Press Release Welspun Captive Power Generation
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Press Release Welspun Captive Power Generation Ltd February 15, 2019 Ratings Amount Facilities Ratings1 Remarks (Rs. crore) Short -term Bank Facilities 65 CARE A1+ Revised from CARE A2+ (A One Plus) Total 65 (Rupees Sixty Five crore only) Non-Convertible Debentures^ CARE AA (SO); Stable Reaffirmed 88 [Double A (Structured Obligation); Outlook: Stable] ^Backed by unconditional and irrevocable Corporate Guarantee of Welspun India Ltd (rated ‘CARE AA: Stable/CARE A1+’) Detailed Rationale & Key Rating Drivers-of the company The short-term rating assigned to Welspun Captive Power Generation Ltd’s (WCPGL’s) bank facilities continues to factor in comfortable liquidity position of the company as reflected by substantial cash balance and liquid investments, improved operating performance of the plant as evinced by PLF levels. This has resulted in improvement in operational cash-flows and provides strong revenue visibility for the future. The rating assigned also factors in comfortable capital structure on account of reduction in debt. The rating continues to derive comfort from the parentage of the Welspun group and experience of the management in operating captive power plants, low off-take risk due to the requirement for additional cost-effective and reliable source of power by the group. The rating is, however, constrained by absence of long term arrangements for assured supply of fuel (coal) and dependence on the group companies for revenue generation. WCPGL’s ability to achieve and maintain the envisaged Plant Load Factor (PLF) ensuring continuous supply of cost- effective power and any significant change in off-takers’ credit profile are the key rating sensitivities. The rating assigned to the long-term instruments of WGCPL continue to factor in credit enhancement in form of unconditional and irrevocable corporate guarantee extended by Welspun India Ltd (WIL rated CARE AA; Stable/A1+) to the Non-Convertible Debenture (NCD) holders for the repayment obligations. Detailed Rationale & Key Rating Drivers of the guarantor-Welspun India Ltd The reaffirmation in the ratings assigned to the long term facilities and Commercial Paper issue of Welspun India Limited (WIL) reflects the, demonstrated strong relationships with large global retail chains, steady revenues, comfortable capital structure and healthy debt coverage indicators. The ratings continue to draw comfort from the resourceful promoters (i.e. Welspun group) and extensive experience of the management, WIL’s leading position in home textiles segment with global reach, its well-diversified product portfolio, strong brand image and increasing level of vertical and backward integration. The ratings are, however, constrained by WIL’s exposure to inherent industry risks, such as volatility in raw material prices and fluctuations in foreign currency. However, the same is largely covered through Price variation/pass through mechanism with its major customers. WIL’s ability to achieve the envisaged growth in the revenue and profit following successful completion of the planned capex in the flooring division is a rating sensitivity. Moreover, addition of any large-sized project impacting financial risk profile is also a rating sensitivity. Detailed description of the key rating drivers- of the company Key Rating strengths: Parentage of the Welspun group: WCPGL is a part of the Welspun group, a USD 2.3 billion diversified conglomerate which is into varied businesses which include line pipes, steel and textiles. By virtue of being a part of the Welspun group, WCPGL draws strength from the experience of the management in implementation of projects and operation of industrial units and captive power plants. Low off-take risk: The off-take risk of WCPGL is lower as the entire capacity is consumed by the group companies. WIL holds 95% stake in WCPGL as on date, while Welspun Steel Ltd (WSL) and Welspun Corp Ltd (WCL) hold 3.15% and 1.75% 1 Complete definition of the ratings assigned is available at www.careratings.com and other CARE publications 1 CARE Ratings Limited Press Release respectively. Power off-take generally would happen in the proportion of shareholding; however power off-take quantity is fungible amongst shareholders. WIL which holds 95% stake in the company has a superior credit profile which augurs well from credit perspective. Comfortable liquidity position and healthy capital structure: WCPGL has a comfortable liquidity position as reflected by substantial cash balance and liquid investments, improved operating performance of the plant as evinced by PLF levels. Further, the capital structure of the company is also robust due to reduction in debt levels. As at the end of FY18, the overall gearing of WCPGL stood at 0.60x as against that of 1.11x at the end of FY17. PBILDT interest coverage stood at 8.41x at the end of FY18 as against that of 2.02x at the end of FY17. Liquidity analysis: WCPGL has cash