Rating Rationale
January 03, 2018 | Mumbai
Coromandel International Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.7200 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA+/Stable
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+
 
Rs.1400 Crore Commercial Paper ~ CRISIL A1+
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
~ earlier short term debt (including commercial paper)
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL's ratings on the bank loan facilities and commercial paper of Coromandel International Limited (Coromandel) continues to reflect a robust market position in India's phosphatic-fertiliser market and strong operating efficiency. The ratings also factor in a strong financial risk profile because of robust liquidity. These rating strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to the regulated nature of the fertiliser industry in India and to volatility in raw material prices.
 
The rating factors in Coromandel's announcement on December 22, 2017, to acquire the bio-pesticides business of E.I.D. Parry (India) Ltd (rated CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+), along with latter's wholly owned subsidiary, Parry America, Inc, USA. The proposed acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is likely to be completed by April 2018, and will help diversify Coromandel's product profile under crop protection business. The acquisition will be through a slump sale for Rs 338 crore on an all cash deal and is not likely to impact the financial risk profile of the company. CRISIL will continue to monitor the progress on this acquisition.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Coromandel and its subsidiaries CFL Mauritius Ltd, Coromandel Brasil Limitada, Dare Investments Ltd, Coromandel Agronegocios de Mexico, S.A. de C.V (formerly Sabero Organics Mexico S.A De C.V), Sabero Europe B.V., Sabero Australia Pty Ltd, Sabero Organics America S.A., Sabero Argentina S.A. Liberty Pesticides and Fertilisers Ltd and Parry Chemicals Ltd in arriving at the rating for Coromandel. That is because these subsidiaries are controlled by Coromandel's management and have business and financial linkages with the company. CRISIL has also consolidated Coromandel's 50-50 joint venture (JV), Coromandel SQM India Pvt Ltd (with SQM International Ltd for setting up a water-soluble fertiliser plant in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh) and Yanmar Coromandel Agrisolutions Pvt Ltd.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Robust position in India's phosphatic fertiliser market
Coromandel is the second-largest player in the phosphatic-fertiliser industry in India with a market share of around 16%. Its market position is underpinned by its entrenched and leading position in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana - India's largest complex-fertiliser market ' and its wide product portfolio. The company has also been gradually increasing the sale of non-subsidy-based products, including pesticides, speciality nutrients (secondary and micro-nutrients [bentonite sulphur, zinc, sulpho zinc, and boron], water-soluble fertilisers, and compost), and gypsum (a by-product from the manufacture of phosphoric acid), in its portfolio. In fiscal 2017, Coromandel's non-subsidy business had a revenue share of 22% and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) share of 38%. Company's brand 'Gromor' has strong recall among customers and commands premium in its key markets. It also has its own retail outlets, 'Mana Gromor Centers' through which it sells fertilisers, pesticides, speciality nutrient products, seeds, sprayers, veterinary products, etc. It has around 800 stores located in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
 
* Strong operating efficiencies
Coromandel's operations derive benefit from economies of scale, assured raw material procurement due to established relationship with suppliers, captive production of phosphoric acid, superior plant infrastructure, and low handling and transportation costs. Operating efficiency is also supported by the ability to adjust the product mix (between di-ammonium phosphate and other complex fertilisers) according to prevailing raw material prices and subsidy regime.
 
Increasing share of non-subsidy-based products, such as specialty nutrients, crop protection and retail business has also reduced vulnerability of profits to changes in government's subsidy policies.  
 
This, coupled with other factors, such as normal southwest monsoons, stable commodity prices, and stabilisation of Mancozeb facility at Dahej, has kept margins healthy during first half of fiscal 2018 as well. Though, margins will moderate (due to uptick in raw material prices), they will still remain healthy over the medium term.  
 
* Strong financial risk profile:
Financial risk profile remains strong as reflected in healthy cash accruals, robust liquidity, and absence of long term debt. Annual cash accruals of Rs 437 crore, coupled with robust liquidity of Rs 690 crores, will be sufficient for both the ongoing capex at Vizag as well as the proposed acquisition from EID Parry. Further, all the borrowings is in form of working capital, largely to fund subsidy delays, inventory and market receivables. Consequently, capital structure and debt protection metrics will remain healthy over the medium term. Company's gearing, interest cover, and net cash accruals to total debt was 0.78 times, 4.4 times and 0.2 times respectively as on March 31, 2017.
 
Weaknesses
* Regulated nature of fertilizer industry and volatility in raw material prices
The fertiliser industry is strategic, but highly controlled, with fertiliser subsidy being an important component of profitability. The complex fertiliser industry was brought under the nutrient based subsidy (NBS) regime from April 1, 2010. Under this scheme, the Government of India fixes the subsidy payable on primary nutrients for the entire fiscal (with an option to review this every six months), while retail prices are market-driven. Manufacturers of phosphatic fertilisers are dependent on imports for their key raw material, such as rock phosphate and phosphoric acid. The cost of raw material accounts for about 70% of the players' operating income. The regulated nature of the industry and susceptibility of complex fertiliser players (including Coromandel) to raw material price volatility under the NBS regime continues to remain key rating sensitivity factors.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Coromandel will generate steady cash flows over the medium term, backed by strong operating efficiency, lower raw material prices, and higher offtake volume. The capital structure is also expected to remain healthy over this period, despite capex plans and proposed acquisition.
 
