Rating Rationale
August 04, 2020 | Mumbai
Al Kabeer Exports Private Limited
Long term rating downgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.76 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BBB-/Negative')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reassigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Al Kabeer Exports Private Limited (AKEPL) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' from 'CRISIL BBB-/Negative'. CRISIL has reassigned its 'CRISIL A4+' rating on the short-term bank facilities.
 
The downgrade reflects deteriorating business and financial risk profile over the past few years. Revenues declined to Rs 206.2 crore in fiscal 2020, from Rs 315 crore in fiscal 2019. Revenue may further be impacted in fiscal 2021, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing disruptions. Working capital cycle also elongated, with gross current assets (GCAs) at 219 days as on March 31, 2020 against 169 days a year before, majorly led by large inventory of 200 days. These coupled with high interest rates have further impacted the average debt protection metrics with interest coverage deteriorating to 1.72 time in fiscal 2020 (from 1.97 times in fiscal 2018). Controlled debt levels and moderate bank limit utilisation provides cushion to the rating.
 
The rating continues to reflect the extensive experience of AKEPL's promoter in the processed meat industry, diversified geographical reach and customer base, and comfortable capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirements, average debt protection metrics and susceptibility to regulatory changes for processed meat exporters.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of the promoters: AKEPL continues to benefit from its established market position and the 35-year-long experience of its promoter in the processed meat industry. Backed by these factors, the company has set up a fully integrated, modern meat-processing slaughter house, with large capacities.
 
* Diversified geographical reach and customer base: AKEPL caters to a diversified customer base, with presence in multiple geographies including Vietnam, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Myanmar. This lends stability to the revenue profile in case of regulatory issues in any particular country.
 
* Comfortable capital structure: AKEPL's networth is strong at Rs 89.75 crore as on March 31, 2020, supported by steady accretion to reserves over the years. Total outside liabilities to adjusted networth (TOLANW) ratio was comfortable at 1.06 times as on March 31, 2020, (1.38 times, a year before).  Capital structure is expected to remain comfortable over the medium term with strong networth and controlled reliance on external debt.
 
Weaknesses
* Large working capital cycle: Operations are highly working capital intensive, with gross current assets of 219 days as on March 31, 2020, driven by inventory and receivables of 200 and 27 days, respectively. Although receivables were stable, inventory has increased from 120-135 days typically, as sales have been lower than anticipated in the last quarter. Working capital management will remain a key rating sensitivity factor over the medium term.
 
* Average debt protection metrics: Debt protection metrics have remained average, marked by with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 1.72 times and 0.09 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020. Debt protection metrics are expected to remain average over the medium term given high interest costs.
 
* Susceptibility to regulatory changes for processed meat exporters: The processed meat industry remains sensitive to changes in government policies and environmental conditions, which could directly impinge on sales and raw material supply. AKEPL was impacted due to restrictions imposed by few importing countries leading to decline in revenues in past four years.  Further, while Indian government's policies for frozen meat exports have been supportive in the past, AKEPL remains susceptible to any future changes in the policies and regulations. Any sudden outbreak of livestock diseases can also severely affect the players in the meat industry.
Liquidity Adequate

AKEPL's adequate liquidity is marked by expected net cash accrual of Rs 5.5-6.5 crore per fiscal against no fixed debt obligation over the medium term. Cash and cash equivalents were Rs 2.4 crore as on March 31, 2020. Utilisation of fund-based limit of Rs 70 crore averaged 91% over the 12 months through June 2020.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes AKEPL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoter, in the processed meat export business.
 
Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors

* Growth in revenue and steady operating margin, with controlled debt leading to interest cover ratio of over 2 times
* Better working capital management, improving liquidity

Downward factors
* Further decline in revenue or profitability, leading to cash accrual of below Rs 3 crore
* Any large, debt-funded capital expenditure or further stretch in working capital cycle, deteriorating the financial risk profile

About the Company

AKEPL was set up by promoter, Mr Ghulamuddin Shaikh, in in 1979. The Mumbai-based company exports frozen buffalo meat and mutton, and also manufactures and trades in ready-to-cook products. The processing facility are at Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020* 2019
Revenue Rs crore 206.2 315.3
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 0.66 1.85
PAT margin % 0.3 0.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.75 0.83
Interest coverage Times 1.72 1.80
*Provisional

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Complexity levels Issue size (Rs crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Non-Fund Based Limit NA NA NA NA 3.07 CRISIL A4+
NA Packing Credit NA NA NA NA 70 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA NA 2.93 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  72.93  CRISIL BB+/Stable      12-09-19  CRISIL BBB-/Negative      31-10-17  CRISIL BBB/Negative/ CRISIL A3+  CRISIL BBB/Negative/ CRISIL A3+ 
            31-01-19  CRISIL BBB-/Negative/ CRISIL A3      26-10-17  CRISIL BBB/Negative/ CRISIL A3+   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  3.07  CRISIL A4+      31-01-19  CRISIL A3    --    --  -- 
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
Non-Fund Based Limit 3.07 CRISIL A4+ Packing Credit 76 CRISIL BBB-/Negative
Packing Credit 70 CRISIL BB+/Stable Proposed Working Capital Facility 24 Withdrawn
Proposed Working Capital Facility 2.93 CRISIL BB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 76 -- 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
Rating Criteria for Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Rahul Guha
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4097 8320
rahul.guha@crisil.com


Ankita Gupta
Associate Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4097 8104
ankita.gupta@crisil.com


Prayag Sinha
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 4101
Prayag.Sinha@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are majority owned by S&P Global Inc., a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.
 
For more information, visit www.crisil.com 


Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as, bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible / convertible / partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address, and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL.For further information on CRISIL’s privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Report” includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the Report. The Report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This Report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Report is to be construed as CRISIL providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the Report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the Report in any way.CRISIL or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL