Rating Rationale
May 31, 2018 | Mumbai
EPC Industrie Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.50 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of EPC Industrie Limited (EPC) at 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1'.

The ratings continue to reflect support from parent, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M; rated 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') as EPC is in the micro-irrigation systems (MIS) business, which is an important segment in the agri-business vertical for M&M. The ratings also factor in its healthy financial risk profile, reflected in a healthy capital structure and comfortable debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by modest scale of operations, constrained profitability, and susceptibility of MIS operations to regulatory changes.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has considered the business and financial risk profiles of EPC on a standalone basis as it does not have any subsidiary or direct business linkage with group companies. CRISIL has also applied its parent notch-up framework to factor in the extent of support available to EPC from M&M.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Synergies with agricultural vertical and management support from parent: EPC benefits from synergies with the agricultural vertical of M&M with access to the parent's distribution network of Mahindra Samriddhi centers across the country. EPC also enjoys financial and management support from M&M. The parent entity's majority control and thrust on agri-business underscore its strategic objective and moral obligation to support the subsidiary.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Gearing is expected to be less than 0.1 time, and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios at about 2.5-3 times over the medium term. Despite a stretched working capital cycle, EPC has a strong liquidity position, reflected in low utilization of fund based bank facilities (5% on average in the last 12 months), and absence of any long term debt. Going ahead, liquidity is expected to remain adequate, with its capital expenditure funded mainly via internal accruals.
 
Weaknesses
* Modest scale of operations: With a market share of about 5%, the company is a small player in the MIS segment. Also, revenue has remained stagnant since fiscal 2016. EPC's revenue mix is skewed towards price-regulated products, which constrains its operating margin. Larger competitors have more sophisticated in-house R&D capabilities and manufacture a more diverse product portfolio.
 
Nevertheless, growth of MIS in India, commencement of the company's manufacturing facility in Vadodara, and revocation of an earlier order by the Director Horticulture, Maharashtra are expected to drive sales going ahead. In June 2016, the Director Horticulture, Maharashtra had de-registered the company from subsidy related sale in the state ' this order was revoked in September, 2017 in which EPC's eligibility to conduct sales in the state was recognized for a period of five years, starting fiscal 2018.   
 
* Susceptibility to changes in government policies or delays in receipt of subsidies: Government subsidies are one of the major drivers for growth of MIS products in India. The company, and MIS sector in general, will remain sensitive to government policies. Moreover, delays in receipt of subsidies can lead to further stretching of working capital cycle. In fiscal 2018, there was a long delay in announcing of price-list for MIS products by most states post imposition of GST on MIS products from July 2017 onwards, due to which most MIS players' Q2 sales declined sharply, including EPC. This had a negative impact on the company's turnover and profitability for the fiscal. Nevertheless, most states rolled-out the price-list by October-November 2017, post which sales volumes recovered.  
 
* Large working capital requirement: Working capital cycle is stretched due to high receivables. Overall, receivables level increased to about 210 days as on March 31, 2018, from about 170 days on March 31, 2017, primarily on account of sales in fiscal 2018 being skewed towards the second half, and higher subsidy-linked sales to states with longer payment cycle. Receivables above six months stood at about Rs. 23 crore as on March 31, 2018.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes EPC will remain strategically important to M&M in the agri-solutions space and hence will continue to receive strong operational, management, and financial support from parent over the medium term.
 
Upside Scenario:
* Improvement in business risk profile driven by significant revenue growth and higher profitability
* Ramp-up in operations while substantially improving operating efficiency
 
Downside Scenario:
* Change in M&M's rating  
* Change in support philosophy of M&M towards EPC
* Deterioration in profitability or working capital cycle affecting business risk profile

About the Company

EPC was originally established in 1981 as Exomet Plastics and Chemicals Pvt Ltd by Mr. K Khanna. In August 1992, it was reconstituted as a public limited company and renamed EPC. In February 2011, M&M acquired a 38% equity stake in EPC for Rs 43.3 crore. M&M raised its stake to 54.8% in June 2012 through a rights issue. M&M held 54.65% as on March 31, 2018.
 
EPC manufactures MIS consisting of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems at its facility in Nashik. The company is registered in 17 states as an approved manufacturer of MIS.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 205 201
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 5 10
PAT margin % 2.4 4.9
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.0 0.0
Interest coverage Times 24.4 8.3

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 44.50 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1.04 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Long Term
Bank Loan Facility
NA NA NA 4.46 CRISIL A+/Stable
# Interchangeable with working capital demand loan to the extent of Rs 30.00 crore, letter of credit to the extent of Rs 33.00 crore; interchangeable with bank guarantee to the extent of Rs 26.00 crore
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  48.96  CRISIL A+/Stable      24-02-17  CRISIL A+/Stable      26-11-15  CRISIL A+/Stable  CRISIL A/Stable 
                    29-05-15  CRISIL A/Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1.04  CRISIL A1      24-02-17  CRISIL A1      26-11-15  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
                    29-05-15  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
Bank Guarantee 1.04 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 1.04 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit# 44.5 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit# 44.5 CRISIL A+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4.46 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4.46 CRISIL A+/Stable
Total 50 -- Total 50 --
# Interchangeable with working capital demand loan to the extent of Rs 30.00 crore, letter of credit to the extent of Rs 33.00 crore; interchangeable with bank guarantee to the extent of Rs 26.00 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 Construction Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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