Universal Cables Ltd

Rating action

• Bank facilities reaffirmed: CARE A; Stable / CARE A1.
• Long-term bank facilities reaffirmed: CARE A; Stable.
• Short-term bank facilities reaffirmed: CARE A1.

Instruments rated

• Fund-based LT cash credit: ₹825 cr; CARE A; Stable.
• Long-term/Short-term bank facilities: ₹95 cr; CARE A; Stable / CARE A1.
• Non-fund-based ST- BG/LC: ₹2,375 cr; CARE A1.
• Term loan LT: ₹684 cr; CARE A; Stable.

Rationale

• FY26 revenue ₹3,026 crore; growth from higher volumes and EHV cables.
• Profitability 8.7% in FY26, aided by better mix and EHV sales.
• Healthy order book ~₹3,000 crore; pipeline ₹470 crore for next 18–20 months.
• Net leverage 3.6x; interest coverage 2.3x; capex ~₹720 crore FY25–27.
• JV BFFOPL capex ₹4,500 crore; funding details yet to be finalised.
• Group MP Birla provides ongoing financial support; strong liquidity flexibility.
• Working capital intensive; 125-day cycle; receivables risk mitigated by hedging.
• Liquidity adequate; GCA ₹140 crore FY26; repayments ₹170 crore FY27; line utilisation 73%.

Outlook and sensitivities

• Outlook: Stable.
• Positive factors: sustained TOI growth and PBILDT margins above 10%; debt below 2.5x.
• Negative factors: PBILDT margins below 8% or TD/PBILDT above 4x on a sustained basis.
• Sensitivity: improved profitability and leverage could support upgrades; margin pressure could trigger downgrades.

Universal Cables Limited — Closure of Trading Window from 1 October 2026 till 48 hours after the declaration of unaudited Standalone and Consolidated financial results of the company for the quarter and half-year ending on 30th September, 2026

Board actions & approvals

• Board approved unaudited standalone and consolidated Q1 results for quarter ended 30 June 2026.
• Post-meeting press release and annexures issued; results to be hosted online.
• Capex outlay for ongoing capacity expansion increased to Rs 617 crore.
• Medium/High Voltage capacity expansion approved via debottlenecking.
• Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics JV capacity to triple; USD 500 million outlay.
• Fibre JV target completion by 31 December 2028; funded via internal accrual, equity, debt.
• JV fibre production to be by Lightera LLC / Furukawa collaboration.
• Nishant P. Saigal appointed CFO; effective 21 October 2026.
• Gopal Agarwal resigns as CFO; effective 30 September 2026.
• Consolidated restatement due to Vindhya Telelinks consolidation; opening equity adjusted.

Standalone financial highlights

• Standalone revenue from operations: Rs 945.06 crore in Q1 FY2026-27.
• Standalone PBT: Rs 45.90 crore; PAT: Rs 37.18 crore.
• EBITDA margin: 10.01% in the quarter.
• Standalone export revenue: Rs 120.01 crore; exports share 12.70%.
• EPS (Standalone): Rs 10.72.

Consolidated financial highlights

• Consolidated revenue from operations: Rs 945.06 crore.
• Consolidated PBT: Rs 84.84 crore; PAT: Rs 70.14 crore.
• Total Comprehensive Income (Consolidated): Rs 137.87 crore.
• Basic & diluted EPS (Consolidated): Rs 20.22.

Outlook & orders

• Pending order book as of 1 July 2026: Rs 2860 crore.
• Export orders Rs 485 crore; export pipeline Rs 390 crore.
• Projected FY2026-27 revenue growth around 25%.
• Capex outlay increased to Rs 617 crore; funded by debt and internal accrual.
• EHV facility capex planned at Rs 74 crore.
• Capacity augmentation to be completed in two phases by Sep 2026 and Jun 2027.

AGM and AR access

• 81st AGM scheduled for 3 August 2026 at 9:30 AM, Registered Office, Satna (MP).
• Annual Report 2025-26 and AGM notice available online via company website.
• Direct web-link: https://www.unistar.co.in/Financial-Information/Annual-Report-2025-26.pdf
• Exact path: Investor Relations > Disclosure > Annual Report 2025-26 on the site.
• Shareholders without registered emails will receive a web-link letter.
• Electronic registration through DP; physical via MUFG Intime with ISR-1/ISR-2.

Overview

• Standalone BRSR for FY2025-26; main activity is manufacturing power cables and turnkey projects.
• 07% of turnover comes from power cables, wires and related turnkey projects.
• Reporting boundary is standalone; 26 locations in India and one international office.
• Exports contribute 5.59% of turnover; markets span 36 states and 32 countries.

Key ESG Risks & Opportunities

• Occupational health and safety risk due to injuries; mitigated by SOPs, risk assessments, training and audits.
• Environmental footprint risk from operations; mitigated by environmental management systems and risk assessments.
• Energy management opportunity; renewable share around 40% in FY25-26; rooftop solar and wind-hybrid projects.
• CO2 emissions intensity declined 23.87% due to efficiency gains and LPG switch.
• Water management opportunity; rainwater harvesting and STP expansion to enable non-potable reuse.
• Waste management potential; segregation, recycling and EPR alignment across operations.
• R&D capex for greener materials; standards compliance to improve product environmental profile.

Governance & Policy Highlights

• Board ESG Committee reviews ESG performance quarterly; MD/CEO responsible for implementation.
• CSR, Risk Management, and Stakeholders Relationship Committees oversee sustainability governance.
• Key policies include Anti-Bribery, Code of Conduct, Human Dignity, Non-Discrimination, Stakeholder Management.
• ISMS (ISO27001) and ISO certifications; NABL and GreenCo certifications.
• No external policy assurance; internal management evaluation and board reviews for policy effectiveness.
• Policies extend to value chain partners; translation into procedures; board-approved.

