BWR has downgraded the long-term bank loan ratings of Asterix Reinforced Ltd from BWR BBB- to BWR BB+ and revised the outlook from "Stable" to "Rating Watch with Negative Implications'. The short-term rating has also been downgraded from BWR A3 to BWR A4+.
Particulars| Facilities** | Amount (Rs.Crs.) | Tenure | Rating# | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous | Present | Previous (22 Apr 2025) |
Present | ||
| Fund Based | 17.74 | 17.74 | Long Term |
BWR BBB- /Stable
removal from ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Upgraded |
BWR BB +
/Rating Watch with Negative Implications Downgrade |
| 5.00 | 5.00 | Short Term |
BWR A3
Assignment |
BWR A4 +
Downgrade |
|
| Non Fund Based | 16.50 | 16.50 | Short Term |
BWR A3
removal from ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Upgraded |
BWR A4 +
Downgrade |
| (3.00) | (3.00) | ||||
| (5.00) | (5.00) | ||||
| Grand Total | 39.24 | 39.24 | (Rupees Thirty Nine Crores and Twenty Four lakhs Only) | ||
BWR has downgraded the long-term bank loan ratings of Asterix Reinforced Ltd from BWR BBB- to BWR BB+ and revised the outlook from "Stable" to "Rating Watch with Negative Implications'. The short-term rating has also been downgraded from BWR A3 to BWR A4+.
The downgrade in the rating and the revision in outlook from Stable to Rating Watch with Negative Implications are driven by the absence of feedback from the lenders, the closure of the Silvassa plant, which may adversely impact the company’s financial performance, and the non-availability of provisional and/or latest financial information as on date. The action also reflects the conditional restart order issued by the Pollution Control Board for the Murbad manufacturing facility and the associated uncertainty regarding compliance with the stipulated conditions. Notwithstanding the above, the company has been regular in submitting NDS.
Closure notices were issued by the Pollution Control authorities to both the Silvassa and Murbad units in November 2024. Subsequently, the company consolidated operations by shifting activities from the Silvassa unit to the Murbad manufacturing facility. The company has since received a conditional order for the restart of operations at the Murbad unit dated 10 January 2025. While this permits resumption of operations, there remains some uncertainty regarding compliance with the stipulated conditions, as complete approvals, consents, and No Objection Certificates from the relevant government and statutory authorities.
BWR has approached the bankers on multiple occasions to obtain feedback on the conduct of the account; however, lender feedback is still awaited.
The key monitorable factors in the near term include verifiable information regarding timely compliance with the conditions stipulated in the conditional restart order for the Murbad unit and the receipt of all requisite approvals, consents, and No Objection Certificates from the relevant regulatory and statutory authorities. In addition, lender feedback on account conduct, continued availability of banking facilities, and visibility on the company’s latest financial performance will remain key monitoring parameters.
KEY RATING DRIVERSCredit Strengths:
ARL possesses an established track record of more than a decade of operations. Promoters have long standing experience of more than a decade in trading of Unsaturated Polyester Resins which helps the company to establish long standing relations with customers and suppliers. .
The capital structure of ARL remained comfortable with Total Debt/TNW at 1.07 times as on Dec 2024 (vis-a-vis 1.48x times as on March 2024). TNW has increased and stood at Rs.33.91 Crs in 9MFY25 as compared to Rs. 28.23 Crs in FY24, on the back of accretion of profits into the business. Debt protections metrics i.e. DSCR and ISCR have been improved from 2.74x and 1.43x in FY24 to 6.37x and 3.66x in 9MFY25. Further, the current ratio improved from 1.09x in FY24 to 1.25x in 9MFY25.
The scale of operations of the company has improved with y-o-y increasing TOI(Total Operating Income). TOI increased from Rs.257.77 Crores in FY23 to Rs.294.16 Crore in FY24 on back of increase in its production capacity with increase in demand from its existing and new customers. Moreover, the company has achieved TOI of Rs.239.19 Crore for 9MFY25 and around Rs.300.00 Crs in FY25.
