Rating Rationale
August 03, 2017 | Mumbai
Advanced Enzyme Technologies Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.100 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Advanced Enzyme Technologies Limited (Advanced Enzyme).

The rating remains unaffected by the company's announcement on July 27, 2017, to acquire 100% stake in Germany-based Evoxx Technologies Gmbh (Evoxx) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Advanced Enzymes Europe B.V. Total consideration for the transaction is around Rs 57 crore and is expected to be completed in August 2017. Evoxx is an industrial biotech company focused on the development and application of industrial enzymes, with revenue of approximately Rs 22 Cr for calendar year 2016. The acquisition, which is expected to strengthen the group's foothold in Europe as well as boost research and development (R&D) capabilities, will be funded through a mix of internal accrual and debt. Credit risk profile is expected to remain strong despite the proposed increase in debt, mainly because of healthy capital structure (gearing of 0.16 time as on March 31, 2017). Nevertheless, any debt-funded acquisition and its impact on key credit metrics will remain key monitorables.

In fiscal 2017, operating income increased 14% primarily because of a weak third quarter when one of the large customers did not place orders. However, this is expected to be a one-time phenomenon and sales are expected to grow at a healthier rate of around 20% over the medium term. Operating margin remained robust (46% in fiscal 2017), supported by strong R&D set-up and healthy demand in the US.

On March 24 2017, CRISIL had assigned its 'CRISIL A/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Advanced Enzymes. The rating continues to reflect Advanced Enzyme's strong operating efficiency driven by capabilities across the value chain, established relationship with customers, extensive experience of promoters, and healthy financial risk profile because of comfortable capital structure, strong cash accrual, and robust debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and susceptibility to changes in food and drug safety regulations.

Analytical Approach

* To arrive at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Advanced Enzyme and its subsidiaries, AST Enzymes, Advanced Enzymes USA, Advanced Bio-Agro Tech Ltd, and JC Biotech. This is because all the entities, together referred to as Advanced Enzyme, are in the same business and under a common management, and have financial linkages.

* CRISIL has amortised the goodwill on consolidation over a period of five years in line with its criteria.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in the healthcare and nutrition enzyme market:
Extensive technical know-how and a large product basket have enabled the company to enjoy leadership position in the domestic healthcare and nutrition segment. Exports account for more than 60% of revenue, with US as the major contributor. The company has a customer base of more than 700 clients spread across 50 countries, and a comprehensive product basket of 60 enzymes and over 400 proprietary products.

* Strong operating efficiencies driven by capabilities across the value chain: Healthy operating margin and return on capital employed, each 46% in fiscal 2017 reflect strong capabilities in R&D, manufacturing, and distribution. The company has five R&D centres and seven manufacturing facilities across India and the US, with a total fermentation capacity of 480 cubic metres.

* Healthy financial risk profile: Comfortable gearing of 0.16 time as on March 31, 2017, gives adequate flexibility to borrow. Debt protection metrics are robust because of high profitability, reflected in net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios of 2.26 times and 37 times, respectively, for fiscal 2017. Financial risk profile is expected to remain strong over the medium term despite moderate debt-funded capital expenditure (capex), including acquisitions, due to growing networth and robust profitability.

Weakness

* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets were 182 days as on March 31, 2017, due to sizeable inventory of 138 days following diverse manufacturing locations and distribution channels, timely customer service, high export contribution, and considerable new product development.

* Susceptibility to regulatory and compliance-related issues: Advanced Enzyme remains susceptible to changes in regulation related to food and drug safety norms. Any non-compliance could lead to product recall, discontinuation of business by customers, and litigation, which may adversely affect business and financial performances. However, the company has actively taken steps to mitigate such eventualities and displayed healthy recovery in the past.

* Susceptibility to volatile foreign exchange (forex) rates: Exports account for majority of the revenue (61% in fiscal 2017), with US forming bulk of sales. Natural hedge to the extent of imports and use of pre-shipment and post-shipment credit facilities partially mitigate the impact of forex fluctuations. However, the company does not hedge its net forex exposure, which poses a risk.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Advanced Enzyme will continue to benefit over the medium term from its established market position in the healthcare and nutrition enzyme segment and healthy operating efficiency, while financial risk profile would be sustained driven by high accrual and moderate capex.

Upside scenario:
* Significant and sustained increase in scale of operations
* Maintaining operating margin over the medium term

Downside scenario:
* Material decline in operating profitability
* Significant increase in leverage due to larger-than-anticipated, debt-funded capex or acquisitions
* Regulatory or compliance-related action significantly affecting business risk profile

About the Group

Advanced Enzyme was set up in 1989 by Mr. C L Rathi as Advanced Biochemicals Pvt Ltd; name was changed in 2005. The company was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange in August 2016. Today, it is one of the largest Indian enzyme companies with competencies across the value chain: R&D, and manufacturing and marketing/distribution of enzymes. Facilities, which are approved by GMP+ (Good Manufacturing Practices), WHO (World Health Organisation), Kosher, Indian FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and other such bodies, have a fermentation capacity of 480 cubic metres and are flexible and multipurpose, enabling customisation to meet unique client requirements. The company operates two primary business segments: healthcare and nutrition & bio-processing. It has multiple subsidiaries operating in similar businesses.

Advanced Bio-Agro Tech Ltd markets animal nutrition enzymes. Advanced EnzyTech Solutions Ltd markets non-food bio-processing enzymes, and Advanced Enzymes USA is a holding company for its operating and marketing subsidiaries in the US that cater primarily to the human healthcare and nutrition segment.

In fiscal 2017, consolidated net profit was Rs 92.36 crore on net sales of Rs 331.4 crore, against net profit of Rs 76.7 crore on net sales of Rs 293.8 crore in fiscal 2016.

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 Overdraft NA NA NA 50.00 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Term Loan 11-Sep-2015 10.1 11-Sep-2020 10.25 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 39.75 CRISIL A/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  100  CRISIL A/Stable  24-03-17  CRISIL A/Stable    --    --    --  -- 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Overdraft 50 CRISIL A/Stable Overdraft 50 CRISIL A/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 39.75 CRISIL A/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 30 CRISIL A/Stable
Term Loan 10.25 CRISIL A/Stable Term Loan 20 CRISIL A/Stable
Total 100 -- Total 100 --
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
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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