Social Responsibility & Workforce

• Total workforce 656; 519 permanent and 137 non-permanent; female representation 8 total.
• Turnover rate: permanent employees 8.51% and workers 12.52% in FY2025-26.
• LTIFR for workers 4.5; total injuries 18; no fatalities.
• Health and safety management uses an IMS with risk assessments, permits, training and investigations.
• Premises accessible to differently abled; Equal Opportunity Policy in place.
• Whistle-blower policy and multiple grievance channels; union membership present among staff.
• CSR focus areas include healthcare, rural infrastructure, education, sanitation; aspirational districts spend noted.

Environmental Performance

• Total energy 2,46,954 GJ; renewables 61,954 GJ; non-renewables 1,85,000 GJ.
• Renewable energy share about 40% of total consumption; rooftop solar 2 MW Satna, 0.5 MW Goa.
• Scope 1 emissions 4,803 t; Scope 2 emissions 16,913 t; total 21,716 t CO2e.
• Emission intensity 7.18 tCO2e per crore turnover; emissions reduced via energy efficiency and LPG use.
• CO2 curbing of 15,056 MT in FY2025-26; 12,374 MT in FY2024-25.
• Water: groundwater 84,099 KL; third-party 8,746 KL; total withdrawal 92,845 KL; intensity 30.72 KL/turnover.
• Zero liquid discharge implemented at Satna and Goa; STPs 200 & 70 KLD; treated water reused.
• Waste: total 68.91 MT; plastics 33.416, e-waste 3.696, batteries 23.10, hazardous 5.80; all recycled.

Stakeholder Engagement & Complaints

• Stakeholders include shareholders, employees, customers, vendors, government, and communities; engagement annually/quarterly.
• Stakeholder Management Policy provides channels; formal feedback integrated into governance and operations.
• Community grievance mechanisms include local engagement and investigation with corrective actions.
• Complaints recorded across communities, investors, shareholders, customers; all processed through established channels.

Other Notable Metrics

• MSME inputs comprise 9.61% of total inputs; 75.55% sourced from within India.
• Sales concentration to top dealers about 4.58%; related party transactions 3.79%.
• Exports constitute 5.59% of turnover; LCA conducted for XLPE Cable (cradle-to-grave).
• Information Security: ISMS policy with ISO27001; data breaches zero in FY2025-26.
• CSR in aspirational districts: Satna (MP) and Prayagraj (UP) with specified funding.
• CRM driven consumer engagement; annual customer satisfaction survey; product information aligned with laws.

Key details

• Record date for 81st AGM and final dividend: 27 July 2026.
• Type of security: Equity shares.
• Dividend payable only if approved at AGM on 3 August 2026.
• Subject to shareholder approval; no book-closure dates stated.

Financial highlights

• Revenue from operations: 302,267.33 lakh; YoY +25.5%.
• Standalone EBITDA: 28,895.84 lakh; +42.75% YoY.
• PBT: 13,513.34 lakh; +89.66% YoY.
• PAT: 9,652.87 lakh; +68.52% YoY.
• Exports: 16,903.80 lakh; 5.59% of revenue.
• EHV revenue growth approx 33% YoY.

Dividends & capital allocation

• Dividend proposed: 4.50 per equity share; 45%.
• Record date: 27 July 2026; payout by 31 August 2026.
• Unclaimed dividends/shares transferred to IEPF; 99,414 shares moved in Oct 2025.

Capex & capacity expansion

• Capacity expansion: MV, LV, HV/EHV; Verna Goa and Satna commissioned Oct 2025 and Mar 2026.
• MV/EHV expansion: partial operations in Q3; full rollout by Aug/Sep 2026; civil delays.
• Satna EHV upgrade capex: 7300 lakh; aims for higher precision manufacturing.

Operations & markets

• Single reportable segment; cables, wires, capacitors; turnkey projects.
• India revenue: 282,646.03 lakh; exports: 16,903.80 lakh.
• Two Star Export House status valid to 31-03-2028.

Debt & liquidity

• Debt profile: Borrowings 117,564.93 lakh; net debt 117,045.09; net debt/equity 1.28x.
• Cash flows: Operating 6,347.55; Investing -25,707.87; Financing 19,191.11.
• Year-end cash: 519.84.

ESG & CSR

• Certifications: ISO 9001/14001/45001; NABL; GreenCo Bronze at Satna.
• Renewables share ~40%; rooftop solar Satna 2 MW, Goa 0.5 MW; 4 MW wind-solar hybrid.
• CO2 intensity fell 23.87%; water recycling and ZLD; 270 KL STP capacity.

Associate & JV

• Vindhya Telelinks (Associate) 29.15%; profit 22,017.63; share of profit 4,663.90.
• Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics (Joint Venture) 26.14%; profit 7,628.75; share 1,994.15.
• Note: three subsidiaries of associate not consolidated by UCL.

Governance & compliance

• Board: 7 directors; 4 independent; 1 woman.
• Auditors: BGJC & Associates; Cost Auditor: D. Sabyasachi & Co; Secretarial: RK Mishra & Associates; 81st AGM.
• RPTs: transactions largely at arm's length; policy on related party disclosures.

Risks & outlook

• Commodity price volatility and FX exposure; hedging; PV clauses to manage pricing risk.
• Energy-transition opportunity; capacity expansion to capture domestic and export demand.