The operations of Asterix Reinforced Ltd. (ARL) are inherently working capital intensive, primarily due to significant funds being tied up in inventory and receivables. This has led to elevated receivable days, which stood at 120 in FY24. However, despite the high receivables, the company has managed its payables efficiently, with payable days at around 99. As a result of better working capital management, ARL has achieved an improvement in its cash conversion cycle—from 42 days in FY23 to 27 days in FY24—indicating enhanced operational efficiency and faster realization of funds.
The raw materials required for the manufacturing of unsaturated polyester Resin and SMC Moulding is Propylene Glycol, Diethylene Glycol, Phthalic Anhydride, etc. prices of which are fluctuating as per demand-supply factors with reference to crude oil prices and foreign currency fluctuation. However the same can be mitigated to extend as the company does book forward contract.
ARL operates in a highly fragmented market marked by the presence of a large number of players in the unorganized and organized sector, which accounts for high share of the total domestic turnover. Since the industry is highly competitive ARL has low bargaining power and as a result the company has to follows a competitive price strategy.
The ratings of ARL are arrived at on a standalone basis after independent evaluation of its financial risk profile. For arriving at its ratings, BWR has applied its rating methodology as detailed in the rating criteria hyperlinks.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
Positive: Significant growth in revenue and overall improvement in operating margins to 4.5% along with net profit margins above 1.5% with sustained increase in TNW and achievement of 115% of the projected revenue.
Negative: Rating may be downgraded in case there is a deterioration in the financial risk profile and liquidity position of the company, along with a decline in net profit margins below 0.5% and a decrease in the company's TNW below Rs. 25.00 Crs
LIQUIDITY INDICATORS - Adequate
The cash and bank balance stood at Rs.0.14 Crore as on 9MFY25. The current ratio stood moderate at 1.25 times as on Dec 31, 2025. The average fund based working capital utilization stood at 81.6% for the past 9 months ended Dec 2024. Moreover, the company net accruals stood at Rs.10.76 Crore as on Dec 2024.ISCR stood at healthy position at 6.37x in 9MFY25 and 2.74x in FY24 along with healthy DSCR of 3.66x in 9MFY25 and 1.43x in FY24.
(As per rationale dated 22 April 2025)
ABOUT THE ENTITY
| Macro Economic Indicator | Sector | Industry | Basic Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commodities | Chemicals | Chemicals & Petrochemicals | Petrochemicals |
Asterix Reinforced Limited (ARL) was originally established in 2007, under the name of “Orson Petrochemicals Limited” and changed its name to “Bombay Highpolymer Chemical Product Limited in 2009.The company (ARL) was engaged in trading of Unsaturated Polyester Resin till FY16. Subsequently, in December 2016, the company changed its name to Asterix Reinforced Limited and promoted by Mr. Pawan Drolia and Mrs. Meenu Mandelia. The company is engaged in the manufacturing of unsaturated polyester resin, Gelcoat, SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound) which its application for production of fiber reinforced plastics and filled plastic products, including sanitary-ware, tanks, pipes, gratings, and high performance components for the marine and transportation industry such as closure and body panels, fenders, boat hulls/ decks and other large glass fiber reinforced plastic articles. Unsaturated polyester resins also find uses in coatings and adhesives and the Artificial or Quartz Marble Industry.. Furthermore, the ARL designs and develops tailor-made products as per client's requirement. The company is situated at Mumbai (Headquartered office) with the manufacturing facility, located in Silvassa, Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli with production capacity of over 2000 MT per month. The major raw material required are Maleic Anhydride, Phthalic Anhydride, Styrene Monomer, Polypropylene Glycol, MP Diol, Mono Ethylene Glycol, Di Ethylene Glycol etc. and the same is procured 20% through imports from China &Taiwan and rest 80% is procured from domestic market.
