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Vardhman Textiles Limited Q1 FY '25 Earnings Conference Call Summary
Call Overview • Date: August 1, 2024 • Moderator: Roshan Nair, Batlivala & Karani Securities • Key Executives Present: Neeraj Jain (Joint Managing Director), Mukesh Bansal, Sagrika Jain, and others. • Format: Presentation followed by Q&A; recorded session.
Business Highlights • Raw Material Pricing: • Favorable cotton procurement at competitive rates. • Challenges from declining yarn prices and minimum support price concerns. • Industry Outlook: • Optimism for increased business opportunities as brands consider India as a key supplier. • Expansion projects aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. • Demand Factors: • Seasonal slowdown in Q1 offset by "China Plus One" strategy and improved international retailer inventory levels.
Q&A Session Insights • Utilization Rates and Capex: • Current utilization rate at 75%. • Capex increased from INR 2,000 crores to INR 2,500 crores, focusing on open-end capacity and green power systems. • Margins and Challenges: • Concerns over spinning margins due to fluctuating cotton prices. • Improved fabric margins noted, but consistent improvement requires better industry dynamics. • Future Capacity Expansion: • Current capex focuses on cost reduction rather than expanding spinning capacity. • Ongoing discussions regarding the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
Strategic Considerations • Cotton Procurement: • Cotton typically bought for the season; lower prices have improved margins. • Anticipation of price rises influencing inventory increase. • International Pricing Discrepancies: • Indian cotton prices higher than international rates; MSPs may not align with industry prices. • Acquisition Strategy: • Exploring potential acquisitions, but small unit acquisitions deemed impractical.
Financial Position • Debt and Reserves: • Gross debt reported at INR 1,150 crores; cash reserves at INR 1,800 crores. • Average cost of debt around 8%. • Sales Target: • Optimism about achieving INR 10,000 crores in sales through value addition and better utilization.
Closing Remarks • Management Commitment: • Focus on customer engagement and cost optimization. • Acknowledgment of challenges from rising cotton prices and lower spinning margins. • Assurance of transparency and vigilance in market monitoring. • Future Outlook: • Ongoing modernization and expansion efforts expected to reduce costs significantly.
Vardhman Textiles Limited Q4 FY24 Earnings Conference Call Summary
Overview • Date: May 10, 2024 • Hosted by: Batlivala & Karani Securities • Key Personnel: Neeraj Jain (Joint Managing Director), Rajeev Thapar (CFO), and department heads • Purpose: Discuss financial results for Q4 FY24
Cotton Price Volatility • International cotton prices fluctuated between $0.77 and $0.98 per pound. • Indian cotton prices declined, prompting intervention by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). • Prices initially fell below the minimum support price (MSP) but later recovered.
Company Performance • Spinning capacity utilization: 70-72% • Full capacity utilization in fabric production due to increased office attendance post-COVID. • Slight increase in yarn prices, facing downward pressure from lower domestic demand.
Capital Expenditure Plans • Planned CAPEX: ₹2,000 crores for spinning and fabric modernization, expansion, and a new manmade fiber project. • Aim to increase green power usage from 2.5% to 25-30% in 1-1.5 years.
Q&A Highlights • Increased inventory attributed to normalization after low cotton inventory levels. • Confidence in demand due to trends like "China plus 1" and favorable government policies. • Entry into technical textiles with plans to produce 15 lakh meters/month, focusing on polyester and nylon.
Industry Trends • Demand for faster delivery and increased product variety. • Emphasis on sustainability and compliance with social standards. • Vendor consolidation as brands seek comprehensive solutions from fewer suppliers.
Future Outlook • Anticipated improvements in margins as global utilization rates rise. • Plans to finance CAPEX through 50-60% debt. • Expected modest top-line growth but improved margins from reduced electricity costs.
Conclusion • Vardhman Textiles is adapting to significant industry changes driven by customer demands for speed, variety, and sustainability. • Management expressed optimism about improving demand and margins in the coming quarters.
Vardhman Textiles Limited Q3 FY2024 Earnings Conference Call Summary
Conference Call Overview • Date: January 25, 2024 • Moderator: Archit Joshi (Batlivala & Karani Securities) • Key Management Present: • Neeraj Jain (Joint Managing Director) • Sushil Jhamb (Director) • Rajeev Thapar (CFO) • Mukesh Bansal (Head of Fabric Marketing) • Varun Malhotra (Head of Finance)
Industry Challenges and Performance • Spinning Sector: • Global capacity utilization low at 75-80%. • Woven Fabric Segment: • Improved capacity utilization and demand, especially in exports. • Raw Material Prices: • Decreased cotton prices positively impacting results. • Margins: • Under pressure; stable cotton yarn prices.
