HEG Advanced Materials Ltd

HEG Limited, incorporated in Oct' 72, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of graphite electrodes in India and operates world's largest single-site integrated graphite electrodes plant at Mandideep in Madhya Pradesh. The company also operates three power generation facilities with a total rated capacity of about 76.5 MW. The company produces two grades of graphite electrodes, High Power and Ultra High Power, which are manufactured according to the customers' needs and requirements. The company is a major exported of graphite electrode, with a number of respected steel manufactures, namely ArcelorMittal, POSCO, Thyssenkrupp, US Steel, Nucor and Usinor in their customer base. HEG Ltd (earlier known as Hindustan Electro-Graphites Ltd) was incorporated in the year 1977. The company is a premier company of the LNJ Bhilwara group. They started as an importer of electrodes and latter turned to production of Graphite electrodes with financial and technical assistance from La Societe Des Electrodes Et Refractories Savoi, a subsidiary of Pechiney, France. In the year 1992, the company and Rajasthan Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd jointly promoted a 100% export oriented unit for cotton mills went into production. During the year 1995-96, the company completed the 9216 spindles and modernization of Rishabhdev unit with Autocover at a total cost of Rs 33 crore. During the year 1996-97, the company expanded the graphite division to the total capacity of 24000 tons. They commissioned the 13.5 MW Tawa hydroelectric power plant, the first hydroelectric project by private sector in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Also, they commissioned the 12.8 MW co-generation power unit during the year. During the year 1998-99, Rishabhdev unit successfully commissioned a 4.2 MW Wartsaila Generating set for captive consumption of the Textile Division. During the year 2000-01, the company exited from the telecom sector, which was a joint venture with Motorola as the same was not germane to the existing businesses. During the year 2001-02, the company expanded the installed capacity of Graphite Electrodes to 30000 MT per annum at a cost of Rs 47 crore and they discontinues the operations at their textile unit in Jammu as the unit became unviable during the year 2002-03. The company de-merged the textile business located at Rishabhdev in Rajasthan with effect from April 1, 2003, which was merged with the Rajasthan Spinning & Weaving Mills Ltd. They set up a new kiln with an additional capacity if 30000 MTPA for Sponge Iron during the year 2003-04. During the year 2004-05, the company increased the production capacity of Graphite Electrodes at Mandideep from 30000 to 52000 MT per annum. Also they commissioned a new 25 MW Captive Power Plant at Mandideep. The company entered into a joint venture with Statkraft Norfund Invest AS (SN Power), Norway for setting up Hydro Power Generation projects in India. Also, they added another prestigious partner, International Finance Corporation, Washington, as Equity Holders in the AD Hydro Power Project. During the year 2005-06, the company acquired Jaipur Polyspin Ltd to manufacture Synthetic dyed Blended Yarn. Also, they acquired an open-end plant with 1680 rotors from Phillipines. The company introduced ready-to-wear Apparels, manufactured at a newly set up unit in Bangalore. Also, they commissioned Hydro Electric Project in Malana. In April 2007, the company made an investment of Rs 35 crore towards de-bottleneckingin the graphite electrode plant. In July 2007, the company sold their fully integrated steel business, which includes sponge iron, steel billets and a 13MW waste heat recovery power system power plant to Jai Balaji Industries Ltd of Kolkata. HEG Ltd ramped up production during the later part of the financial year 2013-14 to fulfill customer's delivery commitments. During the year under review, the company widened its raw material supplier base, optimised its power consumption, improved operational efficiencies and achieved new customer approvals. FY 2015 was one of the most challenging years for HEG Ltd as the graphite electrode industry saw erosion in margins. During the year under review, HEG Ltd took major initiatives to usher in qualitative improvement. A keen emphasis was laid on optimising costs across all operational and commercial areas. The company's focus on reducing working capital continued to show improvements in the level of plant inventories, receivables and other current assets, thereby releasing cash for productive purposes. During the financial year ended 31 March 2016, HEG Ltd focused on improving operating and cost parameters to counter the impact of fall in graphite electrode prices. By reformulating its operational management discipline and undertaking several cost-cutting measures HEG Ltd was able to reduce the impact of declining profit margins. Reduced capacity utilisation as a result of reduced demand, provided the time and space to the management to figure out ways and means to efficiently utilise the capacities at its disposal. New recipes for both electrodes and nipples were introduced for better quality. A keen emphasis was laid on optimising costs across all operational and commercial areas. The company's effort to match reduced levels of capacity utilisation with corresponding reduction in working capital paid off. HEG's thermal plant continued to operate at significantly reduced levels during the year. The company continued to optimise coal consumption and usage of power. The Board of Directors of HEG Ltd at its meeting held on 30 May 2017 accorded its in-principle approval for closure of its wholly owned subsidiary i.e. HEG Graphite Products and Services Limited. This wholly owned subsidiary was incorporated in the year 2009 but never carried out any commercial operation. The financial year ended 31 March 2018 was a record year for HEG Ltd largely driven by favourable tailwinds- robust growth in demand even as supply remained constrained, leading to a significant rise in product price realisation. This resulted in the best ever financial numbers. The company registered its ever highest ever net profit of Rs 1,081.34 crore. The company registered the highest electrode production at 64,000-plus MT in 2017-18 against 50,000 MT level in 2016-17. Even as demand surged, the company continued to strengthen its operational efficiencies. The company repaid its entire long-term debt and has plans to invest the cash surplus in avenues that enable it to sustain its growth momentum. During the Financial Year 2018-19, the paid up share capital of the Company was reduced from Rs 39,95,91,420 to Rs 38,59,55,060 owing to Buyback of 13,63,636 Equity Shares of Rs 10 each. During FY 2019-20, the Company acquired 3,23,51,004 equity shares of Bhilwara Energy Ltd. from other shareholders for a consideration of Rs 162.05 Crores and post the above acquisition of shares, the holding of Company in BEL, was increased from 29.48% to 49%. During the year 2022-23, the Company incorporated a whollyowned subsidiary in the name of TACC Limited. The Company completed its brownfield expansion project to increase the existing capacity from 80,000 TPA to 1,00,000 TPA in 2024. The Composite Scheme of Arrangement amongst the Company, HEG Graphite Limited and Bhilwara Energy Limited and their respective shareholders and creditors provides the demerger of the Graphite Business Undertaking from the Company into HEG Graphite Limited as a going concern and amalgamation of Bhilwara Energy Limited with the Company from April 1, 2024.