Brickwork Ratings assigns the ratings for the Bank Loan Facilities of Rs.98.40 Crs. of Astron Paper & Board Mill Ltd.
ParticularsFacilities** | 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) |
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 DRIVERSCredit Strengths:
The Company is managed by Mr Kirit Patel and the other seven directors. Promoters have more than two decades of experience in the paper industry. Their healthy relationships with customers and suppliers and diversified end-user of the product will continue to support the business risk profile. Further, the Company acquired Balram Papers Pvt Ltd in 2018, which strengthens the market position.
Post Corona pandemic, the unit has achieved the earlier capacity utilization level of 77% up to January-2021. It has helped in healthy growth in sales volume. Due to pricing pressure on kraft paper, the Company has reported a net sales of Rs. 359.01 Crs in FY20 against Rs. 373.95 Crs in FY19. The turnover as of 31st December 2020 stood at Rs. 291.92 crs and the company is expected to achieve a projected turnover of Rs.459.45 crs in FY21. The presence in multiple industries like FMCGs, pharmaceuticals, etc. mitigates the risk of a slowdown in demand of the kraft paper.
The Company’s financial profile is comfortable marked by healthy net worth, reduced leverage and adequate liquidity position. The capital structure of the company has strengthened on the back of the accumulated profits of past years. Tangible net worth is Rs. 163.48 Crs as on 31st March 2020. Level of gearing is low at 0.37x in FY20 and 0.38x in FY19. TOL/TNW are 0.95x and 0.90x in FY19 & FY20, respectively. Further, the debt protection metrics have also remained at healthy levels i.e DSCR and ISCR of 1.56x and 3.45x respectively in FY20. It is expected that the company’s financial risk profile will remain comfortable over the medium term on account of improved operation in 9MFY21.
Credit Risks:
The margins of the company are largely affected by the raw material price fluctuation, which has remained volatile in the past year. Besides, the company is importing 80%-90% of the raw material from foreign countries, hence, the profitability remains exposed to forex rate movements. Operating profit margins nominally declined from 13.65% in FY19 to 9.53% in FY20. Further, it remained low at 4.12% as of 31st December 2020 on account of the high cost of inventories and stressed prices of kraft papers in the local market. Going forward, the stability of margins remains a key rating sensitivity in the near term.
The company faces stiff competition from other players in the industry, which limits its pricing flexibility and bargaining power with customers, thereby putting pressure on its revenues and margins. Furthermore, thin margins put pressure on the liquidity profile as well.
The company’s operations are working capital intensive as the company maintains an inventory of over 2-3 months, resulting in an elongated working capital cycle. Further, the Receivables are elongated from 70 days in FY19 to 77 days in FY20 due to the high credit period offered by the Company. The Receivables level is increased from Rs. 83.94 Crs in FY19 to Rs. 93.00 Crs in FY20. Going further, the timely realisation of receivables will be the key 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 ENTITYIncorporated 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 |
Facilities | Current Rating (2021) | Rating History (2020) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Tenure | Amount | Rating | 15Jul2020 | |||||||
Fund Based | |||||||||||
Term Loan - SanctionedCash Credit - Sanctioned | Long Term | 12.4045.00 | BWR BBB-/Stable | BWR BBB -/Stable | |||||||
Non-Fund Based | |||||||||||
Bank Guarantee - SanctionedInland Letter of Credit (ILC) - SanctionedLetter of Credit - SanctionedCredit Exposure Limit (CEL) - Sanctioned | Short Term | 17.0003.0018.0003.00 | 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 - SanctionedCash Credit - Sanctioned | Long Term | 12.4045.00 | BWR BBB-/Stable | NA | |||||||
Non-Fund Based | |||||||||||
Bank Guarantee - SanctionedInland Letter of Credit (ILC) - SanctionedLetter of Credit - SanctionedCredit Exposure Limit (CEL) - Sanctioned | Short Term | 17.0003.0018.0003.00 | 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 - SanctionedCash Credit - Sanctioned | Long Term | 12.4045.00 | BWR BBB-/Stable | NA | |||||||
Non-Fund Based | |||||||||||
Bank Guarantee - SanctionedInland Letter of Credit (ILC) - SanctionedLetter of Credit - SanctionedCredit Exposure Limit (CEL) - Sanctioned | Short Term | 17.0003.0018.0003.00 | BWR A3 | NA | |||||||
Grand Total | 98.40 | (Rupees Ninety Eight Crores and Forty lakhs Only) |
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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 |
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) |
Instrument | Issue Date | Amount (Rs.Crs) | Coupon Rate (%) | Maturity Date | ISIN Particulars |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Name of Entity | % Ownership | Extent of consolidation | Rationale for consolidation |
---|---|---|---|
NA | NA | NA | NA |
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