Product Quantum (Rs. Cr) Long Term Rating Short Term Rating
Bank Loan Ratings 110.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Reaffirmed & Withdrawn -
Bank Loan Ratings 38.00 - ACUITE A2 | Reaffirmed & Withdrawn
Total Outstanding Quantum (Rs. Cr) 0.00 - -
Total Withdrawn Quantum (Rs. Cr) 148.00 - -
 
Rating Rationale
Acuité has withdrawn the long term rating of ‘ACUITE BBB+’ (read as ACUITE triple B plus) and short-term rating of ‘ACUITE A2’ (read as ACUITE A two) on the Rs. 148.00 Cr of bank facilities of Balmukund Sponge & Iron Private Limited (BSIPL).
The withdrawal is as per Acuite's policy of withdrawal of ratings. The rating withdrawal is on account of the request received from the company, and the NOC received from the banker.­

About the Company
Incorporated in 1999 by Mr. Nawal Kumar Kanodia, Mr. Abhishek Kanodia, Balmukund Sponge & Iron Private Limited (BSIPL) is the flagship company of the Balmukund Group. The company is engaged in manufacturing of sponge iron, MS Billet and TMT bars under the brand name of ‘Balmukund Super TMT’ with an installed capacity of 90,000 MTPA of sponge iron, 219200 MTPA of MS billet, 37,000 MTPA of pig iron and 246000 MTPA of TMT Bar. The company has its manufacturing facility located at Giridih, Jharkhand.­
 
About the Group
Incorporated in 1987, Balajee Mini Steels & Re-rolling Private Limited was established by Mr. Nawal Kumar Kanodia and Mr. Abhishek Kanodia and is engaged in manufacturing of MS billet and TMT bar under the same brand of ‘Balmukund Super TMT’ with an installed capacity of 60,000 MTPA for each. It has its manufacturing facility located in Patna, Bihar.

Incorporated in 2004, Balmukund Cement & Roofings Private Limited was established by Mr. Nawal Kumar Kanodia and Mr. Abhishek Kanodia and stated commercial operation from 2013. The company is engaged in manufacturing of AC roofing sheets with an installed capacity of 118,000 MTPA. It has its manufacturing facility located at Purulia, West Bengal.
 
Analytical Approach
Acuité has consolidated the financial and business risk profiles of Balmukund Sponge & Iron Private Limited, Balajee Mini Steels & Re-rolling Private Limited, and Balmukund Cement & Roofings Private Limited. The group is herein referred to as Balmukund Group. The same is on account of common management, a common parent, financial linkages in terms of corporate guarantee, and business linkages in the form of same distribution channel.­
 

Key Rating Drivers

Strengths
Long track record of operation and experienced management
The group has a long execution track record of 20 years in the iron and steel industry and is one of the leaders in the Bihar and Jharkhand market. The promoter of the group Mr. Nawal Kumar Kanodia, Mr. Abhishek Kanodia possesses more than two decades of experience in the iron and steel industry. The group has a long presence in this sector and has established a healthy relationship with customers for more than a decade.

Healthy scale of operation
The revenue of the group stood at Rs.889.64 crore in FY2022 as compared to Rs.760.69 crore in the previous year. This improvement in revenue of the group is mainly on account of an increase in average realization despite of decrease in volume sales during the period. Currently, the group has achieved a revenue of Rs.1448.04 crore till 31st March 2023 (Provisional). Moreover, this significant improvement in top-line of the group during FY23 (Provisional) is on account of improvement in volume sales backed by enhancement of existing capacity during the period coupled with a steady rise in the average realisation of rolled products. Acuité believes that the revenue of the group will increase on account of the increase in steady demand in the iron and steel industry in the domestic market.

Healthy financial risk profile'
The financial risk profile of the group is marked by healthy net worth, comfortable gearing, and strong debt protection metrics. The net worth of the group stood at Rs.178.52 crore in FY 2022 as compared to Rs 184.78 crore in FY2021. This decrease in net worth is mainly due to withdrawal of quasi capital from the business during FY2022. The gearing of the group stood comfortably at 1.00 times as on March 31, 2022, compared to 0.63 times as on March 31, 2021. This increase in overall gearing is on account of an increase in short term debt during the period. The interest coverage ratio (ICR) is strong and stood at 3.45 times in FY2022 as against 2.60 times in FY 2021. The debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of the group also stood comfortably at 2.40 times in FY2022 as compared to 2.17 times in the previous year. The net cash accruals to total debt (NCA/TD) stood comfortably at 0.18 times in FY2022 as compared to 0.24 times in the previous year. Going forward, Acuité believes the financial risk profile of the group will remain healthy on account of healthy net cash accruals over the near term and the absence of any debt funded capex plan.­
Weaknesses
Declining profitability margin
The operating profitability margin of the company has declined and stood comfortably at 5.81 percent in FY2022 as compared to 6.47 percent in the previous year. This deterioration in profitability margin is on account of an increase in raw material prices backed by the global increase in iron and steel products during the period. Further, the operating profitability margin of the company has declined to 6.48 percent in FY2021 as compared to 9.30 percent in FY2020. This significant decrease in operating profitability is on account of increase in raw material prices and an increase in selling expenses in Balmukund Sponge and Iron Private Limited. The group was expanded to the new markets in Bihar and Jharkhand to utilise the enhanced capacity of TMT bars during FY2021, resulting in an increase in commission and advertisement expenses during the same period. The operating profitability margin has also been impacted during FY21 on account of a decrease in consultation income in one of the group companies, i.e., Balmukund Cement and Roofing Pvt. Ltd. The group was providing services to government clients for procuring pipes till FY2021. Currently, the group has completely stopped providing consulting services.

