Rating Rationale
March 27, 2018 | Mumbai
BASF India Limited
NCD Outlook revised to 'Stable' ; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Rs.20 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AAA/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Negative' and rating reaffirmed) 
Fixed Deposits Programme FAAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.750 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the non-convertible debenture programme of BASF India Limited (BASF India) to 'Stable' from 'Negative' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL AAA'. The ratings on fixed deposits and commercial paper have been reaffirmed at 'FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'.

The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's expectation that BASF India's operating performance over the medium term will be better than previously envisaged with stabilisation of operations at Dahej, Gujarat and improvement in demand across segments. Operating performance improved in the nine months ended December 31, 2017. Revenue grew at 6% year-on-year (11% after adjusting for the impact of Goods and Service Tax (GST)) aided by improved performance across key business segments. Operating margin increased to 6% from 3.5% in the previous fiscal, aided by ramp-up in capacity utilisation resulting in better overhead absorption. Over the medium term, CRISIL expects revenue to grow at a compound annual rate of 9-10%and operating margin to sustain at around 7% on the back of improved efficiencies.

The increase in profitability and cash accrual aids improvement in financial risk profile. Cash generation in fiscal 2018 is expected to benefit from a sizable one-off extraordinary income of Rs 156 crore, being profit on divestment of the leather chemical business. In the absence of such extraordinary income, while overall cash accrual will be lower in fiscal 2019, it is expected to improve steadily over the near-to-medium term.

Improving cash accrual, tapered capital expenditure (capex) plan and continued prudent working capital management in the medium term is likely to further strengthen financial risk profile. Gearing declined to 0.92 time as on September 30, 2017 from 1.16 times as on March 31, 2017. Key debt protection metrics are also likely to witness gradual improvement; net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios are expected to be 0.30 time (0.12 time in fiscal 2017) and 2.50 times (1.89 times in fiscal 2017), respectively in fiscal 2018.

On the liquidity front, cash accruals are likely to remain lower than the large repayment obligations in fiscal 2019 for the external commercial borrowings availed from parent, BASF SE (rated 'A/Stable/A1', by S&P Global Ratings). CRISIL, however derives comfort from the company's financial flexibility to refinance the payments, in a timely manner.  Further, CRISIL also believes timely, need-based support from parent will be forthcoming during exigencies.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has applied its criteria for notching up standalone ratings for parent support.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Healthy business risk profile: This is because of a diversified revenue profile and an established position in key business segments: agrochemicals (16% of revenue in the nine months through December 2017), performance products (41%), and functional material and solutions (39%). The products cater to a variety of end-user industries, including leather, paper, construction, automotive, personal and home care, agriculture, petrochemicals, and refining. The diversity of revenue streams helps mitigate the impact of cyclicality and competitive pressures in any one business segment.

* Strong business and financial assistance by parent, BASF SE: The company receives strong operational as well as product support from the parent, BASF SE, one of the leading chemical companies in the world. A high level of integration exists between the parent and the Indian arm because of synergies arising from similar businesses. CRISL believes timely, need based financial support will also be extended by the parent, in case of pressure on cash flows.

Weaknesses:
* Sub-par, albeit improving financial risk profile: Losses from core operations resulted in weak financial risk profile; however with profitability expected to increase over the medium term, capital structure and key credit metrics could witness gradual improvement.

* Exposure to risks inherent in the crop protection sector: The domestic crop protection segment is affected by irregular monsoon and volatility in farm income. Also, the sector is highly regulated by specific registration processes in different countries and is subject to various environmental rules and regulations.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes BASF India's business risk profile will benefit from the improving utilisation at its Dahej facility and strong parent support that will buttress the impact of sub-par credit metrics. The rating will also remain sensitive to any changes in BASF SE's credit profile.

Downside scenario
* Lower-than-expected revenue growth and reduction in operating profitability, impacting cash generation, including due to divestment of key businesses
* Moderation in debt protection metrics, most likely due to incremental working capital needs for new units or fresh, large capex.

About the Company

BASF India, a 73.33% subsidiary of BASF SE, is the flagship company of the BASF group in India. BASF SE began operations in India with the acquisition of RA Cole Pvt Ltd (a manufacturer of expanded polystyrene), which was renamed BASF India in September 1967.

BASF SE' portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. All global businesses, except for Oil & Gas, are present in India, through BASF India. 

For the first 9 months in fiscal 2018, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs.180.5 crore on operating income of Rs.4383.3 crore against loss of Rs.56.8 crore on income of Rs. 4131.6 crore for the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators^
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 5,090 4,750
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore -14 -30
PAT Margins % -0.3 -0.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 1.16 1.21
Interest coverage Times 1.89 1.08
^CRISIL adjusted numbers

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 Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 750 CRISIL A1+
NA Non-convertible debenture* NA NA NA 20 CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Fixed Deposit NA NA NA 0 FAAA/Stable
*Yet to be issued
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  750  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
Fixed Deposits  FD  FAAA/Stable    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  FAAA/Stable 
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  20  CRISIL AAA/Stable    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  10-03-16  CRISIL AAA/Negative    No Rating Change  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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