Rating Rationale
March 29, 2018 | Mumbai
Huhtamaki PPL Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.175 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.22 Crore Commercial Paper* CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Earlier STD (Including Commercial Paper)
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper programme and  of Huhtamaki PPL Limited (HPPL).
 
On March 23, 2018, HPPL announced signing of a business transfer agreement with M/s Ajanta Packaging, India (Ajanta; 'CRISIL BB/CRISIL A4+ (Placed on Rating Watch with Developing Implications), as a going concern. The transaction is on a slump sale basis for a consideration of Rs 100.3 crore on a cash-free, debt-free basis. The acquisition is expected to be completed in 45-60 days. The consideration will be paid through cash available with HPPL. As on December 31, 2017, HPPL had cash and marketable securities of over Rs 180 crore. CRISIL believes that post acquisition, the business and financial risk profiles of HPPL will remain commensurate with the rating category.
 
Set up in 2000 as a partnership firm by Mr Chandan Khanna and Mr Vikas Khanna, Ajanta manufactures pressure-sensitive labels using technologies such as leather press, flexo, offset, and screen printing. Its manufacturing units are at Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) and Daman. Some of its key clients are Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Gulf Oil, and Proctor and Gamble. The acquisition will enhance HPPL's market position in the pressure sensitive label business, and provide access to new customers.
 
The ratings continue to reflect HPPL's established position in the flexible packaging industry, strong innovation and product development capability enhanced by association with Huhtamaki Oyj (Huhtamaki), Finland, and comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices, and exposure to intense competition in the fragmented flexible packaging industry.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in the premium flexible packaging market
HPPL is a leading converter in the domestic flexible packaging industry. Its established market position is supported by its diversified product range, which comprises flexibles, labels, cartons, and metallised and polythene films. CRISIL believes HPPL's strong customer profile, along with the relative inelasticity of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector to economic cycles, will continue to support its strong business risk profile over the medium term.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is backed by increased scale of operations (with PPIL's acquisition in 2015) and cash accrual, and benefits expected on account of synergies between HPPL and PPIL. The non-convertible debentures of Rs 385.0 crore raised to fund the acquisition of PPIL were entirely subscribed to by the parent, and have bullet repayment in 2020. Hence, HPPL has flexibility with respect to repayment. Expected increase in cash accrual and moderate capital expenditure (capex) plan over the next 2-3 years will help the company strengthen its capital structure and debt protection metrics. The acquisition of Ajanta will be funded through available cash, and hence, will not affect debt level.
 
Weaknesses
* Limited pricing flexibility
HPPL has limited bargaining power as many of its customers are large FMCG/pharmaceutical players. Also, though the industry is highly consolidated in terms of catering to the FMCG and pharmaceutical customers, there is intense competition among the top three players, which restricts pricing flexibility. HPPL is unable to pass on increase in input prices entirely to customers as FMCG majors have been driving down margins of players in the packaging industry in a bid to control cost.
 
* Susceptibility of profitability to volatility in raw material prices
Raw material cost accounts for around 70% of the company's operating income. The prices of key raw materials, such as films, polyethylene granules, and biaxially-oriented polyethylene, are linked to crude oil prices, which are volatile. HPPL is unable to completely pass on increased raw material cost to consumers because of limited bargaining power and on account of competitive pressures. CRISIL believes the company's operating margin will remain susceptible to volatility in input cost.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes HPPL will maintain a healthy business risk profile over the medium term, and will continue to benefit from business and financial support from Huhtamaki.
 
Upside scenario
* Substantial increase in revenue, operating margin, and return on capital employed
* Significant improvement in capital structure and debt protection metrics
 
Downside scenario
* Considerable decline in business performance, profitability, and cash accrual
* Sizeable debt-funded capex, limiting improvement in key credit metrics

About the Company

HPPL, founded in 1935, is an established player in India's flexible packaging industry. The company manufactures printed laminates of plastic, aluminum foil, and paper-based films. In November 2012, HPPL acquired a 51% stake in WLPL for Rs 38.79 crore. Following Rs 134.0 crore equity infusion for PPIL's acquisition in 2014, parent Huhtamaki's equity stake in HPPL increased to 68.8% from 63.8%.

HPPL has manufacturing facilities in Thane, Maharashtra; Silvassa; Hyderabad; Rudrapur, Uttarakhand; Sikkim; and Guwahati, Assam. It has production capacity of 69,810 tonne per annum.
 
WLPL manufactures pressure-sensitive labels and complements HPPL's product portfolio. HPPL set up two facilities, one for manufacturing flexible laminates at Guwahati and the other for manufacturing pressure sensitive labels in Sikkim, which became operational in March 2017.

PPIL, established in Mumbai in 1994, manufactures multi-layer laminated, printed, and metallised films using bi-axially-oriented polypropylene, polyester film, and aluminium foil. It also manufactures rotogravure-printing cylinders and laser-engraved printing cylinders, metallised films, and cast polypropylene films. Its manufacturing plants are in Ambernath, Khopoli, and Taloja in Maharashtra, and in Bengaluru.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended December 31 Units 2017 2016
Revenue Rs Crore 2,131 2,181
Profit after tax Rs Crore 64 82
PAT margin % 3.0% 3.7%
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.72 0.80
Interest coverage Times 6.87 6.67

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 Cash credit & working capital demand loan** NA NA NA 45.25 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Letter of credit & bank guarantee NA NA NA 109.9 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed long term bank loan facility NA NA NA 0.35 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Details Awaited 2.72 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 30-Jun-2018 16.78 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Commercial Paper* NA NA 7-365 days 22 CRISIL A1+
**Fully interchangeable with non-fund based limits
*Earlier STD (Including Commercial Paper)
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  22  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  65.1  CRISIL AA-/Stable    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  109.9  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    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 & Working Capital demand loan** 45.25 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan** 45.25 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 109.9 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 109.9 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .35 CRISIL AA-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .35 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 19.5 CRISIL AA-/Stable Term Loan 19.5 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Total 175 -- Total 175 --
**Fully interchangeable with 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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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