KEY FINANCIAL INDICATORS (Standalone)| Key Parameters | Units |
FY 22 - 23 (Audited) |
FY 23 - 24 (Audited) |
FY 24 - 25 (Provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenue | Rs.Crs. | 257.77 | 294.16 | 239.19 |
| EBITDA | Rs.Crs. | 8.09 | 10.96 | 15.07 |
| PAT | Rs.Crs. | 1.35 | 1.82 | 5.68 |
| Tangible Net Worth | Rs.Crs. | 26.41 | 28.23 | 33.91 |
| Total Debt / Tangible Net Worth | Times | 1.29 | 1.48 | 1.07 |
| Current Ratio | Times | 1.14 | 1.09 | 1.25 |
The terms of sanction include standard covenants normally stipulated for such facilities.
| Creadit Rating Agency | Status and Reason for Non-Cooparation | Date of Press Release |
|---|---|---|
| CARE | Due to non-submission of the relevant information. | 05Nov2024 |
NIL
RATING HISTORY FOR THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS (including withdrawal and suspended)| Facilities | Current Rating (2025) | 2025 (History) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Tenure | Amount (Rs.Crs.) |
Rating | Date | Rating | Date | Rating | Date | Rating | Date | Rating |
| Fund Based | LT | 17.74 |
BWR BB+/Rating Watch with Negative Implications
(Downgrade) |
22Apr2025 |
BWR BBB- Stable
(removal from ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Upgraded) |
18Apr2024 |
BWR B+ Stable
(Continues to be in ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Downgraded) |
27Feb2023 |
BWR BB Stable
(ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* /Downgrade) |
NA |
NA
|
| Fund Based | ST | 5.00 |
BWR A4+
(Downgrade) |
22Apr2025 |
BWR A3
(Assignment) |
NA |
NA
|
NA |
NA
|
NA |
NA
|
| Non Fund Based | ST | 16.50 |
BWR A4+
(Downgrade) |
22Apr2025 |
BWR A3
(removal from ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Upgraded) |
18Apr2024 |
BWR A4
(Continues to be in ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Reaffirmed) |
27Feb2023 |
BWR A4
(ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* /Downgrade) |
NA |
NA
|
| NFB SubLimit | ST | (3.00) |
BWR A4+
(Downgrade) |
22Apr2025 |
BWR A3
(removal from ISSUER NOT COOPERATING* category/Upgraded) |
NA |
NA
|
NA |
NA
|
NA |
NA
|
| NFB SubLimit | ST | (5.00) |
BWR A4+
(Downgrade) |
NA |
NA
|
NA |
NA
|
NA |
NA
|
NA |
NA
|
| Grand Total | 39.24 | (Rupees Thirty Nine Crores and Twenty Four lakhs Only) | |||||||||
| Analytical Contacts | |
|---|---|
|
Prajwal Biraj Rating Analyst prajwal.b@brickworkratings.com |
Ravi Rashmi Dhar Director - Ratings ravi.d@brickworkratings.com |
| 1-860-425-2742 | media@brickworkratings.com | Customer Support | CustSupport@brickwrokratings.com |
| SL.No. | Name of the Bank/Lender | Type Of Facilities | Long Term(Rs.Crs.) | Short Term(Rs.Crs.) | Total(Rs.Crs.) | Complexity of the Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cash CreditProposed | 5.00 | _ | 5.00 | Simple## | |
| 2 | Letter of CreditProposed | _ | 4.00 | 4.00 | Simple## | |
| 3 | Federal Bank | Derivative LimitSanctioned | _ | 1.00 | 1.00 | Simple## |
| 4 | Federal Bank | Line of CreditSanctioned | _ | _ | 0.00 | Simple## |
| 5 | Federal Bank | Bill Discounted (BD)Sanctioned | _ | 5.00 | 5.00 | Simple## |
| 6 | Federal Bank | Letter of CreditSanctioned | _ | 11.50 | 11.50 | Simple## |
| Sub-Limit (Bank Guarantee) Sanctioned | (5.00) | |||||
| Sub-Limit (LOU for Buyers Credit) Sanctioned | (3.00) | |||||
| 7 | Federal Bank | Term LoanOut-standing | 0.33 | _ | 0.33 | Simple## |
| 8 | Federal Bank | Term LoanOut-standing | _ | _ | 0.00 | Simple## |
| 9 | Federal Bank | Term LoanOut-standing | _ | _ | 0.00 | Simple## |
| 10 | Federal Bank | Term LoanOut-standing | 1.41 | _ | 1.41 | Simple## |
| 11 | Federal Bank | Cash CreditSanctioned | 11.00 | _ | 11.00 | Simple## |
| Total | 17.74 | 21.50 | 39.24 | |||
| TOTAL (Rupees Thirty Nine Crores and Twenty Four lakhs Only) | ||||||
## 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.
| Instrument | Issue Date | Amount (Rs.Crs) | Coupon Rate (%) | Maturity Date | ISIN Particulars | Complexity of the Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Name of Entity | % Ownership | Extent of consolidation | Rationale for consolidation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
The Rating Rationale is sent to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your print, digital or electronic media. While it may be used by you acknowledging credit to BWR, please do not change the wordings in the rationale to avoid conveying a meaning different from what was intended by BWR. BWR alone has the sole right of sharing (both direct and indirect) its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any print or electronic or digital media.
