Analyst
Raniya Tanawar
raniya.tanawar@pacra.com
+92-42-35869504
www.pacra.com
Applicable Criteria
Related Research
PACRA Upgrades Entity Rating of Engro Fertilizers Limited
Rating Type | Entity | |
Current (27-Jul-18 ) |
Previous (30-Dec-17 ) |
|
Action | Upgrade | Maintain |
Long Term | AA | AA- |
Short Term | A1+ | A1+ |
Outlook | Stable | Stable |
Rating Watch | - | - |
The ratings take into account sustained operations of the company; capacity utilization at both plants remained high on the back of continued gas supply from Mari and other. The risk of gas curtailment has diminished with strengthening of local reservoirs and continued import of RLNG. The company has been able to secure sustainable gas supply. Efert is benefiting from the incentivized gas pricing of 70 cents under the fertilizer policy 2001.
Efert was facing challenge due to oversupply in the domestic market. This challenge was met by exploring export market. Plus, the domestic supply demand scenario is now favourable, owing to the shutdown of LNG based fertilizer plants that borne negative margins on RLNG. The industry has been able to raise the price of urea as well. Meanwhile, timely recovery of remaining subsidy is important. The financial risk profile of the company is characterized by moderate leveraging. EFert continues to derive strength from its association with Engro Corporation – a corporate conglomerate.
The ratings are dependent on sustainability of operations and profitability, resulting in sustained risk profile of the company. Any constraint to perceived ability to keep business and financial risk in respective matrix may impact the ratings.
About
the Entity
EFert is 56% owned by Engro Corporation Limited (ECorp), a corporate conglomerate with a consolidated asset base of PKR 324bln and revenue base of PKR 129bln at end-Dec17. ECorp is majority (45%) owned by Dawood Group (DG).
EFert's urea plants (base 975k MT, Enven 1,300k MT) and NPK plant are located at Daharki and Port Qasim, respectively. EFert's board comprises three Engro executives, one DG representative, and four independent directors. Mr. Ghias Khan, the CEO of the parent company, is the Chairman of board. Mr. Ruhail Muhammad, the CEO of EFert, is a seasoned professional enjoying a long association with Engro group.