Rating Rationale
March 28, 2019 | Mumbai
BASF India Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed 
 
Rating Action
Rs.20 Crore Non Convertible Debentures  CRISIL AAA/Stable (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 reaffirmed its ratings on the debt programmes of BASF India Limited (BASF) at 'CRISIL AAA/FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'.
 
BASF's operational performance was impacted in the nine months ended December 31, 2018. Sales grew double digit by 11.4% (adjusted for excise duty/GST), while the operating margin declined to 3.4% from 6.1% in the corresponding period of the previous financial year due to rising input costs and impact of depreciation of rupee on imports. Operating profit is expected to improve in the near term with moderation in input prices in line with the trend in crude oil prices and appreciating rupee against USD/Euro. In response to the new rules framed by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), BASF has decided to phase out the agency business and replace it with the merchandise business model effective financial year 2019-20. Accordingly, there will be an overall increase in sales.
 
Financial risk profile is expected to remain steady in the near to medium term. In financial year 2018-19, the company received Rs 252 crore consideration (including profit of Rs 114 crore) on sale of paper wet-end and water chemicals business, which was used to partially meet debt obligations towards the parent, BASF SE (rated 'A/Stable/A1', by S&P Global Ratings). With improvement in accrual, BASF will, likely, be in a position to meet its moderated debt obligations towards the parent over the medium term as well as take care of its capex and working capital requirements without resorting to additional debt.
 
The rating continues to reflect BASF's healthy business risk profile driven by diversified revenue streams, and strong operational and financial support from the parent. These strengths are partially offset by average financial risk profile, exposure to sharp volatility in input prices and currencies, vulnerability to inherent risks in the crop protection sector and exposure to volatile crude prices and foreign exchange movements.

Analytical Approach

The ratings of BASF India Limited factor in support expected from its parent BASF SE (rated 'A/Stable/A1', by S&P Global Ratings). CRISIL believes that BASF India Ltd will, in case of exigencies, receive distress support from its parent for timely repayment of debt obligations, considering parent holding of 73.33%, operational, technical and financial support in the form of reschedulement of ECBs and funding support for the capex.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Healthy business risk profile: Business risk profile is healthy because of a diversified revenue profile and established market position in key business segments: agrochemicals (18% of revenue in the nine months through December 2018), performance products (40%), Chemicals (5%) and functional material and solutions (37%). The products cater to a variety of end-user industries, including Agriculture, Construction, Automotive, Personal and Home care, Animal Nutrition, Paints, Transpiration, Footwear,  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. CRISIL believes timely, need based financial support will also be extended by the parent, in case of pressure on cash flows. For instance, the company rescheduled it's one tranche of repayment aggregating USD 20 Million   in financial year  2018-19 from parent to suit its cash flows.
 
Weaknesses:
* Average financial risk profile: Even though gearing declined to 0.63 time as on September 30, 2018 from 1.16 times as on March 31, 2017, the operating performance was weaker than previous year. However, proceeds from asset sale benefitted cash flows. With improvement in operating performance, key debt protection metrics are also likely to witness gradual improvement; interest coverage ratio is expected to range between 8.00 to 10.00 times in the near to medium term as compared to an estimated 5.00 times in fiscal 2019. Lower capital expenditure (capex) plan and continued prudent working capital management will further strengthen gearing over the medium term.
 
* 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.
 
* Exposure to volatile crude prices and foreign exchange movements: The profitability in the key business segments of BASF depend on the crude prices as the raw materials used in these segments are crude derivatives. Also as most of the raw materials are sourced from other group companies outside India, the profitability is also impacted by adverse sharp movement of USD  against rupee, despite hedging. The impact of these factors was seen on performance in financial year 2018-19. While appreciating rupee and moderation in crude prices would benefit in financial year 2019-20, managing sharp volatility in these factors will continue to be a challenge.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate. Annual net cash accrual-expected to be in the range of Rs. 250-300 crore over the medium term-should be sufficient to meet yearly debt obligations (Rs. 70-80 crore per annum), moderate capex plans (~Rs. 100 crore per annum) and support working capital requirements. Liquidity is further supported by refinancing of part of the ECB availed of from the parent. In financial year 2018-19, Rs 374 crore of ECBs from parent was due to be repaid. BASF repaid about Rs 225 crore using its internal accruals and proceeds from divestments and the rest was rescheduled. Furthermore, BASF uses only about 3% of its fund based facilities of about Rs 1370 crore.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes BASF India's business risk profile will continue to benefit from the strong parent support that will buttress the impact of average credit metrics. The rating will also remain sensitive to any changes in BASF SE's credit profile.
 
Downside Scenario
* Lower-than-expected growth in revenue and decline in profitability, impacting cash generation, including due to divestment of key businesses
* Weakening of the parent's business risk profile, resulting in a downgrade of parent company's overall rating.
* Significant weakening of debt protection metrics due to intake of additional debt for acquisition or due to working capital.

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 six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. All global businesses are present in India, through BASF India. 

For the first 9 months in fiscal 2019, net losses were Rs. 4.5 crore on operating income of Rs.4707 crore against PAT of Rs. 180.5 crore on income of Rs. 4244.0 crore (adjusted for excise duty) for the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators^
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Revenue from operation (adjusted for excise duty) Rs crore 5583 5,078
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 247 -14
PAT Margins % 4.4 -0.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 0.65 1.16
Interest coverage Times 4.00 1.89
^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 Date of Redemption Coupon Rate (%) Issue Size
(Rs. Cr)
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Commercial Paper NA 7-365 days NA 750 CRISIL A1+
NA Non-convertible Debentures* NA NA NA 20 CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Fixed Deposit NA NA NA -- FAAA/Stable
*yet to be issued
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
Commercial Paper  ST  750.00  CRISIL A1+      27-03-18  CRISIL A1+  31-03-17  CRISIL A1+  22-03-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
                    10-03-16  CRISIL A1+   
Fixed Deposits  FD  0.00  FAAA/Stable      27-03-18  FAAA/Stable  31-03-17  FAAA/Stable  22-03-16  FAAA/Stable  FAAA/Stable 
                    10-03-16  FAAA/Stable   
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  0.00
28-03-19 
CRISIL AAA/Stable      27-03-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  31-03-17  CRISIL AAA/Negative  22-03-16  CRISIL AAA/Negative  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
                    10-03-16  CRISIL AAA/Negative   
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
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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