Rating Rationale
July 20, 2020 | Mumbai
Berger Paints India Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.700 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.500 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 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of Berger Paints India Limited (Berger Paints).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the company's established market position in the domestic paint industry and strong financial risk profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by moderate segmental diversity in revenue, vulnerability in raw material cost and limited pricing flexibility.
 
With decline in demand and temporary shutdown of plants in March-April 2020 due to nationwide lockdown post COVID-19 outbreak, Berger Paints' performance is expected to be affected in the near term. The slowdown in the construction activity coupled with subdued discretionary spending in the near term is likely to result in 9-11% decline in revenues for fiscal 2021. However, revenues are expected to rebound from next fiscal with expected revival in both decorative and industrial paints segments. Despite the decline in revenues, operating margins are expected to be sustained at around 14-15% due to benign raw material prices.
 
The company's financial risk profile continues to remain strong marked by a low net debt balance sheet and sizeable liquid surplus of around Rs 400 crores at March 31, 2020. Capex is expected to be nominal at around Rs 100-200 crore per annum as the company has recently completed capacity additions in its existing facilities and has sufficient headroom to cater to incremental demand over the medium term. The incremental capex and working capital requirements are expected to be funded entirely through internal accruals and hence, CRISIL expects the group to sustain its strong balance sheet over the medium term.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Berger Paints, its subsidiaries and joint ventures, as all companies are engaged in the same business. For analytical purposes, CRISIL amortises goodwill created upon acquisition for a period of five years.

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated , which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established position in the Indian paints industry: Berger Paints has an established position in the decorative paints market, backed by strong brands (Silk, Luxol, Weathercoat, Rangoli, Illusions, and Jadoo), well-spread distribution network, and a wide product portfolio encompassing enamels, exterior emulsions, distempers, primers, and cement paints. It is present across all product segments, including decorative, general industrial, automotive, protective, and powder coatings.
 
The company is the second-largest player in the domestic decorative paints industry, and the market leader in the protective coating segment; it also has a small presence in the automotive and powder coating segments.
 
Aided by increased penetration into newer cities and towns, rapid urbanisation, and low per capita consumption of paints relative to global averages, sales have increased at a CAGR of 8% over the last 5 years through fiscal FY20. Strong brand equity, extensive distribution network, and wide product portfolio will help sustain strong market position over the medium term.

* Strong financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is backed by sizeable adjusted networth of an estimated around Rs 2600 crore as of March 31, 2020, nominal debt of less than Rs 600 crore, comfortable debt protection metrics, and healthy cash generating ability. The company has exhibited prudence in undertaking capital expenditure (capex) over the years, ensuring lower reliance on debt. Liquidity is further supported by healthy surpluses of around Rs 400 crore as on March 31, 2020, and low bank limit utilization.
 
Moderate capex spend of around Rs 100-200 crore per annum is expected in the medium term and the same should be funded through sufficient cash accrual expected over next three years. Strong cash generation and continued focus on pruning the working capital cycle, should help maintain strong credit metrics (gearing below 0.25 time over medium term), besides enhancing the liquid surplus.
 
Weaknesses:
* Limited, yet growing, presence in the non-decorative segment: Around 80% of revenue comes from the decorative segment, and only about 20% is derived from the non-decorative segment (includes protective, powder and automotive coatings). This constrains the company's ability to fully leverage demand prospects in these segments.
 
* Vulnerability in raw material cost and limited pricing flexibility: Despite the organised paint industry being oligopolistic, manufacturers face competition from strong regional players, especially in mass-market products. Consequently, while paint manufacturers have adequate flexibility to pass on any increase in cost, ability to absorb benefits and thereby increase margin is limited. Hence operating margin has fluctuated at 14-17% in the last 4 fiscals.
Liquidity Superior

Berger paints has ample liquidity driven by expected cash accrual of more than Rs 500 crore per annum against annual debt obligation of Rs 100 crores each in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Liquid surplus was Rs 400 crore as on March 31, 2020. Fund-based working capital limit of Rs 500 crore was moderately utilised. Accrual and cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet debt obligation and fund capex. 

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Berger Paints' business risk profile will remain healthy over the medium term, supported by a strong market position, sustained revenue growth, and stable operating margin leading to healthy cash accrual. Financial risk profile will also remain strong, with moderate capex and low reliance on debt, besides build-up in liquid surplus.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Downward factors
* Sustained decline in revenues by over 15% in the medium term or sharp decline in market share in the domestic paints industry
* Intense competition or steep increase in input prices affecting profitability, resulting in steep decline in operating margin to below 12%
* Large, debt-funded acquisition or capex that may impact financial risk profile
* Material reduction in liquid surplus.