Segment Performance • Home Textiles and Woven Segments: • Performing well. • Denim: • Recovering. • Knitting: • Under pressure but improving. • Melange Business: • Expansion with over INR 200 crores investment.
Demand and Market Insights • Fabric Demand: • Improving, particularly from the U.S. and Japan. • Export Strategy: • 30-35% of manufacturing is exported, primarily to Asia.
Capital Expenditure and Financial Outlook • Capex Plans: • INR 350 crores for FY '24; INR 200 crores for FY '25. • EBITDA Margins: • Improved to around 14%, future increases depend on yarn price recovery. • Capacity Utilization: • Near 100% across all segments.
Questions and Responses • Freight Costs: • Negotiated monthly; minimal overall impact on business. • Cotton Prices: • Indian prices unlikely to fall below current levels. • Market Penetration: • Focus on diversifying customer base and product offerings. • Technical Textiles: • No significant traction for expansion currently.
Macroeconomic Factors • China Plus One Strategy: • Opportunities for Indian manufacturers due to China's slowdown. • Employee Costs: • Decreased from 13% to 10% of top line; expected to lower further with new capex.
Conclusion • Outlook: • Cautiously optimistic with improving demand and management efforts. • Gratitude: • Management expressed thanks to the investing community for their support.
Vardhman Textiles Limited Q2 FY2024 Earnings Conference Call Summary
Conference Call Overview • Date: November 3, 2023 • Hosted by: Batlivala & Karani Securities India Private Limited • Key Management Personnel: • Neeraj Jain (Joint Managing Director) • Sushil Jhamb (Director of Raw Materials) • Rajeev Thapar (Chief Financial Officer) • Mukesh Bansal (Head of Fabric Marketing) • Varun Malhotra (Head of Finance) • Format: Presentation followed by Q&A • Compliance: Transcript shared per SEBI regulations
Company Performance • Slight decline in results compared to the previous quarter. • Overall yarn demand not fully recovered, but some improvement noted. • Spinning operations at full capacity; margins under pressure due to excess supply. • Increased demand in home textiles and woven fabrics; denim and knitting struggling. • Yarn exports back to pre-pandemic levels; local consumption low. • Cotton availability fluctuating; potential shortage concerns noted.
Cotton Industry Concerns • Fluctuating New York cotton futures impacting competitiveness. • Current cotton prices in India may become less competitive if international prices drop. • Quality concerns exist, but no significant disadvantages reported early in the season. • Anticipated challenges in the spinning industry regarding crop quality and pricing.
Fabric Business Insights • International brands concerned about inflation, recession fears, and excess inventory. • Demand expected to rise due to the festive season in India. • "China plus one" strategy favoring sourcing from India noted. • Focus on blended and manmade fibers to meet changing customer needs.
Client-Centric Approach • Emphasis on quickly meeting diverse customer needs and maintaining product quality. • Flexible pricing models highlighted as a differentiator from competitors.
Margin and Inventory Management • Yarn margins in single digits; fabric margins in mid-double digits. • Limited order durations expected to align with previous quarters. • Mills maintain less than one month of yarn stock.
Future Strategies • Focus on modernization and debottlenecking rather than just capacity expansion. • Planned capital expenditure of around 350-400 Crores for modernization and smaller projects. • Renewable energy initiatives in collaboration with Renew Power for spinning mill.
Market Conditions and Growth Outlook • Current margin decline attributed to decreased demand linked to high inflation and interest rates. • Cotton inventory low; expectations to build up as the season progresses. • Conservative approach to long-term growth; focus on sustainability and market clarity.
Industry Challenges and Opportunities • Utilization rates: Fabric at 90-95%, spinning at 85-90%. • Potential impact of lower cotton yields and import restrictions discussed. • Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with UAE and Australia may benefit the industry in the medium term.
Conclusion • Emphasis on improving efficiencies and exploring new opportunities despite challenges. • Optimism about future market navigation and growth potential. • Invitation for further inquiries through the investor desk.
