Rating Rationale
July 24, 2020 | Mumbai
Kothari Fermentation And Biochem Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.44 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.35 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3' ratings on the bank facilities of Kothari Fermentation And Biochem Limited (KFBL)

The ratings continues to reflect the company's strong market presence in the yeast manufacturing segment, and established relationships with customers, which include leading players in the bakery industry and above-average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the moderate scale of operations and susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market presence: Presence of around two decades in the yeast industry has enabled the promoter and his family, to establish strong presence in western Uttar Pradesh, and maintain healthy relationships with customers.

* Above-average financial risk profile: Capital structure is comfortable, marked by low gearing estimated at 0.61 time and networth of Rs 56.18 crore, as on March 31, 2020. Interest coverage ratio is estimated at a healthy 7 times in fiscal 2020. Financial risk profile should remain above-average over the medium term, with moderate capital expenditure of Rs 4-5 crore in fiscal 2021, and no long-term liabilities.
 
* Efficient working capital management: Gross current assets were low estimated at 98 days as on March 31, 2020, driven by receivables and inventory of 28 and 70 days, respectively.
 
Weaknesses:
* Moderate scale of operations: Despite being in business for nearly two decades, KFBL operates on a moderate scale, with estimated net sales of Rs 96.78 crore, reported in fiscal 2020. Inspite of an established brand name, product realisations remain low. Being amidst several large players, KFBL has lower bargaining power and limited scope to pass on any cost hikes to its customers.

* Susceptibility to volatility in the price of key raw material: KFBL remains vulnerable to moderate price risk because of volatility in raw material prices and limited variations in consumer prices. The industry is highly dependent on the availability of raw material, domestic production of sugar cane and annual rainfall.
Liquidity Adequate

Cash accrual, expected at Rs 11.5 crore and Rs 14.08 crore in fiscals 2021 and 2022, respectively, should comfortably cover maturing debt of Rs 4 crore and Rs 4.5 crore, respectively, and support liquidity. Bank limit utilisation averaged 83% in the seven months through June 2020. Current ratio is estimated at 1.07 times as on March 31, 2020.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes KFBL will continue to benefit from its established presence and healthy relationships with key customers.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Growth in operating income by over 15%, and margin by 200 basis points
* Increase in cash accrual
 
Downward factors
* Decline in operating income by over 10%,
* Fall in operating profitability
* Larger-than-expected debt-funded capital expenditure, weakens the financial risk profile
About the Company

KFBL is a publicly listed company, incorporated in 1990, by Mr Moti Lal Kothari and Mr Pramod Kothari. The company produces yeast and its derivatives at its plant in Sikandrabad, (Bulandshahar) Uttar Pradesh. The unit has an installed capacity to produce 2000 tonne of yeast and its derivatives, per month.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31  Units 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 96.20 87.69
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 8.71 5.3
PAT margin % 9.06 6.08
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.48 0.41
Interest coverage Times 10.48 7.18

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 level Rating assigned with outlook 
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 13.0 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Dec-2024 16.5 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Loan Against Property NA NA Dec-2024 4.5 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Non-Fund Based Limit NA NA NA 10.00 NA CRISIL A3
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  34.00  CRISIL BBB-/Stable      20-12-19  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  24-10-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  09-08-17  CRISIL BB+/Positive  CRISIL BB+/Stable 
                28-08-18  CRISIL BB+/Positive (Issuer Not Cooperating)*       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  10.00  CRISIL A3      20-12-19  CRISIL A3  24-10-18  CRISIL A3  09-08-17  CRISIL A4+  CRISIL A4+ 
                28-08-18  CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*       
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 13 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Cash Credit 5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Loan Against Property 4.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Letter of Credit 3 CRISIL A3
Long Term Loan 16.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Loan Against Property 5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Non-Fund Based Limit 10 CRISIL A3 Long Term Loan 21 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
-- 0 -- Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Total 44 -- Total 35 --
Links to related criteria
Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
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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