Rating Rationale
June 24, 2020 | Mumbai
Hatsun Agro Product Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.1180 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed the ratings on the bank facilities of Hatsun Agro Product Limited (Hatsun) at 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1'. 

The ratings continue to reflect Hatsun's leading market position in the dairy sector supported by strong brand, particularly in South India; healthy operating efficiency backed by established procurement and distribution networks; and a diversified product portfolio. The ratings also consider a strong financial risk profile with comfortable capital structure and robust debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset exposure to risks related to entry into new geographies and susceptibility to changes in environmental conditions.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths: 
* Established market position supported by strong brand, particularly in South India
Hatsun is the largest private sector dairy company in India, with a portfolio of established brands, superior brand equity, well-spread distribution and procurement networks, and an aggressive marketing strategy. Strong market position in the milk segment is cemented by widespread presence in South India, with majority of the processing units located across Tamil Nadu. Supported by the established market position, the turnover for the 9 month ended fiscal 2019 has improved to around Rs.3900 crore for the 9 month ended December 2019 as against Rs.3550 crore for the same period during the previous fiscal.
 
* Healthy operating efficiency backed by established procurement and distribution network
Hatsun owns over 10,000 procurement centers covering over 13,000 villages, with chilling and dairy units across its key operating markets. This enables it to reach out to over 3 lakh farmers. Further the company has an established network of through its network of around 3400 own distribution outlets. Strong operating efficiency is reflected in healthy operating profitability of over 10 percent, for the 9 month ended fiscal 2019.
 
* Strong financial risk profile

The total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio was 1.5 times as on March 31, 2020 and is likely to improve over the medium term supported by steady accretion to reserves.. The. Debt protection metrics continue to be robust, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of more than 5 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of over 20 percent for the 9 month ended December 2019..
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to risks related to entry into new geographies
Hatsun plans to widen its procurement network to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra; apart from penetrating further into Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Since capital investment is planned across divisions, marketing costs and other manufacturing overheads could be high. Further, intense competition from established players operating in newer geographies may continue to constrain scalability, pricing power, and profitability.
 
* Susceptibility to changes in environmental conditions
Prices of key products, milk and skimmed milk powder, have fluctuated in the past, owing to droughts and supply constraints. Susceptibility to failure in milk production because of external factors such as cattle diseases also impact the business.
Liquidity Strong

Liquidity is likely to remain adequate over the medium term. Cash accrual is projected at Rs 250-350 crore for the next two fiscals against yearly maturing debt of around Rs 200 crore. Average utilisation on the working capital facilities was less than 50 percent over the 9 month ended December 2019. Cash and cash equivalent was at around Rs.32 crore as on September 30, 2019 -- is expected to remain healthy over the medium term. Dividends are likely to remain similar to that seen in previous fiscals

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes HAP shall benefit from its established market position and strong financial risk profile over the medium term

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factor
* Improvement in TOLTNW ratio to less than 1 time
* Improvement in cash accrual to more than Rs.400 crore
* Geographical diversification in revenue profile
 
Downward factor
* Increase in TOLTNW to more than 2 times
* Decline in interest coverage
* Higher than expected debt funded capital expenditure resulting in weakening of financial risk profile
About the Company

Hatsun was incorporated by Mr R G Chandramogan in 1986. The Chennai-based company daily processes over 30 lakh litres of milk and milk products, with strong market presence in Tamil Nadu. It has 16 processing facilities across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Popular brands include Arokya milk; Arun ice creams; Hatsun curd, ghee, and butter; and an ice-cream chain under the Ibaco brand and Santosa Cattle Feed. The company has also entered into the ready-to-eat category, with a pizza chain under the Oyalo brand. Hatsun is listed on the National Stock Exchange and BSE Ltd.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 4,797.12 4,295.01
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 114.91 91.75
PAT margins % 2.39 2.11
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 1.30 3.67
Interest coverage Times 5.28 4.27

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) Complexity Level Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 110 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Dec-2025 425.57 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Short Term Loan NA NA NA 62.29 NA CRISIL A1
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2021 21.14 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 534 NA CRISIL A+/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST    --    --  14-03-19  Withdrawn  19-12-18  CRISIL A1  16-05-17  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
                29-06-18  CRISIL A1       
                06-06-18  CRISIL A1       
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1180.00  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1      14-03-19  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  19-12-18  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  16-05-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  CRISIL A/Stable 
                29-06-18  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1       
                06-06-18  CRISIL A/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --    --    --  29-06-18  CRISIL A1  16-05-17  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
                06-06-18  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
Cash Credit 110 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit 260 CRISIL A+/Stable
Long Term Loan 452.57 CRISIL A+/Stable Long Term Loan 726.87 CRISIL A+/Stable
Short Term Loan 62.29 CRISIL A1 Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 14.13 CRISIL A+/Stable
Term Loan 21.14 CRISIL A+/Stable Short Term Loan 179 CRISIL A1
Working Capital Demand Loan 534 CRISIL A+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 1180 -- Total 1180 --
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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