Upside scenario:
Increase in scale of operations and market share, along with sustainable improvement in profitability.
 
Downside scenario:
Any large debt funded capex or acquisition, or decline in profitability because of unfavourable government policies for the sector.

About the Company

Coromandel, one of the flagship companies of the Murugappa group, was established as a private company in 1961. At present, E.I.D. Parry (India) Ltd, a Murugappa group company, owns nearly 60.8% of Coromandel. In July 2007, the company amalgamated Godavari Fertilisers & Chemicals Ltd with itself; the consolidated entity manufactures fertilisers, pesticides, and specialty nutrient products. It has phosphatic-fertiliser plants at Visakhapatnam and Kakinada, both in Andhra Pradesh, and at Ennore and Ranipet, both in Tamil Nadu. The total installed capacity of the consolidated entity is 3.6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) of complex fertiliser. The pesticide plants are at Ranipet in Tamil Nadu, Jammu, and at Ankleshwar, Sarigam, and Dahej in Gujarat. The company is also present in the retail business and currently operates 800 retail stores.
 
In fiscal 2014, Coromandel amalgamated Liberty Phosphate Ltd (LPL), Liberty Urvarak Ltd, and Tungabhadra Fertilisers and Chemicals Company Ltd with itself. At the time of amalgamation, LPL was among the largest manufacturers of single super phosphate with 13% market share and combined installed capacity of about 1 mtpa. Furthermore, Coromandel amalgamated Sabero Organics Gujarat Ltd, which manufactures crop protection and specialty chemicals, with itself in fiscal 2015. During December 2017, company announced an acquisition of bio-pesticides division of E.I.D. Parry (India) Ltd, along with its subsidiary company for Rs. 338 crore, which is expected to be completed by April 2018.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 10,032 11,498
Profit after tax Rs crore 477 357
PAT margin % 4.75 3.11
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.78 1.02
Interest coverage Times 4.40 3.55
 

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 Cash credit @ NA NA NA 750 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Cash credit $ NA NA NA 650 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Cash credit # NA NA NA 50 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Cash credit % NA NA NA 470 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Buyers credit limit ^ NA NA NA 400 CRISIL A1+
NA Buyers credit limit NA NA NA 600 CRISIL A1+
NA Letter of credit and bank guarantee ^^ NA NA NA 250 CRISIL A1+
NA Letter of credit and bank guarantee ## NA NA NA 840 CRISIL A1+
NA Letter of credit and bank guarantee ** NA NA NA 800 CRISIL A1+
NA Letter of credit and bank guarantee NA NA NA 1800 CRISIL A1+
NA Letter of credit and bank guarantee * ## NA NA NA 100 CRISIL A1+
NA Short term loan NA NA NA 200 CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial paper ~ NA NA 7-365 days 1400 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed fund based bank limits NA NA NA 290 CRISIL AA+/Stable
@ Fully Interchangeable with Short Term Loan and one way interchangeable to NFB limits & Buyers Credit
$ Fully Interchangeable with Short Term Loan, NFB and BC limits
# Fully Interchangeable with LC & Buyers Credit limits
% Fully Interchangeable with LC, BG, Short Term Loan and Buyers Credit
^ Fully interchangeable with FB limits and Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee
^^ Fully interchangeable with FB limits and Buyers Credit
## Fully Interchangeable with Buyers Credit limits
* Interchangeable to Fund Based Facility upto Rs.100 crore
~ earlier short term debt (including commercial paper)
** Interchangeable to Fund Based Facility upto Rs.1 crore
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  1400  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change   No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  3410  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  3790  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Buyer`s Credit^ 400 CRISIL A1+ Buyer`s Credit^ 400 CRISIL A1+
Buyer`s Credit 600 CRISIL A1+ Buyer`s Credit 600 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit@ 750 CRISIL AA+/Stable Cash Credit@ 750 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit$ 650 CRISIL AA+/Stable Cash Credit$ 650 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit# 50 CRISIL AA+/Stable Cash Credit# 50 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit% 470 CRISIL AA+/Stable Cash Credit% 470 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee^^ 250 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee^^ 250 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee## 840 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee## 740 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee** 800 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 800 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 1800 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 1800 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee*## 100 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee*## 250 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 290 CRISIL AA+/Stable Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 240 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Short Term Loan 200 CRISIL A1+ Short Term Loan 200 CRISIL A1+
Total 7200 -- Total 7200 --
@ Fully Interchangeable with Short Term Loan and one way interchangeable to NFB limits & Buyers Credit
$ Fully Interchangeable with Short Term Loan, NFB and BC limits
# Fully Interchangeable with LC & Buyers Credit limits
% Fully Interchangeable with LC, BG, Short Term Loan and Buyers Credit
^ Fully interchangeable with FB limits and Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee
^^ Fully interchangeable with FB limits and Buyers Credit
## Fully Interchangeable with Buyers Credit limits
* Interchangeable to Fund Based Facility upto Rs.100.0 crore
** Interchangeable to Fund Based Facility upto Rs.1 crore
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 Fertiliser Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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