Vardhman Textiles Limited Q4 FY'23 Earnings Conference Call Summary
Conference Call Overview • Date: May 9, 2023 • Moderated by: Abhishek Nigam (Batlivala & Karani Securities) • Key Management Present: • Neeraj Jain (Joint Managing Director) • Sushil Jhamb (Director of Raw Materials) • Rajeev Thapar (CFO) • Mukesh Bansal (Head of Fabric Marketing) • Varun Malhotra (Head of Finance) • Compliance: Transcript provided per SEBI regulations.
Financial Performance Highlights • Improvement in performance compared to previous quarter. • Spinning utilization nearly at full capacity. • Challenges faced in Q3 due to high cotton prices and reduced demand. • Recovery noted in demand, especially in home textiles. • International cotton prices and supply chain issues positively impacting Indian spinners. • Margins under pressure due to high cotton prices.
Capital Expenditure and Expansion Plans • Cautious approach to expansion due to global demand uncertainties. • Current cotton prices in India higher than U.S. cotton, affecting competitiveness. • Maintenance capital expenditure for FY'24 expected around Rs. 300 crore. • Future expansion plans may be postponed until market conditions improve.
Market Demand and Pricing Insights • Overall demand remains subdued, with some improvement in home textiles. • Cotton prices expected to remain high until new season starts in September. • Current yarn prices lower than last year; improvements depend on demand and capacity utilization. • Growing demand for blended yarn due to cotton price volatility.
Inventory and Debt Management • Concerns about cash reserves not being actively invested. • Current inventory levels sufficient for about 60 days, typically maintained for 7-8 months. • Challenges in managing debtor days due to export transaction nature.
Export Markets and Competitive Landscape • Significant export markets include China and Bangladesh. • Company has not applied for the Textile PLI Scheme, focusing on synthetic products. • Indian cotton and yarn still procured by international consumers despite higher prices.
Future Outlook • Optimism for margins to reach 15% to 18% in the second half of the year. • Gradual recovery in demand across market segments anticipated. • Commitment to maintaining customer relationships and operational efficiency emphasized.
Vardhman Textiles Limited Q3 FY2023 Earnings Conference Call Summary
Conference Call Overview • Date: January 27, 2023 • Hosted by: Batlivala & Karani Securities • Key Management Present: • Neeraj Jain (Joint Managing Director) • Rajeev Thapar (CFO) • Mukesh Bansal (Head of Fabric Marketing) • Sushil Jhamb (Director of Raw Materials) • Purpose: Discuss financial results for Q3 FY2023
Business Landscape and Challenges • Low utilization rates and reduced export demand due to global pressures (Europe and USA). • High cotton prices, though starting to decline; farmers holding stocks. • Recent demand uptick from China as COVID restrictions ease. • Cotton spinning utilization improved to 85-90% from a low of 50%. • Full capacity operation with a shift back to conventional products.
Fabric Market Insights • Retail sales slowed due to high inflation and excess inventory. • Anticipated demand recovery in India due to seasonal factors and easing inflation concerns.
Q&A Highlights • Yarn Production and Pricing: • 65% of yarn produced sold externally. • Cotton and yarn spread stabilizing at Rs. 220-225/kg for cotton and Rs. 270 for yarn. • Export Demand: • Increased demand from China; Indian cotton prices becoming competitive. • Production Capacity: • Partial production of 65,000 new spindles; caution in expanding capacity due to low margins. • Cotton Procurement Strategy: • Focus on quality cotton without large stockpiling. • Profitability Outlook: • Optimism for normal profitability in 2-3 quarters as production stabilizes.
Industry Trends and Competitive Landscape • Shift towards manmade fibers noted, but cotton remains dominant. • Ongoing discussions with the Indian government about reducing import duties on cotton. • Competitive advantage in yarn exports to China due to issues in Pakistan's cotton production.
Financial Insights • Total capex for FY2022-2023: ₹600-650 crores, focused on spinning expansion. • Expected maintenance capex for the following year: ₹200 crores. • Yarn and fabric price declines impacting topline; yarn prices dropped from $4.60 to $3.30.
Inventory and Hedging Challenges • Limited hedging options for cotton prices in India. • Use of New York Futures for managing price fluctuations. • Market volatility influenced by demand-supply dynamics and geopolitical factors.
Conclusion • Management optimistic about operational improvements and future demand recovery. • Call concluded with an invitation for further inquiries through the investor relations team.