Rating Rationale
January 07, 2020 | Mumbai
Bayer Cropscience Limited
Rating Reaffirmed ; STD withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.128 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.200 Crore Short Term Debt CRISIL A1+ (Withdrawn)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA+/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Bayer Cropscience Limited (BCSL). CRISIL has withdrawn its rating on the Rs 200 crore short-term debt programme of BCSL at the company's request. This is in line with CRISIL's policy on withdrawal of ratings.
 
The rating continues to reflect BCSL's healthy market position in the Indian agrochemicals segment, operational and product support from parent Bayer AG (Bayer; rated 'BBB/Stable/A-2' by S&P Global Ratings), and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to regulatory changes and uncertainty in rainfall.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Healthy market position: BCSL is one of the largest players in the Indian agrochemicals sector and benefits from its healthy relationships with farmers, extensive product portfolio, and strong distribution network. The Seed 2 Harvest initiative launched in fiscal 2008 combines BCSL's strengths with those of group company Bayer BioScience Pvt Ltd (BBPL; 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+') to offer integrated farmer solutions. The amalgamation of Monsanto India Ltd (MIL) also lends diversity to product offerings across the value chain of BCSL's agricultural input business, especially in the hybrid seed segment. The combined research and development (R&D) capability, and wide market reach and farmer connect, will benefit the company.
 
* Robust product and operational support from Bayer: Product and operational support from the parent has helped BCSL introduce and consistently upgrade products, leading to stable operating margin. BCSL launched 12 products in fiscal 2019 (7 related to crop protection, 4 hybrid seeds, and 1 in environmental science). Given BCSL's strategic importance, operational and product support from the parent is expected to continue. Even for MIL's business, BCSL will have access to R&D initiatives undertaken by the erstwhile Monsanto Co, which also provides germplasm for the hybrid seeds division and active ingredients for the crop protection division.
 
* Strong financial risk profile, particularly liquidity: Steady operational cash flow, large networth, and negligible debt have led to a strong financial risk profile. Besides, the erstwhile MIL's healthy cash accrual and networth, strong capital structure, and liquid surplus will augment BCSL's financial risk profile. Networth was Rs 1,841 crore as on March 31, 2019, and is expected over Rs 2,300 crore as on March 31, 2020, benefiting from the amalgamation. Cash accrual will be adequate to meet funding requirement, thus ensuring low reliance on debt. The company had a liquid surplus of over Rs 320 crore as on September 30, 2019. Working capital tends to be higher in the first half of the fiscal, due to seasonality in operations, but normalises by the end of the fiscal. Healthy cash flow, better working capital management, and moderate capital expenditure (capex) should help build up cash balance.
 
Weaknesses
* Exposure to risks inherent in the agriculture sector: Demand for agrochemicals and seeds is linked to agricultural production, which depends on the monsoon. Surplus or inadequate rainfall impacts revenue and profitability, besides leading to build-up in working capital requirement. While BCSL's healthy regional diversification and strong portfolio support the business, susceptibility to uneven monsoon persists. Furthermore, the agrochemical industry is highly regulated by specific and separate registration processes in different countries, and is subject to environmental rules and regulations. An adverse change in the export and import policies of countries will impact business prospects of Indian agrochemical manufacturers. The risk of ban on any key product also persists.
Liquidity Strong

BCSL enjoys strong liquidity driven by expected cash accrual of more than Rs 250 crore (post one time cost of integration) and Rs 350 crore in fiscals 2020 and 2021, respectively, and cash and cash equivalent of over Rs 320 crore as on September 30, 2019. BCSL also has access to fund-based limits of Rs 112.5 crore, which are sparingly utilised. The company has no long-term debt and capex is expected at Rs 70-80 crore per annum in fiscals 2020 and 2021. Incremental working capital requirement and capex are expected to be comfortably funded through internal accrual, liquid surplus, and unutilised bank lines.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes BCSL will maintain its established position in the agrochemicals industry over the medium term, backed by increased market penetration and product launches, supported by Bayer's strong R&D capability. Besides, the merger of MIL will improve revenue diversity. The financial risk profile should remain strong over the medium term because of large networth, strong gearing, and healthy liquid surplus.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Substantial and sustainable increase of 15-20% compound annual growth rate in revenue and stable operating margin of over 17%
* Sustenance of strong financial risk profile and further build-up in liquid surplus
 
Downward factors
* Sustained fall in revenue or profitability, leading to significantly lower cash accrual
* Large, debt-funded capex or acquisition, weakening gearing to over 0.8 times
* Considerable fund outflow, either through dividend or share buyback, and consequent reduction in liquidity

About the Company

The Bayer group launched its Indian operations in 1958 by setting up an agrochemical manufacturing unit under BCSL, in which the group has 68.58% stake. BCSL manufactures and markets crop-protection solutions, and trades in seeds on behalf of BBPL.
 
The National Company Law Tribunal on September 13, 2019 approved the merger of BCSL with MIL. The amalgamation is part of a global transaction, wherein BCSL's parent, Bayer, has acquired Monsanto Co and is in process of merging both the entities.
 
In the first six months of fiscal 2020, net profit was Rs 305 crore on revenue of Rs 2,297 crore, against Rs 331 crore and Rs 2,140 crore, respectively, in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal (numbers not directly comparable as MIL revenue has been considered from June 7, 2018).

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 2877 2,717
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 238 300
PAT margin % 8.3 11.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.00
Interest coverage Times 43.76 41.65

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 Fund-Based Facilities* NA NA NA 112.55 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Proposed Long-Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 15.45 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Short-Term Debt NA NA 7-365 days 200.0 Withdrawn
*Fully interchangeable with cash credit, overdraft, short-term loans, letter of credit, and bank guarantee
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Short Term Debt  ST  200.00  Withdrawal      29-11-19  CRISIL A1+  23-11-18  CRISIL A1+  16-11-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
                12-06-18  CRISIL A1+  06-09-17  CRISIL A1+   
                14-05-18  CRISIL A1+  09-06-17  CRISIL A1+   
                14-02-18  CRISIL A1+  23-03-17  CRISIL A1+   
                    18-01-17  CRISIL A1+   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  128.00  CRISIL AA+/Stable      29-11-19  CRISIL AA+/Stable  23-11-18  CRISIL AA+/Stable  16-11-17  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative 
                12-06-18  CRISIL AA+/Stable  06-09-17  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative   
                14-05-18  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative  09-06-17  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative   
                14-02-18  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative  23-03-17  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative   
                    18-01-17  CRISIL AA+/Watch Negative   
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
Fund-Based Facilities* 112.55 CRISIL AA+/Stable Fund-Based Facilities* 112.55 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15.45 CRISIL AA+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15.45 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Total 128 -- Total 128 --
*Fully interchangeable with cash credit, overdraft, short-term loans, letter of credit, and bank guarantee
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
Mapping global scale ratings onto CRISIL scale

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