Rating Rationale
September 24, 2020 | Mumbai
Kavi Protein and Feed Private Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable', rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.15.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Positive' and rating 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 facilities of Kavi Protein and Feed Pvt Ltd (KPFPL; part of the Kavi group) to 'Stable' from 'Positive', while reaffirming the  long term rating at 'CRISIL BB+'
 
The revision in outlook reflects the cascading effect of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on the poultry industry, which is likely to impact the business risk profile of the Kavi group. Demand and prices of poultry products have been impacted on account of the outbreak in the past few months. The profitability of the group was impacted even in fiscal 2020 due to fluctuating input prices. The profitability was at 2.1 percent in fiscal 2020 against 4.3% the previous year. Further, the outbreak has also impacted the group's performance in fiscal 2021 since the group's major sales is through their own retail outlet and institutional players. The group has achieved revenue of Rs.75 crore till August 2020 and might witness a dip in revenue by 25% for fiscal 2021. 
 
Nevertheless, the complete unlocking from September 2020 and faster reversal to normalcy will improve the business risk profile of the group. That said, the ability of the business to revert back to operational stability and any relief measures given by the government will be a key monitorable, and CRISIL will continue monitoring these events.
 
The rating continues to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters and the group's Moderate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the group's modest operating margin, and its vulnerability to risks inherent in the poultry industry and to volatile raw material prices.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Kavi Poultrie and KPFPL. That is because the entities, collectively referred to as the Kavi group, are in the same line of business and have common management.
 
Unsecured loan from promoters of Rs.18.94 crore as on 31st march 2020 has been treated as debt.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths: 
* Extensive experience of the promoters: The Kavi group was incorporated in 1997 in Bengaluru as a trading company. It began by selling poultry medicine and vaccines and later diversified into broiler integration. The group now has its own breeding farms, hatcheries, feed factories, commercial broiler farms, and integrated farms across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Furthermore, it has a state-of-the-art processing unit and many retail outlets and quick service restaurants (QSRs). Over the years, the promoters have also established healthy relationships with suppliers and customers.
 
* Moderate financial risk profile: Debt protection metrics were moderate as indicated by interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 1.77 and 0.05 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020. Capital structure was moderate as reflected in networth of Rs.28.50 crore and gearing of 2.15 times as on March 31, 2020.
 
Weaknesses:
* Modest operating margin: Operating margin has remained low historically (at around 3.5 to 4.5%) because of the group's asset-light business model and trading in lower-margin amino acids. The operating margin was further impacted in Fiscal 2020 due to increase in input prices and expected to be impacted in Fiscal 2021 due to lockdown.
 
* Vulnerability to risks inherent in the poultry industry and to volatile raw material prices: Profitability is susceptible to volatility in the prices of raw materials (maize and soya), which are agro commodities and depend on a number of factors, such as monsoon. Also, the industry is vulnerable to outbreak of diseases, which could lead to a decline in sales volume and reduction in selling price. Such diseases also have an impact on the production of healthy chicks. Furthermore, the industry is constrained by seasonal demand.
Liquidity Stretched

Net cash accrual'expected at Rs.2.5 to 3 crore should be sufficient to debt obligation of Rs.1.16 crore in Fiscal 2021. Utilisation of bank lines averaged 98% in the 12 months through June 2020. Further unsecured loan of Rs.18.94 crore as on 31st march 2020 which is treated as debt and covid working capital term loan of Rs.2.05 crore supports the liquidity.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Kavi group will continue to benefit from its promoters' extensive experience and its established track record in the poultry business.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained improvement in operating margin and the operating income , leading to higher cash accruals.
* Improvement in working capital cycle marked by GCA of less than 80 days

Downward factors
* Decline in operating income or margin leading to cash accruals of less than Rs.2.5 crore in Fiscal 2021.
* A substantial increase in working capital requirement, or large, debt-funded capital expenditure, thus weakening the financial profile, especially liquidity.
About the Group

Established in 2010, KPFPL produces broiler chicken, processes meat, and trades in amino acids. It also manufactures animal feed, which is mainly used for captive consumption.
 
KP, set up in 2008, is a Bengaluru-based proprietorship firm engaged in the hatchery business. It also rears day-old chicks (DOCs) through contract farming and sells grown-up birds. The firm is managed by Mr B Kanagaachalam.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs. Cr. 418.25 402.81
Profit after tax Rs. Cr. 0.64 11.19
PAT margin % 0.2 2.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 2.15 1.04
Interest coverage Times 1.77 6.04
 
 

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs.Cr) Complexity
Levels
Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 13 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-2022 2.5 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Kavi Poultrie 100% Under a common management, Significant business and operational and financial linkages
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  15.50  CRISIL BB+/Stable      26-06-19  CRISIL BB+/Positive  31-05-18  CRISIL BB+/Positive  24-02-17  CRISIL BB/Stable  CRISIL BB/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --    --    --    --  24-02-17  CRISIL A4+  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 13 CRISIL BB+/Stable Cash Credit 12.5 CRISIL BB+/Positive
Long Term Loan 2.5 CRISIL BB+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .5 CRISIL BB+/Positive
-- 0 -- Term Loan 2.5 CRISIL BB+/Positive
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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