About the Company

Berger Paints, incorporated in 1923, is one of India's oldest paint companies, It manufactures paints and varnishes, and has a strong distribution network, including 110 stock points, catering to more than 25,000 dealers. The company derives around 80% of its revenue from decorative paints, with the segment having recorded a healthy CAGR of 8% between fiscals 2015 and 2020.

The company has 14 manufacturing plants across India: Goa, Puducherry, Maharashtra (Jejuri), Uttar Pradesh (Surajpur factory at Greater Noida, and Sikandrabad), Rishra, Jammu, and Howrah. It commissioned a large greenfield unit in Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh, in September 2014, and a second unit at Naltoli, Assam in 2016. The company also caters to overseas markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Poland and Russia. It has a production facility at Krasnodar, Russia and two manufacturing units in Nepal.  The company has also acquired Bolix SA of Poland, which is a leading provider of external insulation finishing systems (EIFS) in Eastern Europe.
 
In June 2016, Berger Paints divested its auto three-wheeler and four-wheeler businesses (accounting for less than 1% of total turnover) into its existing joint venture (with Nippon Paints Automotive Coatings Ltd, Japan), Berger Nippon Paints Automotive Coatings Pvt Ltd, matched by an almost equal-sized auto four-wheeler business from Nippon Paints India. The rest of the general industrial and auto (two-wheeler and commercial vehicle) business will remain with Berger Paints.
 
In May 2017, Berger Paints acquired Saboo Coatings Pvt Ltd (which makes specialty liquid coatings used in farm and construction equipment, automobiles, fans, electronics, elevators, handicrafts, and home furnishing), for Rs 83 crore. In July 2018 Berger Paints has entered into a joint venture (JV) with Rock Paints Co. (Japan) to manufacture automotive refinish paints. Berger Paints holds 51% stake in the JV.

In November 2019, Berger Paints acquired a 95.5% stake in Shalimar Tar Products Ltd (STP Ltd) for a consideration of Rs 130 crores. STP Ltd is engaged in the manufacturing of construction chemicals, waterproofing chemicals, construction admixtures and tar based products.
 
The company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019-2020 2018-2019
Revenue Rs.Crore 6307 6005
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 643 497
PAT Margin % 10.1 8.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.2 0.2
Interest coverage Times 23.8 28.9

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Date of redemption Coupon rate (%) Issue size
(Rs.Crore)
Complexity level Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Fund-Based Facilities# NA NA NA 500 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Non-Fund Based Limit## NA NA NA 200 NA CRISIL A1+
Na Commercial Paper NA 7-365 days NA 500 Simple CRISIL A1+
#Interchangeable between cash credit, working capital demand loan, packing credit, bill discounting, buyer's credit, and short-term loans
##Interchangeable between bank guarantees and letters of credit
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Beepee Coatings Private Limited Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
SBL Specialty Coatings Private Limited (Formerly known as Saboo Coatings Private Limited) Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
Berger Jenson & Nicholson (Nepal) Private Limited Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
Berger Paints (Cyprus) Limited consolidated with Berger Paints Overseas Limited Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
Lusako Trading Limited consolidated with Bolix S.A and Group* Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
Berger Becker Coatings Private Limited Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
Berger Nippon Paints Coatings Indian Limited Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
STP Ltd Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
*Group includes Build-Trade Sp. z.o.o., Solthern External insulations Limited and Soltherm Insolations Thermique Exterieure SAS 
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
Commercial Paper  ST  500.00  CRISIL A1+      24-07-19  CRISIL A1+  20-08-18  CRISIL A1+  15-12-17  CRISIL A1+  -- 
Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper)  ST                  31-10-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
                    19-01-17  CRISIL A1+   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  500.00  CRISIL AAA/Stable      24-07-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  20-08-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  15-12-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AA+/Positive 
                    31-10-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable   
                    19-01-17  CRISIL AA+/Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  200.00  CRISIL A1+      24-07-19  CRISIL A1+  20-08-18  CRISIL A1+  15-12-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
                    31-10-17  CRISIL A1+   
                    19-01-17  CRISIL A1+   
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# 500 CRISIL AAA/Stable Fund-Based Facilities# 500 CRISIL AAA/Stable
Non-Fund Based Limit## 200 CRISIL A1+ Non-Fund Based Limit## 200 CRISIL A1+
Total 700 -- Total 700 --
#Interchangeable between cash credit, working capital demand loan, packing credit, bill discounting, buyer's credit, and short-term loans
##Interchangeable between bank guarantees and letters of credit
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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