Rating Rationale
May 31, 2018 | Mumbai
Kavi Protein and Feed Private Limited
Rating upgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Positive'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.15.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Positive (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BB/Stable')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded rating on bank facilities of Kavi Protein and Feed Private Limited (KPFPL; part of Kavi group) to 'CRISIL BB+/Positive' from 'CRISIL BB/Stable'.
 
The rating upgrade reflects CRISIL's expectation of improvement in business risk profile due to diversification into layer farming. The diversification is expected to improve the scale of operations over the medium term. This diversification is also expected to positively impact the operating margin owing to cost savings on purchase of day old chicks required for broiler farming and also lower contribution of trading of amino acids in the Kavi group's revenue profile going ahead as compared to previous years.
 
However Kavi group's has considerably relied on bank's funding for its expansion plans, which is reflected in higher bank limit utilization as compared to previous years. While the company cash generation is expected to further increase, timely and commensurate increase in the working capital bank lines will be the key driver of its liquidity over the medium term.
 
The rating continue to reflect the benefit the group derives from its promoters' extensive industry experience and group's moderate financial risk profile, backed by its efficient working capital management. These rating strengths are partially offset by KPFPL's modest operating profitability, and its susceptibility to risks inherent in the poultry industry and volatility in raw material prices.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of KPFPL and Kavi Poultrie (KP; part of Kavi group). That's because the two entities are in similar line of business and are being run by the same management.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive industry experience of the promoters: Kavi group's business risk profile benefits from the extensive experience of its promoters in the poultry business. The group was incorporated in 1997 in Bangalore as a trading company selling poultry medicine and vaccines. The company later diversified into broiler integration. The group now has its own breeding farms, hatcheries, feed factories, commercial broiler farms, integrated farms across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, a state of the art processing unit, retail outlets and QSRs. The extensive industry experience of the promoters has enabled the group to establish a healthy relationship with its suppliers and customers. CRISIL believes that Kavi group's business risk profile will continue to benefit from the extensive industry experience of its promoters, over the medium term.
 
* Diversified revenue risk profile
Kavi group has various revenue streams which involve revenue from broiler farming, layer farming, forwardly integrated fresh retail outlets and quick service restaurants (QSRs), processing of meat and trading of amino acids. The group recently diversified into layer farming by placing parent day old chicks at various stages during fiscal 2018 which is expected to provide incremental revenue from fiscal 2019 onwards.
 
* Improving scale of operations
KPFPL and KP combined have clocked revenues of around Rs 300 crore for last 3 fiscals ending March 31, 2018. The revenue is expected to improve from fiscal 2019 owing to diversification into layer farming. The diversification will allow group to trade hatchable eggs in market and also enable cost savings on procurement of day old chicks required for broiler farming.
 
Weakness:
* Modest operating profitability
The group has modest operating profitability of around 3% which is because of the asset-lite model and involvement of a lower margin amino acids trading business in KPFPL. CRISIL believes that the profitability is expected to improve over the medium term due to expected lower contribution from the trading business and expected cost savings from the diversification in layer farming.
 
* Susceptibility to risks inherent in the poultry industry and volatility in raw material prices:
The operating profitability is susceptible to volatility in raw material prices such as maize and soya, which are agro commodities and depend on a number of factors such as monsoon and are seasonal in nature. Also, the industry is vulnerable to outbreak of diseases, which leads to a decline in sales volume and reduction in selling price. Such diseases also have an impact on production of healthy chicks. Furthermore, the industry is affected by seasonal demand, leading to volatility in end-product prices.
CRISIL believes that Kavi group's operating profitability will be susceptible to fluctuations in raw material prices and exposure to inherent risks in the poultry industry.
Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes that KPFPL will benefit from its promoters' extensive industry experience and its established track record in the poultry business. The outlook may be revised to 'Stable' if there is lower than anticipated cash generation or any delay in enhancement bank lines impacting the liquidity of the group. Conversely, the rating may be upgraded if there is significant cash generation from operations coupled with timely enhancement in bank lines while maintaining its efficient working capital cycle.

About the Company

Established in 2010 as a private limited company, Kavi Protein and Feed Pvt. Ltd. (KPFPL; part of Kavi group) is involved in the production of broiler chicken and processing of meat and trading of amino acids. KPFPL also manufactures animal feed which are majorly used captively. The company is based out of Bangalore, Karnataka and promoted by Mrs. Jagadeesan Guhappriya, wife of Mr. Kanagaachalam and Mr. S Puvi Kumar.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017  2016 
Revenue Rs. crore 224 233
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs. crore 1.9 1.0
PAT margin % 0.9 0.4
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 1.51 1.80
Interest coverage Times 4.1 3.48

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 12.5 CRISIL BB+/Positive
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 0.5 CRISIL A4+
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2020 2.5 CRISIL BB+/Positive
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  15.50  CRISIL BB+/Positive      24-02-17  CRISIL BB/Stable      29-09-15  CRISIL BB/Stable  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST          24-02-17  CRISIL A4+      29-09-15  CRISIL A4+  -- 
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 12.5 CRISIL BB+/Positive Cash Credit 4 CRISIL BB/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .5 CRISIL BB+/Positive Letter of Credit 5 CRISIL A4+
Term Loan 2.5 CRISIL BB+/Positive Term Loan 6.5 CRISIL BB/Stable
Total 15.5 -- Total 15.5 --
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 Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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