However, the operating profitability margin of the group has improved to 6.30 percent in FY23 (Est.). This improvement in profitability is due to the group's ability to pass on its incremental raw material costs to its customers by reaching out to more geographical regions in Bihar and Jharkhand during the period.

The net profitability margin of the group stood at 2.33 percent in FY2022 as compared to 2.22 percent in the previous year.

Acuité believes the profitability margin of the group will improve over the medium term on account of its well-established position in the markets of Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Working capital intensive nature of operation
The working capital management of the group is marked by relatively high gross current asset (GCA) days of 108 days in FY2022 as compared to 126 days in FY2021. This improvement in GCA days is on account of a decrease in debtor days during FY2022. The inventory holding period of the group stood at 77 days in FY2022 as compared to 59 days in the previous year. The debtor days of the group stood comfortably at 07 days in FY2022 as compared to 24 days in the previous year. Going forward, Acuité believes working capital intensity will remain at similar levels over the medium term.­
Rating Sensitivities
  • Growth in scale of operations while maintaining operating profitability.
  • Sustenance of their conservative capital structure
  • Working capital management
  • Any unplanned debt funded capex
 
Material covenants
None­
 
Liquidity Position: Adequate
­The group has adequate liquidity marked by comfortable net cash accruals of Rs.31.37 crore as against Rs.3.91 crore long term debt obligations in FY2022. The cash accruals of the group are estimated to remain in the range of around Rs. 59.22 crore to Rs. 71.75 crore during 2023-24 as against Rs. 3.45 crore of long term debt obligation in FY2023 and in FY2024. The current ratio of the group stood moderate at 1.24 times in FY2022. The working capital intensive nature of the group is marked by relatively high Gross Current Asset (GCA) days of 108 days in FY2022. The bank limit of the group has been ~82 percent utilized during the last six months ended in March 2023. Acuité believes that the liquidity of the group is likely to remain adequate over the medium term on account of healthy cash accruals against long debt repayments over the medium term.
 
Outlook
Not Applicable­
 

Particulars Unit FY 22 (Actual) FY 21 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr. 889.64 760.69
PAT Rs. Cr. 20.74 16.90
PAT Margin (%) 2.33 2.22
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 1.00 0.63
PBDIT/Interest Times 3.45 2.60
Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable)
­None
 
Any other information
None­
 
Applicable Criteria
• Default Recognition :- https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-52.htm
• Manufacturing Entities: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-59.htm
• Application Of Financial Ratios And Adjustments: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-53.htm

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument
In order to inform the investors about complexity of instruments, Acuité has categorized such instruments in three levels: Simple, Complex and Highly Complex. Acuite’ s categorisation of the instruments across the three categories is based on factors like variability of the returns to the investors, uncertainty in cash flow patterns, number of counterparties and general understanding of the instrument by the market. It has to be understood that complexity is different from credit risk and even an instrument categorized as 'Simple' can carry high levels of risk. For more details, please refer Rating Criteria “Complexity Level Of Financial Instruments” on www.acuite.in­
 

Date Name of Instruments/Facilities Term Amount (Rs. Cr) Rating/Outlook
26 May 2023 Bank Guarantee Short Term 8.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 50.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 5.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 55.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 30.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
05 Apr 2022 Cash Credit Long Term 40.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Bank Guarantee Short Term 8.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Proposed Bank Facility Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Assigned)
Proposed Cash Credit Long Term 9.50 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 10.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 15.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 25.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Proposed Cash Credit Long Term 0.50 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 20.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
10 Mar 2022 Bank Guarantee Short Term 8.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Proposed Cash Credit Long Term 9.50 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Proposed Cash Credit Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 10.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 40.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 20.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 15.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 25.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Reaffirmed)
16 Feb 2021 Proposed Short Term Loan Short Term 1.27 ACUITE A2 (Assigned)
Cash Credit Long Term 48.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Assigned)
Letter of Credit Short Term 36.74 ACUITE A2 (Assigned)
Bank Guarantee Short Term 16.00 ACUITE A2 (Assigned)
Term Loan Long Term 1.29 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Assigned)
­

Lender’s Name ISIN Facilities Date Of Issuance Coupon Rate Maturity Date Quantum (Rs. Cr.) Complexity Level Rating
HDFC Bank Ltd Not Applicable Bank Guarantee (BLR) Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 8.00 Simple ACUITE A2 | Reaffirmed & Withdrawn
ICICI Bank Ltd Not Applicable Cash Credit Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 5.00 Simple ACUITE BBB+ | Reaffirmed & Withdrawn
Yes Bank Ltd Not Applicable Cash Credit Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 50.00 Simple ACUITE BBB+ | Reaffirmed & Withdrawn
HDFC Bank Ltd Not Applicable Cash Credit Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 55.00 Simple ACUITE BBB+ | Reaffirmed & Withdrawn
HDFC Bank Ltd Not Applicable Letter of Credit Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 30.00 Simple ACUITE A2 | Reaffirmed & Withdrawn
­

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