PACRA Assigns Initial Entity Rating to Askari Cement Limited

Askari Cement's ratings reflect the strong position in the cement industry from its sustained profile. The Company has two existing cement manufacturing units (Nizampur and Wah) - operating with combined capacity of 2.8mln tpa. Over the last few years, the company was able to maintain growth trajectory trend in revenue, supported by strong cement sector fundamentals. The company secures healthy margins - in line with general sector phenomenon. The business profile of the company is likely to stay stable due to strong sector fundamentals, maintained volumes and sustained EBITDA. The upcoming projects include BMR at Nizampur plant and WHR at Wah plant. Hence, currently financials are moderately leveraged. However, cashflows provide good coverage to anticipate repayment. Going forward, leveraging is expected to remain at comfortable level. The ratings take comfort from strong financial strength of Fauji Foundation - third largest sponsoring group in the cement industry.
The ratings are dependent on current positioning of the company’s business besides financial risk profile; strengthening of equity base is essential. Any significant deterioration in the sector’s outlook particularly any unfavourable change in demand and expansion matrix, thereby exerting pressure on prices and margins, may negatively impact the ratings.

About the Entity
Askari Cement Limited (ACL) is an unlisted, public limited company incorporated in 1990. The Company is wholly owned subsidiary of Fauji Foundation and is primarily engaged in the manufacturing and sale of Ordinary Portland Cement. The production facilities are located in North region (Wah and Nizampur). Fauji Foundation has another cement company named ‘Fauji Cement Company Limited. Askari Cement operates with a cement production capacity of ~2.7mln tons p.a. having 5.4% share of the country’s cement capacity of 49.4mln tons per annum. The collective share of both companies becomes 12.3% which makes Fauji Foundation third largest sponsor group operating in cement industry.

The overall control of the company vests in seven-member board of directors (BoD), including the CEO. The sponsor dominated board is chaired by Chairperson – Lt Gen Syed Tariq Nadeem Gilani, (Retd) , who is also associated with several Fauji Foundation companies board. He holds extensive experience of banking, fertilizer, petroleum, power and various other sectors. The CEO, Maj Gen Ghulam Mustafa kausar, is a graduate from Command and Staff College Quetta and Armed Forces War College (National Defence University) and is associated with the company as Managing Director / CEO since Aug-16. He is assisted by well experienced team members.