Rating Rationale
October 31, 2019 | Mumbai
Bodal Chemicals Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.257 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.10 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 A+/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper programme of Bodal Chemicals Limited (BCL; part of the BCL group).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the group's healthy scale and integrated nature of operations, a diversified product basket, large customer base, and the extensive experience of the promoters. The ratings also factor in a robust financial risk profile and healthy liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by risks related to exposure to stringent regulatory norms, volatile realisations, and any adverse foreign currency movement.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has consolidated the business and financial risk profiles of BCL and its subsidiaries: Trion Chemicals Pvt Ltd (TCPL), SPS Processors Pvt Ltd (SPS), Bodal Chemicals Trading Pvt Ltd (BCT) and Bodal Chemicals Trading (Shinjianzhuang) Co Ltd (BCTS). This is because the entities, collectively referred to as the BCL group, have a common management team and are in the same line of business. Further, the subsidiaries derive significant funding support from BCL.

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:
* Healthy scale and integrated nature of operations: The group is among the leading manufacturer of dye intermediates and dyestuff in India. Operations are highly integrated, and capacities are balanced to enhance in-house consumption and ensure minimal effluent costs. Around 45% of basic chemicals and dye intermediates production is for captive consumption. The healthy scale and integrated operations enable better absorption of volatility in profitability.

* Diversified product basket and customer profile: Dye intermediates, and dyestuff each contributed around 45% to topline in fiscal 2019 with the balance being from basic chemicals, reflecting a diversified product portfolio. Further, BCL enjoys geographic diversification, with about 43% of the revenue coming from exports in fiscal 2019. Moreover, the industry base is wide, including textiles, leather, paper, and water chemicals, among others-reliance on the textile industry is, however, high. Customer base is large, with the top 10 customers contributing around 40% to the topline.

* Extensive experience of the promoters: Benefits from the promoters' experience of more than three decades, an established market position, and healthy relations with customers should continue to support the business.

* Robust financial risk profile: Networth was strong and gearing comfortable at Rs 827 crore and 0.21 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019. BCL intends to undertake Rs 750-800 crore capital expenditure (capex; partly debt-funded) for expansion of its manufacturing capacities. However, capital structure is expected to remain healthy, as capex is spread over the medium term, in-line with the stated posture of the management of maintaining gearing below 0.5 time on an ongoing basis. Debt protection measures are comfortable, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 26.9 times and 0.88 time, respectively, in fiscal 2019. Financial profile is also supported by healthy profitability (16.7% in fiscal 2018) and low leverage.

Weaknesses:
* Working capital-intensive operations: Operations are working capital intensive, with gross current assets of five months as on March 31, 2019. Debtors and inventory were 86 and 64 days, respectively.

* Risk associated with volatility in the prices of dyestuff and intermediates and foreign exchange (forex) rates: The prices of key products, such as H-acid and vinyl sulphone (VS), have witnessed significant fluctuation in the past. The ability to manage volatility and sustain profitability remains critical. Further, with large exports, company is vulnerable to fluctuation in forex. Forward contracts are used to cover forex risk.

* Susceptibility to fluctuation in raw material and end product prices: The prices of key inputs-sulphur, aniline, caustic, ethyl oxide, PNC, naphthalene, and coal-are volatile. Consequently, operating margin remains susceptible to input prices. Further, high revenue (around two-third of the total) from the textile industry exposes the company to the risk associated with industry concentration.

* Exposure to stringent regulatory norms: BCL operates in an industry that poses high risks to environment and health. Consequently, the industry is regulated by stringent norms by regulatory bodies. The company continues to comply with such norms; however, any changes in the policies may adversely constrain the business.
Liquidity Strong

The group's liquidity is backed by healthy cash accruals, cushion in bank limit, negligible term debt obligations. Annual cash accrual of Rs 150-170 crore should adequately cover incremental capital expenditure (capex) and working capital requirements. It has annual term loan obligations of Rs 2 crore currently. Further, while the group intends to undertake large capex, same shall be well spread over three fiscals and be adequately debt funded, ensuring liquidity remains healthy. Utilisation of bank limit averaged 44% in the 12 months through July 2019, providing healthy cushion to the sanctioned limit of Rs 275 crore. The group also enjoys funding support from the promoters in the form of unsecured loans.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that BCL shall continue to benefit from the company's integrated nature of operations, economies of scale and promoters' extensive experience. BCL's financial risk profile shall remain robust backed by healthy cash accruals and steady capital structure.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factor
* Significant increase in turnover by 20% on sustained basis with steady margin and working capital cycle and diversification in customer base and end-use industry profile
* Sharp and sustainable improvement in margins and working capital cycle
 
Downward factor
* Decline in margin by over 200 basis points, pressure on topline and working capital cycle
* Large-than-expected debt-funded capex or adverse changes in regulations

About the promoters and group:
Ahmedabad-based BCL manufactures dyestuff (installed capacity of which is 35,000 tonne per annum [TPA]), dye intermediates (33,000 TPA), and basic chemicals (226,000 TPA). It has eight plants in Vadodara and Ahmedabad, and is promoted by Mr Suresh Patel and his sons: Mr Bhavin Patel and Mr Ankit Patel. The company is a public listed entity.
 
BCL was promoted by Mr Suresh J Patel as J K Pharma in 1989. J K Pharma set up a small dye intermediate (VF) plant in Vatva (Ahmedabad), with capacity of 200 million tonne per annum (MTPA). The name was changed to Bodal Chemicals Pvt Ltd (BCPL) in 1994. Mr Bhavin Patel joined the company in 2004 and the company forward integrated to manufacture dyestuff. In 2006, BCPL was listed through a reverse merger with Dintex Dyechem Ltd and renamed BCL. In 2007, Mr Ankit Patel joined the company, and in 2010, the company backward integrated to manufacture basic chemicals.
 
In 2016, the company amalgamated Bodal Agrotech Ltd. In 2017, BCL acquired 70% stake in SPS Processors Pvt Ltd (which manufactures dyes intermediates) and 42% stake in Trion Chemicals Pvt Ltd (which manufactures trichloroisocyanuric acid), which was raised to 59% in 2018.
 
The company set up its subsidiaries- BCT in June 2018 and BCTS in January 2019. Also, in current fiscal, BCL has acquired 80% stake in Sener Bova Kimya Tekstil Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd Stl for a cash consideration of Rs.32 crore. All these entities are in chemical trading business.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 1425 1145
Profit after tax Rs crore 141 116
PAT margin % 9.9 10.1
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.21 0.26
Interest coverage Times 26.9 38

Any other information:
In the first quarter of fiscal 2020, sales were Rs 327 crore and net profit Rs 29 crore, as compared with Rs 353 crore and Rs 39 crore, respectively, during the same period the previous year.

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 10 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 50 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 175 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 32 CRISIL A1+
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Trion Chemicals Pvt Ltd (TCPL) Full Consolidation Companies have a common management team and are in the same line of business. Further, the subsidiaries derive significant funding support from BCL.
SPS Processors Pvt Ltd (SPS)
Bodal Chemicals Trading Pvt Ltd (BCT)
Bodal Chemicals Trading (Shinjianzhuang) Co Ltd (BCTS)
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  10.00  CRISIL A1+      22-10-18  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
            29-09-18  CRISIL A1+           
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  225.00  CRISIL A+/Stable      22-10-18  CRISIL A+/Stable    --    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  32.00  CRISIL A1+      22-10-18  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
Cash Credit 175 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit 175 CRISIL A+/Stable
Letter of Credit 32 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit 32 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 50 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 50 CRISIL A+/Stable
Total 257 -- Total 257 --
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 Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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