Press Release

JCR-VIS Assigns Initial Entity Ratings to Gadoon Textile Mills Limited

Karachi, October 29, 2018: JCR-VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (JCR-VIS) has assigned initial entity ratings of ‘A+/A-1’ (Single A Plus/A-One) to Gadoon Textile Mills Limited (GTML). The long-term rating of ‘A+’ signifies good credit quality and adequate protection factors; risk factors may vary with possible changes in the economy. The short-term rating of ‘A-1’ signifies high certainty of timely payment; liquidity factors are excellent and supported by good fundamental protection factors while risk factors are minor. Outlook on the assigned ratings is ‘Stable’.

GTML is part of Yunus Brothers Group (YBG). The company is the largest spinning enterprise in the country and has around three decades of experience in the textile sector. GTML produces yarn (both coarse & fine counts) and knitted fabric through two units located at Karachi in Sindh and at Swabi District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The company’s yarn is primarily sold to large scale local textile industry, the key markets being Karachi, Faisalabad and Lahore. GTML also sells products to international market. “Koyal” (local) and “Peach” (export) are two of GTML’s key brands.

The assigned ratings favorably factor in GTML’s extensive experience in the spinning industry, large scale and consistent operating performance with continuous focus on efficiency enhancements. Ratings are further supported by sound liquidity profile and diversification of income streams where market value of investments carried on balance sheet is significantly higher than carrying value. Ratings also incorporate sound corporate governance infrastructure along with implicit support of YBG, a reputable conglomerate with strong financial profile and presence in diversified sectors including textiles, cement, real estate, power generation, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and automotive sectors. However, ratings are constrained by company’s exposure to cyclicality and volatility in margins.

Inherent cyclicality of cotton price and crop levels drives performance of players operating in the spinning sector. Historically, margins and financial performance of players have depicted seasonality. Moreover, competitive intensity is high due to commoditized nature of the product. Comfort is drawn from GTML’s product diversity (produces both cotton and blended yarn) and presence across a wide count range. However, as with other local producers in the spinning sector, reliance on China as the major export market translates into country concentration risk. Imposition of duties ranging from 10-25% on Chinese textile exports to USA is expected to impact yarn exports from Pakistan to China.

Net sales of the company have increased at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.3% over the past five fiscal years (FY14-18). Gross margins have witnessed improvement on the back of shift in fuel mix towards cheaper natural gas from furnace oil, strategic procurement of local and imported cotton and BMR activities. JCR-VIS expects increasing trend in cotton prices and efficiency gains to support margins & profitability. However, increase in finance cost, higher cost of doing business (due to increase in projected inflation) and growth in cost of production due to existing proportion of imported cotton in production mix would be countervailing factors. Profitability profile is supported by returns from strategic investments in ICI Pakistan Limited, Lucky Holdings Limited and Yunus Energy Limited. Furthermore, GTML has notified Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Stock Exchange regarding shareholders’ approval for investment in various power projects, which may further diversify the company’s asset base in future.

Debt profile is primarily short-term in nature and a function of inventory carried on balance sheet. While Debt Servicing Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is expected to decline slightly as a result of funds mobilized for expansion and diversification projects, the same is expected to remain at comfortable levels given adequate cash flow from operations and extended and staggered long-term debt repayments which will allow GTML financial flexibility in undertaking diversification projects.

For further information on this rating announcement, please contact Mr. Talha Iqbal (Ext: 213) or the undersigned (Ext: 201) at 021-35311861-71 or fax to 021-35311872-3.


Javed Callea
Advisor

Applicable Rating Criteria: Industrial Corporates (May 2016)
http://www.jcrvis.com.pk/docs/Corporate-Methodology-201605.pdf

Information herein was obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable; however, VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information.VIS , the analysts involved in the rating process and members of its rating committee do not have any conflict of interest relating to the rating(s)/ranking(s) mentioned in this report.VIS is paid a fee for most rating assignments. This rating/ranking is an opinion and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Copyright 2018 VIS Credit Rating Company Limited . All rights reserved. Contents may be used by news media with credit to VIS .