Rating Rationale
January 29, 2018 | Mumbai
Excel Industries Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL A/FA+/Stable/CRISIL A1'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.174.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A-/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A2+')
 
Rs.13.5 Crore Fixed Deposits FA+/Stable (Upgraded from 'FA/Stable' )
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its ratings on the bank facilities and fixed deposits of Excel Industries Limited (EIL) to 'CRISIL A/FA+/Stable/CRISIL A1' from 'CRISIL A-/FA/Stable/CRISIL A2+'.

The upgrade reflects CRISIL's expectation that improvement in business risk profile will be much better than earlier envisaged, led by significant increase in operating profitability and stable revenue growth, while maintaining a strong financial risk profile. Steady demand and improving price realisation for diethyl thiophosphoryl chloride (DETC) will lead to increase in, and sustenance of, operating margin at 15-16%; as seen in the second-quarter of fiscal 2018 (higher than 8.7% in fiscal 2017). Revenue is likely to grow by around 10% annually over the next three fiscals.

Sharp fluctuations in the prices of DETC in fiscals 2016 and 2017 had affected operating performance. Subsequently, prices have firmed up due to supply constraints in China. CRISIL believes DETC prices will sustain as Chinese supplies will increase only over the medium term as compliance to more stringent pollution norms will take time to improve.

CRISIL notes that risks associated with any ban on chlorpyrifos, key agrochemical produced using DETC, will remain key monitorables over the medium term given its considerable contribution to EIL's revenue. Chlorpyrifos is due for review by Indian authorities in 2018, though it was not listed as a highly or moderately hazardous product in earlier reviews. In March 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency denied a petition for banning chlorpyrifos. As such, CRISIL believes there is low likelihood of a medium-term phase-out of chlorpyrifos.

EIL has also been reducing its DETC exposure by diversifying into other business segments including pharma intermediates, polymers, and by exploring alternate business avenues for DETC in non-agrochem segments. These measures, besides supporting overall growth, also mitigate revenue volatility.

Strong financial risk profile is expected to sustain backed by increase in cash accrual commensurate with expansion in operating margin and absence of any large, debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) over the medium term.

The ratings reflect EIL's strong business risk profile backed by its established market position in the DETC segment; presence in diversified end-user industries, customer segments, and geographies; and strong financial risk profile because of healthy networth and debt protection metrics . These strengths are partially offset by high product concentration and exposure to risks in the agrochemical business.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of EIL and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Kamaljyot Investments Ltd and Excel Bio Resources Ltd.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in the DETC segment: EIL is one of the largest producers of DETC in India with a market share of around 60%. Industry presence of almost six decades has enabled the company to sustain volumes during periods of price volatility.

* Diversified revenue profile across end-user industries, customer segments, and geographies: The company started as an agrochemical intermediate manufacturer and has extended product portfolio by leveraging its process chemistry capabilities in other segments such as performance and speciality chemicals, polymer additives, and pharmaceutical inputs. Performance and speciality chemicals cater to diverse segments such as soaps and detergents, water treatment, and paints and coating. The company has also entered the polymer additives and pharmaceutical inputs segments to diversify revenue and reduce dependence on agrochemicals.

* Strong financial risk profile: Networth is expected to be healthy at Rs 300 crore as on March 31, 2018, on the back of high accretion to reserves. Absence of any large debt-funded capex and prudent working capital management will keep gearing at 0.20 time. In fiscal 2017, EIL used the proceeds from sale of equity investments to pare debt, thereby further strengthening capital structure. Metrics too are expected to be adequate in fiscal 2018.

Weaknesses
* High product concentration in revenue: DETC has a significant share in the overall revenue, which exposes the company to inherent risk associated with price volatility determined by the supply situation in China. Despite being a leading producer, EIL is largely a price taker and realisation depends on prevailing prices. Increasing focus on other segments will result in a more diversified revenue profile, albeit gradually.

* Exposure to risks inherent in the agrochemicals business: Revenue and profitability are susceptible to any unfavourable impact of amendments in government policies with respect to pollution control, product toxicity, or import and export of raw materials. The agrochemical revenue is susceptible to uneven monsoon. While diversification into non-agrochem segment provides some cushion, revenue and profitability will be linked to the above-mentioned risks as EIL derives a large part of its income from agrochemical intermediaries.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes EIL's business risk profile will continue to benefit over the medium term from its diversified revenue profile, while financial risk profile will remain adequate due to steady growth in cash accrual over the medium term.

Upward scenario
* Significantly higher revenue growth, including through higher diversification into non-agrochem business
* Sustained improvement in operating profitability
* Sustenance of healthy financial risk profile and improvement in liquidity

Downward scenario
* Sustained decline in operating profitability by more than 200 basis points
* Larger-than-expected, debt-funded capital spending affecting key credit metrics and liquidity
* Considerable stretch in working capital

About the Company

Incorporated as a private limited company in 1960, EIL was reconstituted as a public limited company in 1971. Following the demerger of its crop protection business from its former associate, Excel Crop Care Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), in 2003, EIL began manufacturing chemical intermediaries used in agrochemicals, commodity polymers, engineering polymers, soaps and detergents, water-treatment chemicals, and biocides. As on December 31, 2017, the promoter group (Shroff family) owned 52.38% (51.02% as on June 30, 2016) of total equity shares.

In the first-half of fiscal 2018, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 18.87 crore (Rs 18.73 crore in the previous fiscal) on an operating income of Rs 264.37 crore (Rs 261.38 crore).

Key Financial Indicators*
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 460 449
Profit after tax Rs crore 63 26
PAT margin % 13.8 5.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.26 0.45
Interest coverage Times 4.25 5.35
*Consolidated

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 Issue Size
(Rs. Cr)
Date of Allotment Date of Redemption Coupon Rate (%) Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Cash Credit* 65.0 NA NA NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Channel Financing 5.0 NA NA NA CRISIL A1
NA Proposed bank guarantee 3.5 NA NA NA CRISIL A1
NA Inland/Import Letter of Credit 45.0 NA NA NA CRISIL A1
NA Overdraft 1.0 NA NA NA CRISIL A1
NA Supplier Bill Discounting 10.0 NA NA NA CRISIL A1
NA Rupee Term Loan 20.0 NA Dec-21 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Short-Term Loan 25.0 NA NA NA CRISIL A1
NA Fixed Deposit 13.5 NA NA NA FA+/Stable
*Interchangeable with export packing credit, foreign bills discounting, and inland bills discounting.
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
Fixed Deposits  FD  13.5  FA+/Stable    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  02-03-16  FA/Stable  03-03-15  FA/Positive  FA/Stable 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  116  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  02-03-16  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  03-03-15  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  58.5  CRISIL A1    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A2+ 
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* 65 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit* 65 CRISIL A-/Stable
Channel Financing 5 CRISIL A1 Channel Financing 5 CRISIL A2+
Inland/Import Letter of Credit 45 CRISIL A1 Inland/Import Letter of Credit 45 CRISIL A2+
Overdraft 1 CRISIL A1 Overdraft 1 CRISIL A2+
Proposed Bank Guarantee 3.5 CRISIL A1 Proposed Bank Guarantee 3.5 CRISIL A2+
Rupee Term Loan 20 CRISIL A/Stable Rupee Term Loan 20 CRISIL A-/Stable
Short Term Loan 25 CRISIL A1 Short Term Loan 25 CRISIL A2+
Supplier Bill Discounting 10 CRISIL A1 Supplier Bill Discounting 10 CRISIL A2+
Total 174.5 -- Total 174.5 --
*Interchangeable with export packing credit, foreign bills discounting, and inland bills discounting.
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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