Rating Rationale
August 02, 2018 | Mumbai
Aspinwall and Company Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.126.5 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.101.5 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Aspinwall and Company Limited's (ACL; part of Aspinwall group) reflect established market position as an exporter of premium coffee beans and longstanding presence in the logistics business, supported by an experienced management team. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility of operating performance to intense competition in the logistics business, and large working capital requirement. 
 
On July 11, 2018, CRISIL had upgraded the rating of ACL to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' from 'CRISIL BBB/Positive/CRISIL A3+'.

The upgrade reflects steady improvement in the group's business risk profile supported by better profitability and sustained diversification in revenue. While revenue increased to Rs 282.7 crore in fiscal 2018 from Rs 245.8 crore in fiscal 2017, operating margin improved to 10.28% from 8.4%. Consequently, cash accrual in fiscal 2018 was better than CRISIL's expectation. CRISIL believes revenue and profitability will improve over the medium term, on account of continued healthy performance of the logistics division with rising traffic across non-major ports in India, and sustained demand for 'monsooned malabar' coffee beans. The group benefits from its diversified revenue, with largely equal revenue contribution of the coffee and logistics divisions rendering the operating performance less susceptible to volatility in coffee prices or economic downturns impacting port traffic.
 
Financial risk profile remains healthy, with total outside liabilities to tangibility networth (TOLTNW) ratio at 0.9 time and networth at Rs 137.45 crore as on March 31, 2018. CRISIL believes improvement in profitability and absence of large, debt-funded capital expenditure will support the key financial metrics over the medium term.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ACL and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Aspinwall Geotech Ltd, Aspinwall Technologies Ltd, Malabar Coast Marine Services Pvt Ltd, and SFS Pharma Logistics Pvt Ltd. This is because all the entities, collectively referred to as the Aspinwall group, have high management, operational, and financial integration.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in the specialty coffee export and logistics businesses: The group has diversified revenue streams, including logistics, coffee, rubber plantation, and coir. The logistics and coffee businesses cumulatively contribute 85% to the group's revenue. Presence of over eight decades in the shipping logistics business and over five decades in specialty coffee export has enabled the group to manage business cycles and establish good relationships with customers and suppliers.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: TOLTNW ratio was 0.9 time as on March 31, 2018, and interest coverage ratio was 6.63 times and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio 0.20 time for fiscal 2018. The financial risk profile should remain healthy over the medium term.
 
Weakness
* Working capital-intensive operations: The large working capital requirement is reflected in gross current assets of 232 days as on March 31, 2018, because of sizeable inventory held during the procurement season for coffee beans. Inventory was 154 days as on March 31, 2018. Operations will remain working capital intensive over the medium term.
 
* Susceptibility of revenue and profitability to economic downturns and fluctuations in key raw material prices: The group's key raw materials are natural products such as rubber, coffee, and coir, the prices of which are volatile and depend on natural factors. Revenue and profitability of the logistics division are also vulnerable to downturn in both the Indian and global economy, as it is directly dependent on foreign trade.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Apsinwall group will continue to benefit from the diversity in its revenue profile and its healthy capital structure, over the medium term. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if more-than-expected improvement in revenue and profitability leads to a better business risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if decline in revenue or profitability or larger-than-expected, debt-funded capital expenditure weakens the financial risk profile.

About the Company

ACL is a public limited company, incorporated in 1920. The erstwhile royal family of Travancore (present-day Kerala) has a controlling stake of 65% in the company. Mr Rama Varma is the managing director. ACL is into various businesses, including logistics, coffee, rubber plantation, and coir. The logistics, rubber plantation, and coir businesses are headquartered in Kochi (Kerala), while the coffee division is headquartered in Mangaluru (Karnataka).
 
The company is listed on the National Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs Cr. 282.7 245.8
Profit After Tax Rs Cr. 12.9 8.7
PAT Margin % 4.5 3.5
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.47 0.27
Interest coverage Times 6.63 3.61

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 11.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Export Packing Credit NA NA NA 75.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 4.5 CRISIL A2
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Nov-22 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 15 CRISIL BBB+/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  122.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  11-07-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  18-05-17  CRISIL BBB/Positive  19-01-16  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  22-04-15  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2 
            19-04-17  CRISIL BBB/Positive/ CRISIL A3+           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  4.50  CRISIL A2  11-07-18  CRISIL A2  18-05-17  CRISIL A3+          CRISIL A2 
            19-04-17  CRISIL A3+           
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 11.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 11.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Export Packing Credit 75.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Export Packing Credit 65.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 4.5 CRISIL A2 Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 4.5 CRISIL A2
Long Term Loan 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Long Term Loan 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 126.5 -- Total 101.5 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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