Rating Rationale
September 20, 2019 | Mumbai
Alliance India
Rating migrated to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable' ; Rated amount enhaced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.35 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.23 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Migrated from 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'*)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Detailed Rationale

Due to inadequate information in line with Securities and Exchange Board of India guidelines, CRISIL had migrated its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Alliance India (Alliance) to 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable; Issuer not cooperating' through its rationale dated August 31, 2019. However, the management has subsequently started sharing the information required for carrying out a comprehensive review. Consequently, CRISIL is migrating the rating to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable'.
 
The rating reflects the firm's established position in contract manufacturing of soap, strong relationship with the key customer'Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) - and an above-average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by high customer concentration in revenue, fluctuating operating margin, and risks of profit withdrawal due to the partnership nature of the firm.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established position and strong relationship with HUL: Alliance has been in the business of contract manufacturing of soaps for more than a decade. It started as a contract manufacturer of Pears soap, and over the years, entered the toilet soap brand (TSB) segment, such as Lifebuoy and Hamam, and the cosmetics sector in fiscal 2017. Being a prominent supplier of TSBs to HUL, the firm's strong relationship with the client should continue to support its business risk profile.
 
* Above-average financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is above average: gearing is estimated at 0.6 time as on March 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics should remain healthy, with interest coverage estimated at 9 times in fiscal 2019.
 
Weaknesses
* Customer concentration risk: With HUL accounting for all of Alliance's sales, revenue and profitability should remain dependent on HUL's growth plans. Lower-than-anticipated demand from HUL and changes in key commercial terms could have a significant impact on Alliance's credit risk profile.
 
* Fluctuating operating margin: Owing to fluctuating raw material prices being shared by Alliance and HUL collectively, profitability has remained volatile over the years (estimated at 7.4% in fiscal 2019).
 
* Risks of profit withdrawal: Owing to the partnership nature of the firm, networth and accrual remain constrained on account of withdrawals (by way of dividend) in the past.
 
Liquidity: Adequate
Liquidity is adequate: cash accrual, expected at Rs 16-19 crore per annum over the medium term, should sufficiently cover yearly maturing debt of Rs 4.9 crore. Bank limit utilisation averaged 71% over the 12 months through August 2019.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Alliance will continue to benefit from its healthy relationship with HUL.

Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factor
* Customer and product diversification
* Sustained improvement in scale by more than 20-25% while maintaining its above-average financial risk profile

Downward factor
Larger-than-anticipated, debt-funded capital expenditure impacting the financial risk profile, with total outside liabilities to tangible networth deteriorating to more than 2 times
* Significant deterioration in liquidity due to capital withdrawals, stretched working capital cycle, or reduction in cushion in bank lines.

About the Firm

Established as a partnership firm in 2004, Alliance undertakes contract manufacturing for HUL. Mr Harish Aggarwal, Mr Anil Nagpal, and Mr Gyan Prakash Aggarwal are the partners.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019* 2018
Revenue Rs crore 298.54 332.36
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 8.86 9.38
PAT margin % 2.97 2.82
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.61 0.51
Interest coverage Times 9.11 12.11
*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. 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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 12.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Long erm Loan NA NA Aug-2021 12.27 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 10.23 CRISIL BBB+/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  35.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  31-08-19  CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  08-05-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable    --    --  -- 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 12.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 6 CRISIL BBB-/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating
Long Term Loan 12.27 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Long Term Loan 17 CRISIL BBB-/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating
Proposed Working Capital Facility 10.23 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 35 -- Total 23 --
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
The Rating Process

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