Press Release
VIS Reaffirms Entity Ratings of Al-Noor Sugar Mills Limited
Karachi, June 06, 2022: VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) has reaffirmed the entity ratings of Al-Noor Sugar Mills Limited (ASML) at ‘A-/A-2’ (Single A Minus/A-Two). Long-term rating of ‘A-’ signifies good credit quality with adequate protection factors. Risk may vary slightly from time to time because of economic conditions. Short-term rating of ‘A-2’ depicts good certainty of timely payment where liquidity factors are sound with good access to capital markets. Outlook on the assigned rating is ‘Stable’. The previous rating action was announced on June 30, 2021.
The ratings assigned to ASML take into account the company’s association with Al-Noor Group having business interests in sugar, ethanol, medium density fiber, modaraba and insurance. Business risk profile of sugar sector is high given inherent cyclicality in crop levels and raw material prices along with any adverse changes in regulatory duties. However, given the projected higher crop coverage area and yields, the balance of raw material demand supply dynamics is expected to remain manageable. The ratings further take note of developments with regards to penalties imposed by CCP on certain sugar mills and legal proceedings for interim relief initiated by the subject company. However, in the meanwhile, uncertainty of the outcome would persist on the sector. The material impact of penalty imposed (amounting to Rs. 517m) on ASML will be significant therefore VIS will continue to monitor further development in this matter. Moreover, any negative decision by the court of law will be incorporated in the rating action accordingly.
The ratings incorporate extensive sponsors experience in the sugar sector, satisfactory operating track records and financial flexibility in view of diversified revenue stream. Revenue of the company was impacted by decrease in sugar division sales due to lower dispatches with higher selling price, partially offset by increase in medium density fiber board (MDFB) sales during the outgoing year. Despite increase in sugarcane procurement price, gross margins improved in line with improvement in sucrose recovery rate, increase in selling prices for both sugar and MDFB coupled with rationalization of financial expense borne by the company in line with reduction in benchmark rates. The ratings draw strength from adequate liquidity position in the outgoing year, which going forward would need to be maintained and strengthened. Leverage indicators were largely maintained; however, the same continue to remain the highest amongst peers. Further, given there are no extensive capex plans in prospective, leverage indicators are expected to improve during the rating horizon due to equity expansion, which is the lowest in the peer group, on the back of profit retention. Going forward, the growth in topline would be largely driven by enhanced operations as there is room for improvement in capacity utilization indicators in sugar segment; the same will strengthen overall risk profile of the company. The ratings will remain sensitive to maintaining capitalization and liquidity profiles at acceptable levels while improving coverages, going forward.
For further information on this rating announcement, please contact Ms. Maham Qasim (042-35723411-13, Ext. 8010) and/or the undersigned at 021-35311861-66 (Ext. 207) or email at info@vis.com.pk .
Faryal Faheem Ahmed
Deputy CEO
Applicable rating criterion: Corporates (August 2021)
https://docs.vis.com.pk/docs/CorporateMethodology202108.pdf
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