About Brickwork RatingsBrickwork Ratings (BWR), a Securities and Exchange Board of India [SEBI] registered Credit Rating Agency and accredited by Reserve Bank of India [RBI], offers credit ratings of Bank Loan, Non- convertible / convertible / partially convertible debentures and other capital market instruments and bonds, Commercial Paper, perpetual bonds, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured / credit enhanced debt instruments, Security Receipts, Securitization Products, Municipal Bonds, etc. BWR has rated over 11,560 medium and large corporates and financial institutions’ instruments. BWR has also rated NGOs, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Real Estate Developers, Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Corporations. BWR has Canara Bank, a leading public sector bank, as one of the promoters and strategic partner.
Disclaimer
Brickwork Ratings India Pvt. Ltd. (BWR), a Securities and Exchange Board of India [SEBI] registered Credit Rating Agency and accredited by the Reserve Bank of India [RBI], offers credit ratings of Bank Loan facilities, Non- convertible / convertible / partially convertible debentures and other capital market instruments and bonds, Commercial Paper, perpetual bonds, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured / credit enhanced debt instruments, Security Receipts, Securitization Products, Municipal Bonds, etc. [ hereafter referred to as "Instruments"]. BWR also rates NGOs, Educational Institutions, Hospitals, Real Estate Developers, Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Corporations.
BWR wishes to inform all persons who may come across Rating Rationales and Rating Reports provided by BWR that the ratings assigned by BWR are based on information obtained from the issuer of the instrument and other reliable sources, which in BWR's best judgment are considered reliable. The Rating Rationale / Rating Report & other rating communications are intended for the jurisdiction of India only. The reports 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 Europe and also the USA).
BWR also wishes to inform that access or use of the said documents does not create a client relationship between the user and BWR.
The ratings assigned by BWR are only an expression of BWR's opinion on the entity / instrument and should not in any manner be construed as being a recommendation to either, purchase, hold or sell the instrument.
BWR also wishes to abundantly clarify that these ratings are not to be considered as an investment advice in any jurisdiction nor are they to be used as a basis for or as an alternative to independent financial advice and judgment obtained from the user's financial advisors. BWR shall not be liable to any losses incurred by the users of these Rating Rationales, Rating Reports or its contents. BWR reserves the right to vary, modify, suspend or withdraw the ratings at any time without assigning reasons for the same.
BWR's ratings reflect BWR's opinion on the day the ratings are published and are not reflective of factual circumstances that may have arisen on a later date. BWR is not obliged to update its opinion based on any public notification, in any form or format although BWR may disseminate its opinion and analysis when deemed fit.
Neither BWR nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as the directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, "BWR Party") guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Ratings, and no BWR 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 Rating Rationales or Rating Reports. Each BWR Party disclaims 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 BWR Party be liable to any one 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 Rating Rationales and/or Rating Reports even if advised of the possibility of such damages. However, BWR or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity. BWR and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary.
BWR keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of BWR may have information that is not available to other BWR business units. BWR has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process.
BWR clarifies that it may have been paid a fee by the issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities etc., or from obligors. BWR's public ratings and analysis are made available on its web site, www.brickworkratings.com. More detailed information may be provided for a fee. BWR's rating criteria are also generally made available without charge on BWR's website.
This disclaimer forms an integral part of the Ratings Rationales / Rating Reports or other press releases, advisories, communications issued by BWR and circulation of the ratings without this disclaimer is prohibited.
BWR is bound by the Code of Conduct for Credit Rating Agencies issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India and is governed by the applicable regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India as amended from time to time.