RATING RATIONALE
24Feb2021

Astron Paper & Board Mill Ltd.

Brickwork Ratings assigns the ratings for the Bank Loan Facilities of Rs.98.40 Crs. of Astron Paper & Board Mill Ltd.

Particulars
Facilities** Amount (Rs.Crs.) Tenure Rating#
Fund Based
Term Loan Sanctioned 12.40 Long Term BWR BBB - /Stable Reaffirmation
Cash Credit Sanctioned 45.00
Sub Total 57.40
Non-Fund Based
Bank Guarantee Sanctioned 17.00 Short Term BWR A3 Reaffirmation
Inland Letter of Credit (ILC) Sanctioned 03.00
Letter of Credit Sanctioned 18.00
Credit Exposure Limit (CEL) Sanctioned 03.00
Sub Total 41.00
Grand Total 98.40 (Rupees Ninety Eight Crores and Forty lakhs Only)
#Please refer to BWR website www.brickworkratings.com for definition of the ratings
**Details of Bank Loan facilities,consolidation or instruments are provided in Annexure
RATING ACTION / OUTLOOK

BWR has considered the consolidated financials of the Company and essentially relied upon the provisional financials of 9MFY21, audited financial statements up to FY20 and publicly available information and clarifications provided by the entity’s management.

The rating reaffirmation factors improvement in the operations on the back of better capacity utilization, comfortable financial profile, and adequate liquidity. The Company also benefits from the extensive experience of the promoters in the paper industry. The ratings are, however, constrained by the pressure on the profit margins on account of intense competition from unorganized players, volatility in raw material prices and risk associated with the forex rate fluctuation.

The 'Stable' outlook has been reaffirmed on account of satisfactory interim operation in FY21, comfortable tangible net worth, low gearing and adequate debt coverage indicators. BWR believes the Astron group will continue to benefit over the medium term from its established market position along with reputed clientele in diversified industries.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

Credit Strengths:


Credit Risks:

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Upward:

BWR may revise the ratings upward, in case of sustained improvement in total operating income and operating profitability along with sustenance of adequate debt coverage indicators.

Downward:

BWR may revise the rating downward, in case of a significant reduction in the operating income, deterioration in debt protection metrics (ISCR below 2x) and decline in operating profit margins on account of low sales realisation. The Company exposes to the susceptibility to fluctuations in foreign exchange (forex) rates as the majority of raw material is imported from the foreign countries.

LIQUIDITY INDICATORS - Adequate

The Company had net cash accruals of Rs. 21.58 Crs in FY20 against Rs. 33.30 Crs in FY19. Liquidity is adequate, marked by sufficient cushion between net cash accrual and debt repayment obligations.  Average cash credit utilization has remained above 85% in the last six months ending on 31st January 2021. In 9MFY21, the company has generated Rs. 7.24 Crs of internal cash accruals and has availed the COVID emergency line of credit of Rs. 3.10 Crs. Hence, the company can easily honour its debt repayment obligations. Also, the timely servicing of loans on expiry of the moratorium benefit as per RBI’s COVID-19 relief package by banks will be a key monitorable. 

ABOUT THE ENTITY

Incorporated in 2010, Astron Paper & Board Mill Ltd. (APBLM), is a BSE listed Company carrying out the activity of manufacturing of kraft papers at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The Company is promoted by Mr Kirit Patel and the other seven directors. In 2018, APBLM took over Balaram Papers Private Limited. The manufacturing facilities are located at Halvad and Bhuj(Kutch), Gujarat with a total installed capacity of 174600 MTPA. 

KEY FINANCIAL INDICATORS (Standalone)
Key Parameters Units FY 19-20
(Audited)
FY 18-19
(Audited)
Operating Revenue Rs.Crs. 359.01 373.95
EBITDA Rs.Crs. 34.21 51.06
PAT Rs.Crs. 13.51 24.63
Tangible Net Worth Rs.Crs. 163.48 150.56
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 0.37 0.38
Current Ratio Times 1.21 1.19

RATING HISTORY FOR LAST THREE YEARS (including withdrawal and suspended)
Facilities Current Rating  (2021) Rating History (2020)
Type Tenure Amount Rating 15Jul2020
Fund Based
Term Loan - Sanctioned
Cash Credit - Sanctioned
Long Term 12.40
45.00
BWR BBB-/Stable BWR BBB -/Stable
Non-Fund Based
Bank Guarantee - Sanctioned
Inland Letter of Credit (ILC) - Sanctioned
Letter of Credit - Sanctioned
Credit Exposure Limit (CEL) - Sanctioned
Short Term 17.00
03.00
18.00
03.00
BWR A3 BWR A3
Grand Total 98.40 (Rupees Ninety Eight Crores and Forty lakhs Only)

Facilities Current Rating  (2021) Rating History (2019)
Type Tenure Amount Rating NA
Fund Based
Term Loan - Sanctioned
Cash Credit - Sanctioned
Long Term 12.40
45.00
BWR BBB-/Stable NA
Non-Fund Based
Bank Guarantee - Sanctioned
Inland Letter of Credit (ILC) - Sanctioned
Letter of Credit - Sanctioned
Credit Exposure Limit (CEL) - Sanctioned
Short Term 17.00
03.00
18.00
03.00
BWR A3 NA
Grand Total 98.40 (Rupees Ninety Eight Crores and Forty lakhs Only)

Facilities Current Rating  (2021) Rating History (2018)
Type Tenure Amount Rating NA
Fund Based
Term Loan - Sanctioned
Cash Credit - Sanctioned
Long Term 12.40
45.00
BWR BBB-/Stable NA
Non-Fund Based
Bank Guarantee - Sanctioned
Inland Letter of Credit (ILC) - Sanctioned
Letter of Credit - Sanctioned
Credit Exposure Limit (CEL) - Sanctioned
Short Term 17.00
03.00
18.00
03.00
BWR A3 NA
Grand Total 98.40 (Rupees Ninety Eight Crores and Forty lakhs Only)
COMPLEXITY LEVELS OF THE INSTRUMENTS - NA

BWR complexity levels are meant for educating investors. The BWR complexity levels are available at www.brickworkratings.com / download / ComplexityLevels.pdf. Investors queries can be sent to info@brickworkratings.com.

Analytical Contacts

Kunjal Dabhi

Rating Analyst Board : +91 79 66174046 / 47 kunjal.r@brickworkratings.com

Dileep Narayan Singh

Director Ratings dileep.s@brickworkratings.com
1-860-425-2742 | media@brickworkratings.com
Astron Paper & Board Mill Ltd.
ANNEXURE-I
Details of Bank Facilities rated by BWR
SL.No. Type Of Facilities Long Term(Rs.Crs.) Short Term(Rs.Crs.) Total(Rs.Crs.)
1 Term LoanSanctioned 12.40 _ 12.40
2 Cash CreditSanctioned 45.00 _ 45.00
3 Letter of CreditSanctioned _ 18.00 18.00
4 Credit Exposure Limit (CEL)Sanctioned _ 3.00 3.00
5 Bank GuaranteeSanctioned _ 17.00 17.00
6 Inland Letter of Credit (ILC)Sanctioned _ 3.00 3.00
Total 57.40 41.00 98.40
TOTAL (Rupees Ninety Eight Crores and Forty lakhs Only)
ANNEXURE-II
INSTRUMENT DETAILS

InstrumentIssue DateAmount (Rs.Crs)Coupon Rate (%)Maturity DateISIN Particulars
NANANANANANA

ANNEXURE-III
List of entities consolidated

Name of Entity% OwnershipExtent of consolidationRationale for consolidation
NANANANA

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