and cash equivalents of Rs.11.43 crore and current investments of Rs.79.51 crore as on December 31, 2018. The unutilized non-fund based limit stood at Rs.15 crore as on December 31, 2018. Considering that the company does not have any long term debt obligations in FY19, the liquidity position of the company is comfortable. Key Rating Weaknesses: Absence of arrangement for assured supply of coal: WCPGL operates its power plant on imported coal. However, the company does not have long-term arrangements in place thereby exposing the company to the risk related to supply of raw materials. Significant dependence on the group companies for revenue generation: Since the company derives 100% of its revenues from group companies, the financial performance of company would be contingent upon power off-take and timely payments by the group companies. However, the group benefits from the assured power provided by WCPGL as such the plant remains important to the group. Detailed description of the key rating drivers-of the guarantor Key Rating Strengths Resourceful promoters: WIL is a prominent company of the Welspun group, a USD 2.3 billion diversified conglomerate with established track record in fields such as line pipes, steel and textiles. By virtue of being a part Welspun group, the company draws strength from the experience and competence of the management. Leading position in home textiles segment with global reach: WIL is the largest home textiles company in Asia and amongst top three home textiles manufacturers in the world. The company is the largest exporter of home textile products from India and supplies to 17 of the Top 30 global retailers. Established relationship with the large global retail chains: WIL has been a regular supplier over many years to leading retail chains such as Walmart Stores, Kohls, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ikea Trading Hong Kong Ltd., Macy's Merchandising Group Llc, which provides revenue stability. Steady revenue: The company has been reporting steady revenues on a YoY basis. Though the revenue of the company was impacted to an extent in FY18 on account of de-stocking by major retailers in the US, the situation is subsiding as evinced by recovery in revenue in 9M FY19. Comfortable capital structure: The capital structure of the company has stabilized over the last few years. Consolidated gearing has improved from 1.48x as at end-FY17 to 1.34x as at end-FY17. Improvement in consolidated gearing level was on account of reducing debt and increasing accretion to reserves. Liquidity analysis: The liquidity position of the company is comfortable as reflected by cash and cash equivalents of Rs.435.20 crore as on December 31, 2018. Further, the company also has unutilized fund based limit of Rs.75.62 crore and unutilized CP limit of Rs.160 crore as on December 31, 2018. Key Rating Weaknesses WIL’s exposure to inherent industry risks: The company’s margins are to an extent susceptible to volatility in raw material prices and currency fluctuation risk. However, the same is largely covered through Price variation/pass through mechanism with its major customers. Analytical approach: Standalone/Guarantor’s assessment Applicable Criteria: Criteria on assigning Outlook to Credit Ratings CARE’s Policy on Default Recognition Rating Methodology: Factoring Linkages in Ratings 2 CARE Ratings Limited Press Release Rating Methodology - Infrastructure Sector Ratings Financial ratios – Non-Financial Sector Rating Methodology - Private Power Producers About the Company-WCPGL WCPGL was promoted by the Welspun Group through four group companies, viz., Welspun Corp Ltd. (WCL), Welspun India Ltd. (WIL), Welspun Steel Ltd. (WSL) and AYM Syntex Limited. The current shareholding structure (as on date) is as follows: Company Shareholding Welspun India Ltd (WIL) 95% Welspun Corp Ltd (WCL) 1.75% Welspun Steel Ltd (WSL) 3.15% Others 0.00% WCPGL operates a 1x80 Mega-Watt (MW) coal-based Captive Power Plant (CPP) to cater to the additional power requirement of the group companies, i.e. WIL, WSL and WCL, located at Welspun group’s manufacturing complex at Welspun City, Anjar, Bhuj Dist., Gujarat. Power generated by WCPGL would generally be purchased in the ratio of the equity shareholding of the company. However power off-take quantity is fungible amongst shareholders. During FY18 WCPGL reported consolidated total income of Rs.366.07 crore and consolidated PAT of Rs.54.05 crore as compared to total income Rs.215.60 crore and PAT of Rs.19.10 crore in FY17. Brief Financials (Rs. crore) FY17 (A) FY18 (A) Total operating income 215.60 366.07 PBILDT 56.53 127.41 PAT 19.10 54.05 Overall gearing (times) 1.11 0.60 Interest coverage (times) 2.02 8.41 A: Audited About the Guarantor-WIL (guarantee given for NCDs) WIL is a prominent company of the Welspun group promoted by Late Mr. G.R. Goenka, Mr. B.K. Goenka and Mr. R.R. Mandawewala. WIL is the largest home textiles company in Asia and amongst top three home textiles manufacturers in the world.