Rating Rationale
August 23, 2019 | Mumbai
Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.288.35 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited (AACL) continue to reflect the strengthened business risk profile backed by improvement in capacity utilisation at the newly commenced plant at Dahej, Gujarat. Revenue growth may be healthy over the medium term on account of expected increase in capacity utilisation at the new facility and continued favourable demand. Profitability is likely to moderate owing to tightening input prices and shift in product mix with larger contribution from methyl amine products. However, margins will remain in-line with historic averages, supported by healthy demand and operational efficiency arising from the new plant and consolidation of manufacturing operations - methyl amines at Dahej and ethyl amines at Patalganga, Maharashtra.
 
The ratings continue to also reflect the company's strengthened market position in the methyl amines segment and sustained leadership position in the ethylamine market, driven by strong in-house research and development (R&D) capability, and a diversified product portfolio and customer base. The ratings also factor in a healthy financial risk profile despite significant debt-funded capital expenditure (capex). These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatility in commodity prices and sizeable working capital requirement.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
*
Leadership position in the amines market: The Indian amines industry is oligopolistic and AACL is one of the leading players with over 100 products. The company continues to be the market leader in the ethylamine segment and among the foremost manufactures of methylamine, diethyl hydroxylamine, and dimethylamine hydrochloride in the country. It has commissioned a new methylamine plant at Dahej in March 2018. Market share in methyl amines market improved significantly in fiscal 2019 as the capacity utilisation at the new plant augmented to around 70%, further improvement in capacity utilisation shall support revenue growth over the medium term
 
Revenue increased 35% to Rs 847.7 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 625.7 crore in fiscal 2018, while sales volume posted a 34% growth. This expansion is driven by volume growth of 113% in methyl amines segment backed by demand-supply gap on account of lower production in China, revival in demand from the pharmaceutical industry, and improvement in realisations. The growth is expected to be sustained over the medium term due to increase in capacity utilisation, especially in the methyl amines segment, and lower output from China. A capex of Rs 250 crore is likely to be undertaken over fiscals 2020 and 2021, to set up new products plants and debottlenecking of existing capacities - this shall support growth over the long term.
 
Operating margin was stable at 19.6% in fiscal 2019 compared to 19.2% in fiscal 2018. This was supported by better operating efficiency due to debottlenecking, increased volumes, and increase in realisations. The margin is expected to moderate to 17-18% in fiscal 2020 on account of tightening input prices and shift in product mix towards methyl amine segments.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile:
Financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy over the medium term, despite planned debt-funded capex, due to healthy accretion to reserve compared to incremental debt. The adjusted networth improved to Rs 364 crore as on March 31, 2019, from Rs 296.3 crore a year earlier. The total outside liabilities to adjusted networth (TOLANW) ratio remained healthy at 1.06 times, improved from 1.15 times as on March 31, 2018, despite large debt-funded capex. Debt protection metrics were healthy, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 11.4 times and 0.5 times, respectively. Capex of Rs 250 crore, planned over the medium term is expected to be funded partially by debt.
 
Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations: Operations are likely to remain working capital intensive over the medium term. Gross current assets were moderately high at 134 days as on March 31, 2019, driven by inventory and debtors of 57 and 67 days each. Credit period of 60-90 days are provided to customers with good track record and inventory of around 60 days is maintained on account of large product portfolio and bulk purchase of  ethanol and methanol to take advantage of better prices.
 
* Exposure to volatile commodity prices: The prices of raw material inputs, such as alcohols, ammonia and acetic acid and the company's products, amines, are volatile, thus impacting profitability. Domestic ethanol prices are dependent on the cyclicality in the sugar industry and methanol prices are driven by crude price movements and demand-supply dynamics in the international markets. Market prices of amines follow the petrochemicals cycle. Thus, profitability will be under pressure in the event of unfavourable price movements.
 
However, the company has taken steps to manage prices of raw materials, especially alcohol, by contracting the purchase from sugar manufacturer's months in advance at rates lower than that in the market. Steps have also been taken to pass on the hike in prices of raw materials by entering into contracts with customers, such as formula-based, quarterly, and half yearly pass-on, and quarter-based quotations. Nevertheless, the company is likely to remain moderately susceptible
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate. Cash accruals, expected at Rs 100-120 crore annually over the medium term (Rs 89.9 crore in fiscal 2019) should comfortably cover yearly debt obligations  of Rs 40-43 crore (Rs 30.2 crore in fiscal 2019). Capex of Rs 250 crore (Rs 100 crore in fiscal 2020 and Rs 150 crore in fiscal 2021) is expected to be funded partially by debt and internal accruals. Bank limit of Rs 75 crore was moderately utilised at 41% during the 12 months through June 2019 and cash and bank balances were Rs 19.33 crore as on March 31 2019. Incremental working capital requirement is expected to be adequately funded by bank limit and internal accruals.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes AACL will continue to benefit from its leadership position in the amines market. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of a substantial and sustained increase in revenue and operating profit margin leading improvement in accruals, further strengthening the financial flexibility. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if the revenue or operating margin declines significantly, or there is considerable weakening of the capital structure because of a stretch in the working capital cycle or large debt-funded capex.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1979, Mumbai-based AACL is promoted by Mr Yogesh Kothari and his family, and DSP Financial Consultants Ltd. It manufactures aliphatic amines such as ethylamine and methylamine, amine derivatives, and specialty chemicals at its facilities in Patalganga and Kurkumbh in Maharashtra, and Dahej. The company also has an R&D facility in Hadapsar, Maharashtra.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 847.7 625.70
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 83.7 64.3
PAT margin % 9.9 10.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.45 0.61
Interest coverage Times 11.4 14.8

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 crore)
Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 6.8 CRISIL A1
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 45 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Export Packing Credit NA NA NA 25 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA External Commercial Borrowings NA NA NA 113.09 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Foreign Exchange Forward NA NA NA 9.4 CRISIL A1
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 70.6 CRISIL A1
NA Line of Credit NA NA NA 5 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 13.46 CRISIL A+/Stable
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  210.95  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  16-08-19  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  28-06-18  CRISIL A+/Stable  08-06-17  CRISIL A/Stable  02-03-16  CRISIL A/Stable  CRISIL A/Stable 
            07-06-18  CRISIL A+/Stable  15-05-17  CRISIL A/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  77.40  CRISIL A1  16-08-19  CRISIL A1  28-06-18  CRISIL A1  08-06-17  CRISIL A1  02-03-16  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
            07-06-18  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  15-05-17  CRISIL A1       
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 6.8 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 6.8 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 45 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit 45 CRISIL A+/Stable
Export Packing Credit 25 CRISIL A+/Stable Export Packing Credit 25 CRISIL A+/Stable
External Commercial Borrowings 113.09 CRISIL A+/Stable External Commercial Borrowings 113.09 CRISIL A+/Stable
Foreign Exchange Forward 9.4 CRISIL A1 Foreign Exchange Forward 9.4 CRISIL A1
Letter of Credit 70.6 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 70.6 CRISIL A1
Line of Credit 5 CRISIL A+/Stable Line of Credit 5 CRISIL A+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 13.46 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 13.46 CRISIL A+/Stable
Total 288.35 -- Total 288.35 --
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 Chemical Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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