Rating Rationale
May 25, 2018 | Mumbai
HPM Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.170 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Negative' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long-term bank facility of HPM Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (HPM) to 'Stable' from 'Negative,' while reaffirming the ratings at 'CRISIL BBB+/CRISIL A2'.
 
The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's expectation of an improvement in business risk profile, led by steady revenue growth and sustained profitability. Healthy demand and enhancement of the product basket have helped revenue growth recovery, while improved technical capacity, focus on high-margin products and discontinuation of the trading business supported profitability.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of promoters in the agrochemicals industry, the large portfolio of formulations, strong marketing network, and moderate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and vulnerability to inherent risks in the crop protection industry.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of promoters, large portfolio of formulations, and strong marketing network: The three decade-long experience of the promoter, his strong understanding of market dynamics and healthy relationships with customers and suppliers, has helped the company establish its market position and will continue to support the business risk profile. The promoter, Mr Ashok Aggarwal, and Ms Tapasya Goel (his daughter) are actively involved in business operations. Over the years, the company has built up a large portfolio of over 120 formulations of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile: Better operating performance and lower debt have kept debt protection metrics comfortable, as reflected in estimated interest coverage ratio of 2.96 times in fiscal 2018, against 2.77 times in the previous fiscal. Gearing also improved to 0.71 time as on March 31, 2018, from 1.12 time as on March 31, 2014. Healthy estimated networth of Rs 148 crore as on March 31, 2018, mitigates the impact of fluctuations in cash generation because of susceptibility of sales to vagaries of monsoon.
 
Weakness
* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets averaged 233 days over the four fiscals ending March 31, 2018, because of large inventory of 170-190 days and receivables of 50-90 days. Though the company has taken steps to reduce inventory and receivables, the large distribution network and diverse product portfolio will continue to exert pressure on the working capital cycle. Hence, prudent management of operations remains critical.
 
* Vulnerability to risk inherent in the crop protection industry: Demand for agrochemicals is driven by agricultural production, which depends on monsoon and farm income. Surplus or inadequate rainfall could affect revenue and profitability. Since HPM derives its revenue from the domestic market, it will remain susceptible to cyclicality in agricultural yield. Also, the sector is highly regulated by specific registration processes and various environment rules and regulations.
Outlook: Stable

Operating performance is expected to improve over the medium term supported by better demand prospects for agrochemicals, control over the working capital cycle, and limited reliance on debt. Sustenance of the business risk profile, owing to measures taken by the management, will be critical to the rating.
 
Upside scenario
* Growth in revenue and sustenance of adequate profitability
* Prudent working capital management, strengthening the key credit metrics
 
Downside scenario
* Substantially low cash flow from operations, or weaker-than-expected key credit metrics
* Increase in debt levels to cover capital expenditure, or further stretch in working capital cycle

About the Company

HPM was incorporated in 1985, to acquire the business of partnership firm, Hindustan Pulverising Mills, which was set up in 1976 by Mr Srikisan Das Aggarwal and his family members. Operations are now being managed by Mr Ashok Aggarwal, son of Mr Srikisan Das Aggarwal. Mr Nikhil Aggarwal (the promoter's son) who was managing operations of the company along with Mr Ashok Aggarwal (Promoter) left the company in January 2016 and Ms Tapasya,(promoter's daughter) took charge in fiscal 2017 and gradually stabilised the operations in fiscal 2017, though Mr Nikhil Aggarwal continues to hold a stake in HPM. The promoter will purchase his son's stake by diluting his personal assets, and not by leveraging the company's balance sheet.
 
HPM manufactures agrochemicals including pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, as well as formulations from technicals. The two plants at Kushkhera, (Rajasthan) and Samba, (Jammu & Kashmir) have a combined capacity of 80 kilolitres per annum for emulsifiable concentrate and 120 million tonne per annum (tpa) for wettable dispersible powder. The technical manufacturing plant has capacity of around 6000 tpa.
 
HPM has a strong network of over 4500 distributors and 26 branch offices across India, and three owned warehouses. It has also established an export division to enter the global market.
In fiscal 2018, net profit was Rs 13 crore (provisional) on net sales of Rs 378 crore (provisional), against Rs 10 crore and Rs 304 crore, respectively, in fiscal 2017.

Key Financial Indicators
 As on March 31, Unit 2018^ 2017
Revenue Rs .Cr 378 306
Profit after tax Rs. Cr 13 10
PAT margins % 3.4 3.3
Adjusted debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.71 0.55
Interest Coverage Times 2.96 2.77
^CRISIL estimated numbers

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 15.00 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash Credit^ NA NA NA 113.00 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Letter of Credit^ NA NA NA 32.00 CRISIL A2
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 10.00 CRISIL A2
* Fully interchangeable with non fund based limits
^ Fully interchangeable between fund based and non fund based limits
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  164.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      09-06-17  CRISIL BBB+/Negative  02-02-16  CRISIL BBB+/Negative  29-07-15  CRISIL BBB+/Positive  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2 
            31-05-17  CRISIL BBB+/Negative           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  42.00  CRISIL A2      09-06-17  CRISIL A2  02-02-16  CRISIL BBB+/Negative/ CRISIL A2  29-07-15  CRISIL BBB+/Positive/ CRISIL A2  CRISIL A2 
            31-05-17  CRISIL A2           
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* 15 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit* 15 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Cash Credit^ 113 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit^ 113 CRISIL BBB+/Negative
Letter of Credit^ 32 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit^ 32 CRISIL A2
Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A2
Total 170 -- Total 170 --
* Fully interchangeable with non fund based limits
^ Fully interchangeable between fund based and non fund based limits
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 rating short term debt

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