Rating Rationale
March 04, 2019 | Mumbai
Alok Industries
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.2 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 facility of Alok Industries (AI; a part of the Alok group).
 
The rating continues to reflect the Alok group's established market position in the masterbatches industry, backed by pan-India presence with a well-diversified clientele, and a healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition, and susceptibility to fluctuation in raw material prices.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of AI and Alok Masterbatches Pvt Ltd (AMPL). This is because the two entities, together referred to as the Alok group, have business synergies and a common management.
 
Unsecured loans (outstanding at Rs 79.29 crore as on March 31, 2018) extended to the Alok group by the promoters have been treated as neither debt nor equity. That is because these loans are subordinated to bank debt and are likely to remain in the business.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position
The Alok group is among the large organised players in India's masterbatches industry.  The product portfolio comprises filler, colour, and industry-specific masterbatches such as polyethylene terephthalate and agriculture masterbatches. Benefits from the promoters' experience of over the two decades, their strong understanding of local market dynamics, and healthy relations with customers and suppliers should continue to support the business.

* Healthy financial risk profile
Networth and gearing are comfortable, estimated at Rs 98.7 crore and 0.43 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019. Net cash accrual to adjusted debt and interest coverage ratios also estimated to be adequate at 0.4 time and 3.3 times, respectively, in fiscal 2019.

Weaknesses
* Exposure to intense competition
More than half of the overall masterbatches segment comprises the unorganised sector. Although organised players such as the Alok group offer superior quality products, local players are able to cater to regional customers with ease. In addition, profitability is contingent upon product mix. The group generates bulk of its revenue via sale of filler masterbatches and black and white masterbatches. It sells a low proportion of high-end masterbatches such as those used in the agriculture industry. Thus, intense competition may continue to constrain scalability, pricing power, and profitability.

* Vulnerability to fluctuation in raw material price
Since cost of procuring the major raw materials (polymers, additives, and pigments) accounts for a bulk of the production expense, even a slight variation in price can drastically impact profitability. Operating margin has been stable at 11.1-13.8% over the three fiscals through 2018, driven by favourable raw material prices. Despite comfortable profitability and ability to pass on price hike to some extent, the group will remain vulnerable to any sharp volatility in raw material prices.
Liquidity

Liquidity of the group is adequate. Cash accrual is projected at Rs 17-18 crore per annum, against negligible maturing debt in fiscals 2019 and 2020. The fund-based limit of Rs 87.5 crore was utilised 79% on average over the 12 months through December 2018. Further The liquidity is supported by unsecured loans (Rs 79.29 crores as of March 2018) extended by promoters to meet working capital and capex requirements.  Also, the group has cash and bank balance of Rs.4.43 crore as on March 2018 cushioning its liquidity.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Alok group will continue to benefit from an established market position and a healthy financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if a substantial and sustainable increase in revenue and profitability strengthens the financial risk profile. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a sharp decline in profitability, revenue or cash accrual or a significant stretch in the working capital cycle weakens the financial risk profile.

About the Group

AI (set up in 1993) and AMPL (1995) manufacture masterbatches for the plastic industry. AMPL has facilities is in Ranipet (Tamil Nadu) and Surangi (Dadra and Nagar Haveli), while AI has facilities in Delhi and Bhiwadi (Rajasthan). Mr Vikram Bhadauria, Mr Aditya Bhadauria, and Mr Amit Puri are the group's promoters.

Key Financial Indicators
The Alok group - as on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 324.39 302.46
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 13.54 16.14
PAT Margins % 4.2 5.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.39 0.15
Interest coverage Times 3.42 4.15

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 2.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Alok Masterbatches Pvt Ltd Full Consolidation Common management and line of business, in addition to financial fungibility
Alok Industries Full Consolidation Common management and line of business, in addition to financial fungibility
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  2.00  CRISIL A-/Stable      30-04-18  CRISIL A-/Stable  25-01-17  CRISIL A-/Stable  20-01-16  CRISIL A-/Stable  CRISIL A-/Stable 
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
Cash Credit 2 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 2 CRISIL A-/Stable
-- 0 -- Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 18 Withdrawn
Total 2 -- Total 20 --
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 Consolidation
The Rating Process

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