Rating Rationale
April 04, 2018 | Mumbai
Crystal Crop Protection Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL A/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.650 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.450 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A-/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Crystal Crop Protection Limited (CCPL; part of the Crystal group) to 'CRISIL A/Stable' from 'CRISIL A-/Positive', and reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A1' rating on the short-term facilities.

The upgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that the Crystal group will sustain its business risk profile and strong financial risk profile over the medium term. Crystal group is estimated to report top line of Rs. 1250 crore for fiscal 2018, along with improvement in operating margins to over 16 per cent as compared to below 11 per cent in past three fiscals. The improvement in business risk profile is expected to continue over the medium term due to launch of high-margin molecules and other products, with the group leveraging its strong dealership network. The group is also expanding capacity in technical manufacturing, which will add to its capability in the medium term. The financial risk profile is expected to be comfortable due to low total outside liabilities to adjusted networth (TOLANW) and strong debt protection metrics. Liquidity is supported by sufficient cushion in bank facilities. The improvement in scale of operations is expected to be supported by acquisition of high margin brands and investment in the form of capex over the next two years, which will be ably funded by internal accruals and large liquid reserves of the group.

The ratings continue to reflect the Crystal group's healthy business risk profile, backed by a diverse distribution network and established brand positioning, and strong financial risk profile because of comfortable TOLANW and debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirement, and susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices and acceptance of new products, and to risks inherent in the domestic agrochemicals market.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL had earlier combined the business and financial risk profiles of CCPL, Modern Papers (MP), Rohini Seeds Pvt Ltd (RSPL), Rohini Bio-Seeds and Agritech Pvt Ltd (RBPL), Rohini Agriseeds Pvt Ltd (RAPL), and Lotus Global Pte Ltd (LGPL). The group has amalgamated most of the entities into CCPL, and only MP and LGPL exist separately. CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of CCPL, MP, and LGPL to arrive at the ratings. The entities, collectively referred to as the Crystal group, have the same promoters and management, and strong business and financial linkages as there are regular transactions among them and they provide financial support to each other.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Healthy business risk profile because of diverse distribution network and established brand positioning: Over the years, the group has developed a large portfolio of agrochemical products, with over 100 formulations of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides. It has a network of over 7000 dealers across India. Furthermore, the group has strong relationship with customers and suppliers.

* Strong financial risk profile: TOLANW and networth are estimated at 0.5 time and Rs 830 crore, respectively, as on March 31, 2018, supported by steady accretion to reserve. Debt protection metrics should remain comfortable, with Interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios at over 10 times and 0.54 time, respectively, for fiscal 2018.

Weaknesses
* Large working capital requirement: The agrochemical industry's operations are working capital intensive, with high gross current assets (GCAs) due to large inventory and debtors. GCAs are estimated at 255 days as March 31, 2018, due to large inventory estimated at 148 days and credit of 100 days extended to dealers. The business is expected to be working capital intensive.

* Susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices and acceptance of new products, and to risks inherent in the domestic agrochemicals market: The agrochemicals industry depends on monsoon and the level of farm income. In the two years through fiscal 2016, the group faced severe demand pressure due to weak monsoon, resulting in a fall in revenue and operating margin. High dependence on import may also result in lower operating margin in case of adverse movement in raw material prices. Furthermore, new product launches by peers can affect demand, thereby weakening topline and cash accrual. For instance, the group's operating margins were adversely affected in fiscal 2015 when sole marketing registration of some of its products declined and when those products were not replaced by new products.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Crystal group will maintain its healthy business risk profile over the medium term, driven by its established distribution network. The group is also likely to maintain its strong financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if successful launch of new products leads to a significant increase in operating profitability, while working capital cycle also improves considerably. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a steep decline in profitability or a substantial increase in working capital requirement weakens financial risk profile and liquidity.

About the Group

CCPL was incorporated in 1994 after taking over the business of Jai Bharat Crop Chemical Pvt Ltd. In 2007, Jai Shree Agro Industries Ltd was merged with Crystal Phosphates Ltd, and in 2010, Crystal Phosphates Ltd was merged with CCPL to consolidate operations. In August 2008, the group expanded its operations in Jammu by setting up MP, a partnership firm.

The Crystal group, promoted and managed by Mr Nand Kishore Aggarwal (chairman) and his son, Mr Ankur Aggarwal (managing director), manufactures agrochemical products and formulations such as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators/micro nutrients, and trades in technical and agricultural equipment such as spray pumps. In 2011, the group entered the seed manufacturing segment with the acquisition of RSPL and RBPL. Private equity fund Everstone Capital Partners-II (ECP-II, managed by Everstone Capital), holds 3.3% stake in CCPL.

In fiscal 2017, RSPL, RBPL, RAPL and a few other entities were amalgamated with CCPL.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 1106.8 920.7
Profit After Tax Rs crore 87.2 57.8
PAT margin % 7.88 6.27
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.3 0.09
Interest coverage Times 12.9 4.1

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 crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 368 CRISIL A1
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 215 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Aug-2022 8.5 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Proposed Term Loan NA NA NA 1.5 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Proposed letter of credit NA NA NA 17 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed cash credit Limit NA NA NA 40 CRISIL A/Stable
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    --    --  20-04-17  Withdrawal  16-02-16  CRISIL A2+    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  265  CRISIL A/Stable    No Rating Change  20-04-17  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A1  16-02-16  CRISIL A-/Stable    No Rating Change  CRISIL A/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  385  CRISIL A1    No Rating Change  20-04-17  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A1  16-02-16  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+    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
Cash Credit 215 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 140 CRISIL A-/Positive
Letter of Credit 368 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 65 CRISIL A-/Positive
Proposed Cash Credit Limit 40 CRISIL A/Stable Letter of Credit 175 CRISIL A1
Proposed Letter of Credit 17 CRISIL A1 Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 23.5 CRISIL A-/Positive
Proposed Term Loan 1.5 CRISIL A/Stable Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 38 CRISIL A1
Term Loan 8.5 CRISIL A/Stable Term Loan 8.5 CRISIL A-/Positive
Total 650 -- Total 450 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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