Rating Rationale
June 28, 2018 | Mumbai
Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.288.35 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.267.85 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1' rating on the bank facilities of Alkyl Amines Chemicals Limited (AACL)
 
The rating continues to reflect expected improvement in the business risk profile following successful completion of a large capital expenditure (capex) programme at Dahej, Gujarat. CRISIL expects healthy growth in revenues over the medium term following expected increase in capacity utilisation at the new facilities and continued favourable demand. Profitability is also expected to be robust and higher than its 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 reflect the company's 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 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 in oligopolistic in nature 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 leading manufactures of methylamine, diethyl hydroxylamine, and dimethylamine hydrochloride in the country. It has commissioned a new methylamine plant at Dahej in March 2018. The additional capacity will help to further improve the scale, especially in the methylamine segment, leading to a better overall market position.
 
Revenue increased by 14.7% to Rs 625 crore in fiscal 2018 from Rs 545 crore in fiscal 2017; sales volume improved by 12.9% over this period. The growth is driven by demand-supply gap on account of lower production in China, demand revival from the pharmaceutical industry, and improvement in realisations. The growth is expected to be sustained over the medium term backed by capacity expansion, especially in the methylamine segment, and lower output expected from China.
 
* Operational efficiency supporting healthy operating margin: The margin improved to 19.1% in fiscal 2018 from 16.9% in the previous fiscal. This was supported by better operating efficiency due to debottlenecking, increased volumes, and stable ethanol prices. The margin may reduce in fiscal 2019 on account of lower utilisation at the new plant during the first half, but is expected to improve to 18-19% over the medium term.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile:
Financial risk profile continues to be healthy despite debt funded capex.The adjusted networth improved to Rs 290.7 crore as on March 31, 2018, from Rs 243.9 crore a year earlier. The  total outside liabilities to adjusted networth (TOLANW) ratio remained healthy, despite an increase to 1.16 times as on March 31, 2018, from 1.11 time a year earlier; the increase was on account of large, debt-funded capex. Debt protection metrics were healthy, with interest coverage ratio of 13 times and adequate cash accrual to meet debt obligation, in fiscal 2018. The financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy over the medium term, despite planned debt-funded capex, due to healthy accretion to reserves compared to incremental debt.
 
Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations: The Company's operations are working capital intensive with expected gross current assets about 134 days as on March 31, 2018, an improvement over 153 days a year earlier. This was driven by raw material inventory and debtors of 2-3 months. Operations are likely to remain working capital intensive over the medium term.
 
* Exposure to volatile commodity prices: The prices of raw material inputs, such as alcohol, and of the company's products, amines, are volatile, thus impacting profitability. Domestic alcohol prices are dependent on the cyclicality in the sugar industry. The international 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 manufacturers months in advance. It has thus managed to purchase alcohol at lower than the market prices. Steps have also been taken to pass on the increase 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 to fluctuations in prices of raw materials and of its products.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes AACL will continue to benefit over the medium term 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. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if the 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

AACL was set up in 1979 in Mumbai by Mr Yogesh Kothari and his family members, 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 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 625 542
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 64.3 53.8
PAT margin % 10.3 9.2
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 0.63 0.50
Interest coverage Times 12.97 16.44

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 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 135.47 CRISIL A+/Stable
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 0.48 CRISIL A+/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
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  07-06-18  CRISIL A+/Stable  08-06-17  CRISIL A/Stable  02-03-16  CRISIL A/Stable  28-01-15  CRISIL A/Stable  CRISIL A/Stable 
            15-05-17  CRISIL A/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  77.40  CRISIL A1  07-06-18  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  08-06-17  CRISIL A1  02-03-16  CRISIL A1  28-01-15  CRISIL A1  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 35 CRISIL A+/Stable
Export Packing Credit 25 CRISIL A+/Stable Export Packing Credit 15 CRISIL A+/Stable
External Commercial Borrowings 135.47 CRISIL A+/Stable External Commercial Borrowings 153.9 CRISIL A+/Stable
Letter of Credit 70.6 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 30.6 CRISIL A1
Line of Credit 5 CRISIL A+/Stable Line of Credit 5 CRISIL A+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .48 CRISIL A+/Stable Non-Fund Based Limit 21.55 CRISIL A+/Stable
Total 288.35 -- Total 267.85 --
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 Criteria for rating short term debt

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