Rating Rationale
March 02, 2023 | Mumbai
Apis India Limited
Ratings migrated to 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3'; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.98 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.68.5 Crore)
Long Term Rating&CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Migrated from 'CRISIL B/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING*')
Short Term Rating^CRISIL A3 (Migrated from 'CRISIL A4 ISSUER NOT COOPERATING*')
^ *Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
& *Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed rationale

Due to inadequate information and in line with the Securities and Exchange Board of India guidelines, CRISIL Ratings had migrated its ratings on the bank facilities of Apis India Limited (AIL) to 'CRISIL B/Stable/CRISIL A4 Issuer Not Cooperating'. However, the management has subsequently shared the information required for carrying out a comprehensive review. Consequently, the ratings have been migrated to 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3'.

 

The rating upgrade reflects the improving business risk profile, as reflected in a compound annual growth rate of 12% in revenue in the five fiscals through 2023. This was driven by year-on-year increase in business-to-consumer (B2C) sales in the domestic market. Operating margin has remained modest in the past few fiscals due to high selling and employee expenses towards brand building, which led to cash burn in the B2C segment. However, with B2C turning profitable in the nine months of the current fiscal, margin is expected to be 6.7-6.8% for fiscal 2023 (6.4% for the first nine months) and above 7.5% in fiscal 2024. Better market penetration and sustainable increase in operating profitability in the B2C segment will remain key monitorable.

 

The ratings reflect the extensive experience of the promoters in the honey business, diversified product profile and healthy capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by stretched working capital cycle and exposure to intense competition.

Key rating drivers & detailed description

Strengths:

Extensive experience of the promoters and established market position:

Presence of more than two decades and strong relationships with stakeholders have helped the promoters to register revenue of Rs 255 crore in the first nine months of fiscal 2023; revenue is expected to reach Rs 335-340 crore for the full fiscal. Over the years, AIL has diversified its product profile by introducing dates, cornflakes, soya, vermicelli, pickles, and jam. This has reduced its dependence on honey to around 60% in fiscal 2023 from 85% in 2018. The company has also launched various flavours and varieties in honey and dates, which will support growth in business.

 

Healthy capital structure:

Gearing is expected to be strong at 1.0 time as on March 31, 2023 (1.20 times in the previous fiscal). Though reliance on working capital debt had increased in the past, this is likely to moderate and result in a comfortable gearing in the near term. Networth is expected to be large at above Rs 95 crore as on March 31, 2023 (Rs 87 crore as on March 31, 2022), and has steadily improved over the years. Debt protection metrics remained adequate, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 2.4 times and 0.08 time, respectively, for fiscal 2022. In the absence of any major debt-funded capital expenditure, financial risk profile is likely to remain stable in the near term.

 

Weaknesses:

Stretched working capital cycle:

Gross current assets (GCAs) were 270 days as on March 31, 2022, because of sizeable inventory of 145-150 days due to a wide product range with 35-40 stock keeping units; receivables were 90-100 days. Over the medium term, the GCAs are likely to remain at 250 days due to large seasonal procurement of honey during March-end.

 

Exposure to intense competition constraining profitability:

Low entry barrier has resulted in high fragmentation in the honey market. The margin of the company has taken a hit in the export and domestic B2B (business-to-business) segments to sustain scale and presence. Furthermore, with increased focus on the B2C division, AIL has to compete with large players such as Dabur and Zandu, thereby constraining profitability.

Liquidity: Adequate

Annual cash accrual is expected to be Rs 13-20 crore against yearly debt obligation of Rs 3-4 crore in fiscals 2023 and 2024; the remaining accrual will cover incremental working capital requirement. Current ratio was healthy at 1.46 times as on March 31, 2022. Bank limit utilization averaged 84% for the 12 months through January 2023.

Outlook: Stable

The company will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters in the fast-moving consumer goods business.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors

* Steady growth in revenue while maintaining operating margin at around 15% in the export business and above 5% in the B2C segment on a sustained basis, leading to overall profitability of above 9%

* Controlled reliance on external debt improving gearing below 0.8 time

 

Downward factors

* Decline in scale or profitability leading to accrual below Rs 5 crore

* Deterioration in working capital requirement weakening gearing above 1.25 times

About the company

Established in 1924 and acquired by the late Mr Deepak Anand and his family members in 2006, AIL is currently headed by his son, Mr Amit Anand. It processes honey for both the domestic and global markets. The company is also expanding in the B2C market and has introduced products such as dates, ginger garlic paste, pickles, and jam. AIL is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Key financial indicators

As on / for the period ended

 

31-Dec-2022

31-Mar-2022

31-Mar-2021

Operating income

Rs crore

254.9

292.4

273.5

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

6.5

5.5

5.9

PAT margin

%

2.5

1.9

2.2

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

-

1.20

1.00

Interest coverage

Times

3.05

2.58

3.00

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` 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.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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)
Complexity 
levels
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Cash Credit / Overdraft facility NA NA NA 25 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Packing Credit in Foreign Currency NA NA NA 42 NA CRISIL A3
NA Working Capital Term Loan NA NA Mar-25 11 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT/ST 98.0 CRISIL BBB-/Stable / CRISIL A3   -- 30-12-22 CRISIL B /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* 29-10-21 CRISIL BB /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* 08-10-20 CRISIL BB+/Positive CRISIL BBB-/Stable / CRISIL A3
      --   --   --   -- 17-04-20 CRISIL BB+/Stable --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST   --   -- 30-12-22 CRISIL A4 (Issuer Not Cooperating)* 29-10-21 CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)* 08-10-20 CRISIL A4+ CRISIL A3
      --   --   --   -- 17-04-20 CRISIL A4+ --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 20 Canara Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Cash Credit / Overdraft facility 25 Standard Chartered Bank Limited CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Packing Credit in Foreign Currency 42 Canara Bank CRISIL A3
Working Capital Term Loan 4.5 Canara Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Working Capital Term Loan 6.5 Canara Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable

This Annexure has been updated on 02-Mar-2023 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 02-Mar-2023 received from the rated entity.

Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry

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