Krishca Strapp.
Q3 FY24 Earnings Call Analysis
Industrial Products
fundraise: Yescapex: Yesrevenue: Category 2margin: Category 3orderbook: Yes
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- The company is **not looking for any further equity dilution immediately**.
- Recently raised funds are expected to be sufficient for ongoing and planned CAPEX.
- If additional term loans are needed, it would be **limited to around 15-20 crores**, which is not significant.
- No mention of any immediate or large-scale new fundraising through debt or equity beyond what is already raised.
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- Krishca Strapping Solutions is investing in a Special Steel Production Plant in Chennai, aimed at expanding production capabilities and diversifying product offerings.
- Planned CAPEX for the next 12 months is around ₹60-70 crore, over and above ₹20 crore reported as CWIP previously.
- New plant construction to start soon, expected operational by December 2025, with a capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 tons, including cold rolling capability for specialty steels.
- Approximately 40% of production will serve in-house strapping needs; 60% targeted for external specialty steel markets.
- Additional investments include machinery for seven to eight new product lines expected to generate ₹100 crore turnover over two years after reaching full capacity.
- Other projects on hold, including UAE plant and MIG welding plant, focusing resources on Indian CAPEX.
- The company is also planning a 2 MW solar plant (~₹10 crore) as part of CAPEX.
- Funding largely secured through recent equity issue; minimal incremental debt expected (up to ₹15-20 crore).
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- The company targets consistent year-on-year top-line growth of around 25% as guided at the start of the year.
- Volume growth has been strong, with a 40% increase in tons in the first half, while revenue grew only 10% due to falling steel prices.
- Expected to achieve over 25% top-line growth this year, with sales volume continuing to scale up.
- New production lines and backward integration plans (cold rolling mill) will support growth and entry into new steel product markets.
- Packaging contracts pipeline worth approximately ₹962 crore with a 30-35% conversion ratio, potentially adding ₹250-300 crore in orders in the next six months.
- Expansion in packaging contracts will increase steel strapping consumption internally, driving further volume growth.
- New product introductions and incremental sales from smaller customers expected to expand revenue streams.
- Utilization of the new plant expected to improve from current 20-25% towards 40-50% by year-end.
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- The company expects more than 25% year-on-year top-line growth in the next financial year.
- EBITDA and net profit are expected to increase in the second half of the current financial year and the next year, following large order wins.
- EPS for H1 FY25 stood at Rs. 4.21, with profitability expected to improve as margins normalize post temporary inventory losses.
- Operating margins are projected to return to around 20% in H2 after the one-off dip caused by steel price declines.
- Expansion plans, including a special steel production facility and packaging contracts, are expected to drive volume growth and diversification.
- Full capacity utilization of the new plant will enhance revenue and margins over the medium term.
- Employee costs, currently elevated due to team expansion, are anticipated to stabilize as top-line increases reduce cost ratios.
- Overall, sustained volume growth and product diversification underpin confident future earnings and EPS growth.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
- Current order book pipeline: Approximately ₹962 crores.
- Expected conversion rate: Around 30%-35%, translating to ₹250-300 crores order wins expected within the next six months.
- Orders span long-term contracts (3 to 5 years) with some single orders sized between ₹50-100 crores per annum.
- Packing contracts order book: ₹45 crores currently.
- The company anticipates closure of the entire pipeline by end of March (next six months).
- Orders include both PSU and private sector bids, though specific segregation details are undisclosed.
- Focus is on steadily converting these order opportunities into confirmed contracts to drive revenue growth.
