Kirloskar ferrous industries limited (KFIL), incorporated in 1991, is a part of the Pune-based Kirloskar Group. KFIL manufactures pig iron and ferrous castings such as cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, transmission parts, and different types of housings required by automobile, tractor, and diesel engine industries. KFIL’s plants in Koppal (Karnataka), Solapur (Maharashtra) and Hiriyur (Karnataka) have a combined casting capacity of 150,000 MTPA and a combined pig iron capacity of ~600,000 MTPA. In March 2022, KFIL acquired a 51.25% stake in ISMT to facilitate forward integration into seamless tubes.
Investment Rationale
Leading pig iron players in the domestic market and a healthy market share in the castings segment
KFIL is one of the leading manufacturers of foundry-grade pig iron and ferrous castings in the domestic market. As per the company’s management, KFIL has a healthy market share of 40-42% in the foundry-grade pig iron and 19-20% in the castings segment. The company is a part of the reputed Pune-based Kirloskar Group, which has a presence across diversified business segments and a proven management track record. The company has a competitive cost structure for pig iron manufacturing because of its sinter plant, coke oven plant (phase II under progress), captive power plant, and hot blast stoves which support its margins. The company has diversified its product offerings with the ISMTacquisition, which is one of India’s leading manufacturers of seamless tubes.
Cost saving through backward integration by setting up coke ovens and captive power generation
KFIL commissioned a 200,000-MTPA coke oven plant in FY2020 and a 20-MW captive power plant in FY2021. The coke oven plant reduced KFIL’s dependence on external coke purchases by 50% of its total requirement. The company is in the process of setting up an additional 200,000-MTPA coke oven plant (by Q4 FY2023) along with a 20-MW power plant at Koppal (Karnataka), which will make it self-sufficient in coke and power requirement. KFIL had commissioned a sinter plant at Hiriyur (Karnataka) in 2021, which reduced its dependence on high-cost lump iron ore. The company has two iron ore mines, which were bagged in 2018 at a competitive premium of 36.7% and 55.5% respectively. However, the mines are not operational due to pending clearances from the government authorities. Once the mines become operational, this will reduce the landed cost of iron ore, leading to a further improvement in KFIL’s cost structure.
Established relationships with OEMs
KFIL mainly caters to large casting requirements (more than 50 kg) of tractors, commercial vehicles (CV) and utility vehicles (UV), and diesel engine segment and has a market share of 19-20% as per the management. It has a reputed customer base and a long experience in dealing with OEMs, resulting in repeat orders.
Synergies in the form of forward integration and product diversification arising out of ISMT’s merger
With the ISMTacquisition merger in March 2022, KFIL has forward integrated into seamless tubes and increased the share of value-added products in its portfolio. ISMT is among the largest seamless tube manufacturers in India. Its product profile is diversified as it produces seamless tubes in the range of 6 to 273 mm in diameter. ISMT has customers in the automobile, bearing, power, oil and gas, boiler, general engineering, and hydraulic segments, among others. In Q1 and Q2 of FY2023, ISMT reported a YoY revenue growth of 30% and 25% respectively aided by increased volumes and realizations. The operations turned profitable at the operating and net levels owing to various cost-saving initiatives/corrective measures undertaken by the company. The Board of Directors of KFIL and ISMT have approved the Scheme of Arrangement and Merger of ISMT into KFIL w.e.f. April 01, 2023 (appointed date). The merger (subject to regulatory and other approvals) is likely to benefit KFIL in terms of the increased scale of operations, expanded reach, and product diversification, among others.
Financial Performance for the last 3 years
KFIL has reported steady growth in the last 3 financial years. Standalone revenues have recorded a 19% CAGR growth and stood at Rs.3615 cr as of FY22. EBITDA witnessed a 44% CAGR growth to Rs.647 cr as of FY22. EBITDA Margin stood at 18% in FY22. PAT registered a 59% CAGR growth in the last 3 years to Rs.406 cr reflecting strong and consistent growth across all parameters.
Key Risks & Concerns
Exposure to volatility in raw material prices – Raw materials account for a major part of the operational cost for pig iron players, including KFIL, and are thus important determinants of profitability. As the pig iron business is cyclical in nature, it is exposed to margin risks arising from the temporary mismatches in the prices of raw materials and pig iron, causing volatility in profitability and cash flows.
Casting division performance is exposed to inherent cyclicality in key end-user segments – KFIL’s casting division derives around 90% of its sales from CV and tractor segments both of which are exposed to the inherent demand cyclicality. Any sustained demand weakness from its key end-user segments, as witnessed in the past, could adversely impact its revenues and earnings profiles.
Outlook & Valuation
KFIL is one of the leading pig iron players in the domestic market. We believe that the company can deliver good performance owing to a revival in the sale of passenger and commercial vehicles and the tractor segment. Cost saving through backward integration by setting up coke ovens and captive power generation will improve its margin. ISMT merger will improve operational efficiencies through standardisation and simplification of business processes.
As per CMP of Rs.350, the stock is trading at 12x FY22 (EPS Rs.29.28) and we recommend a BUY rating for the stock.