Rating Rationale
May 30, 2019 | Mumbai
ADF Foods Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL A-/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.42 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long term bank facilities of ADF Foods Limited (ADF; part of the ADF Group) to 'CRISIL A-/Stable' from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive'; while reaffirming the rating on the short term bank facilities at 'CRISIL A2+'.
 
The upgrade in the long term rating reflects sustained improvement in group's business risk profile driven by sustained increase in revenue, with improving operating margins resulting in healthy cash accruals. Revenue for the group had increased to Rs 245 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 209 crore the previous fiscal, with higher operating margin at 21.5% against 19%. Steady increase in off take of existing as well as new products with improving performance in the US market has resulted in sustained growth in revenue. Better capacity utilization, favorable raw material prices and increasing contribution from high margin frozen food segment has resulted in higher operating margin in range of 19.0-21.5%.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the group's established brands and position as an exporter of ethnic Indian food, and comfortable financial risk profile marked by low total outside liabilities to adjusted networth (TOLANW) ratio and robust debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility of profit margins to volatility in raw material prices and exposure to intense competition in the processed food segments from domestic as well as international players.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ADF; its subsidiaries-ADF Foods (India) Ltd, and ADF Foods (UK) Ltd; and stepdown subsidiaries -ADF Holdings (USA) Ltd and ADF Foods (USA) Ltd. This is because all these companies, collectively referred to as the ADF group, are in the same business and managed by common promoters, and have fungible cash flow among them. Management has indicated the companies will continue to support each other whenever required.

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established brands and position as an exporter of ethnic Indian food: Group has been been exporting pickles and chutneys for over 5 decades. Over the decades group has diversified its product portfolio and has established their brands in more than 30 countries. Its key brands are Camel (Middle East); Aeroplane; Ashoka; PJ's and Nate's (USA); and Truly Indian (the UK). Key markets are the US, Europe, Australia, the Gulf, and other parts of Asia.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile: Group's healthy networth and low TOLANW ratio (Rs 150 crore and 0.13 times as on March 31, 2019) along with robust debt protection metrics (interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of over 60 times for fiscal 2019) represents comfortable financial risk profile.
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to intense competition in the processed food segments from domestic as well as international players: Group has its presence in processed and ethnic food segment. With major of its revenue being generated from export market, the group has to not only compete with packaged food manufactures in Pakistan and Malaysia but also from domestic market with established players such ITC, MTR and Pachranga. Sustenance of revenue amidst intense competition to remain monitorable.
 
* Vulnerability to volatility in raw material prices: Group's major raw materials are agro based products such as mangoes, chillies, edible oil, and sugar. As its prices largely depend on inflation, monsoon, and government policies, the group remains exposed to any sharp fluctuation in prices of raw materials such as. Since input price rises cannot be entirely passed on to customers, operating margin remain vulnerable to volatility in rates.
Liquidity

Group has adequate liquidity indicated by net cash accruals of Rs 39.5 crore in fiscal 2019 and expected cash accruals of over Rs 30 crore over the medium term against no major term debt obligations. Group's fund based limit average utilization has remained low at 14% for last 12 months ended January 2019. Group had cash and cash equivalents of Rs 18.41 crore as on March 31, 2019 while current ratio was healthy at 5.6 times. Group is expected to incur capex of around Rs 20 Crore over the medium term. CRISIL believes the group has sufficient accruals and cash and cash equivalents to finance its capex requirements and incremental working capital needs over the next one year.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes ADF group will continue to benefit over the medium term, from its established market position and comfortable financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of significant improvement in net cash accruals backed by further increase scale of operations at sustained profitability  while maintaining its capital structure. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of lower than expected accrual or stretch in working capital cycle or more than expected debt funded capex or significant buyback results in weakening of financial risk profile particularly liquidity.

About the Company

Mumbai-based ADF exports ethnic Indian edible items such as pickles, chutneys, sauces, ready-to-eat food, frozen and canned food to Europe, the US, Australia, and the Gulf.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 245.49 209.35
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 25.33 18.07
PAT Margin % 10.3 8.6
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net Worth Times NA 0.02
Interest coverage Times 60.63 35.12

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Date Issue Size
(Rs. Cr)
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.83 CRISIL A2+
NA Export Packing Credit NA NA NA 6.25 CRISIL A2+
NA Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting NA NA NA 15 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting NA NA NA 12.5 CRISIL A2+
NA Foreign Bill Purchase NA NA NA 6.25 CRISIL A2+
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 1.17 CRISIL A2+
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
ADF Foods Ltd Full same business and managed by common promoters
ADF Foods (India) Ltd Full same business and managed by common promoters
ADF Foods (UK) Ltd Full same business and managed by common promoters
ADF Holdings (USA) Ltd Full same business and managed by common promoters
ADF Foods (USA) Ltd Full same business and managed by common promoters
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  40.00  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+      12-02-18  CRISIL BBB+/Positive/ CRISIL A2+  30-12-17  CRISIL A2+  23-09-16  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2.00  CRISIL A2+      12-02-18  CRISIL A2+  30-12-17  CRISIL A2+  23-09-16  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee .83 CRISIL A2+ Bank Guarantee .83 CRISIL A2+
Export Packing Credit 6.25 CRISIL A2+ Export Packing Credit 6.25 CRISIL A2+
Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting 15 CRISIL A-/Stable Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting 27.5 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting 12.5 CRISIL A2+ Foreign Bill Purchase 6.25 CRISIL A2+
Foreign Bill Purchase 6.25 CRISIL A2+ Letter of Credit 1.17 CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 1.17 CRISIL A2+ -- 0 --
Total 42 -- Total 42 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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