Textiles Ltd (VTXL; 'CRISIL AA+/FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') on December 13, 2019, regarding withdrawal of the merger scheme and thereby VAL's amalgamation with itself. Earlier in June 2019, the ratings were put on positive outlook following the announcement of the merger of VAL with its parent, VTXL.
 
The ratings continue to reflect strong managerial and financial support that VAL receives from VTXL which has a shareholding of 70.74% in VAL and strong market position of VAL. These strengths are partially offset by vulnerability to volatile raw material prices, and the presence of a low-cost substitute, polyester staple fibre.
 
In first six months of fiscal 2020, the company posted revenue of Rs 180 crore as against Rs. 229 crore in the similar period of last fiscal while operating margin improved to 18.9% during the same period as against 16.2% on year on year basis. Earlier in fiscal 2019, revenue grew by 22% year on year as demand picked up owing to good winter, while operating margin stood at 12.6%. Debt protection metrics continue to be healthy, with interest coverage at 119.5 times owing to minimal debt of Rs 0.75 crore as on March 31, 2019. Performance is expected to remain steady over the medium term.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has applied its parent notch-up framework to factor in the extent of operational, financial, and managerial support VAL receives from VTXL being a 70.74%% subsidiary of VTXL, with shared name and past instances of support.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong support from parent, VTXL
VTXL holds a 70.74% stake in VAL and extends strong managerial and financial support. The parent also accounts for over 60% of the turnover. VTXL in the past has also extended intercorporate loans to VAL to manage its liquidity. Being one of the leading acrylic fibre manufacturers in India, VAL is critical to VTXL, and enables the parent to be a diversified player in the textile spectrum.
 
* Established position in acrylic fibre industry
The top five players hold around 90% of total operational capacity in the domestic acrylic fibre industry. With an installed capacity of 20,000 tonne per annum, the company is one of the largest players in the industry.
 
Weaknesses
* Volatility in price of basic raw material, acrylonitrile
Acrylonitrile, the basic raw material, is a derivative of crude oil and is thus exposed to fluctuation in prices. As acrylonitrile prices move in tandem with crude oil prices, inability of manufacturers to pass on the increase in input cost continues to constrain operating margin. Vardhman Acrylics' operating margin has ranged from 7 to 13% over the past five years primarily due to fluctuations in raw material prices.
 
* Availability of cheaper substitutes
The acrylic fibre industry faces intense competition from substitutes such as polyester and cotton, and increasing imports. Vardhman Acrylics will continue to face pressure on realisation because of demand-supply mismatches.
Liquidity Strong

Liquidity has been comfortable, with cash and equivalent (including investments) of Rs 228.12 crore as on March 31, 2019. The company has nil long-term debt.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes VMTSL will benefit over the medium term from managerial and financial support of VTXL.

Rating sensitivity factors
Upward Factors
* Increase in the scale of the company for instance, the revenue remaining above Rs. 500 crore on sustainable basis and
* Upward rating action on VTXL's bank facilities and debt programmes

Downward Factors
* Downward rating action on VTXL's bank facilities and debt programmes
* Sizeable, debt-funded capital expenditure, weakening the financial risk profile, for instance,   gearing remaining beyond 0.5 times.

About the Company

Vardhman Acrylics is among the large players in the domestic acrylic fibre market, with capacity of 20,000 tonne per annum. Vardhman group holds a 74.28% stake in Vardhman Acrylics, which has manufacturing facilities at Jhagadia, Gujarat. Vardhman Acrylics markets acrylic fibre under the Varlan brand. Acrylic fibre is used to manufacture hand-knitted yarn, blankets, jerseys, sweaters, saris, upholstery, and carpets.
 
For first half of fiscal 2020, Vardhman Acrylics reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 27 crore on revenue of Rs 180 crore, against a PAT of Rs 25 crore on revenues of Rs 229 crore in the corresponding period in fiscal 2018.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 392 320
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 35 39
PAT Margin % 8.3 11.3
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.0 0.0
Interest coverage Times 119.5 71.3

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL 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.Cr) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 10 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Letter of Credit^ NA NA NA 80 CRISIL A1+
^Interchangeable with other non-fund Based Facilities
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  10.00  CRISIL AA/Stable  10-12-19  CRISIL AA/Positive  28-12-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  29-06-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  24-11-16  CRISIL AA-/Positive  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
        04-06-19  CRISIL AA/Positive  26-06-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  09-03-17  CRISIL AA-/Positive  27-07-16  CRISIL AA-/Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  80.00  CRISIL A1+  10-12-19  CRISIL A1+  28-12-18  CRISIL A1+  29-06-17  CRISIL A1+  24-11-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
        04-06-19  CRISIL A1+  26-06-18  CRISIL A1+  09-03-17  CRISIL A1+  27-07-16  CRISIL A1+   
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 10 CRISIL AA/Stable Cash Credit 10 CRISIL AA/Positive
Letter of Credit^ 80 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit^ 80 CRISIL A1+
Total 90 -- Total 90 --
^Interchangeable with other non-fund Based Facilities
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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