Rating Rationale
July 09, 2019 | Mumbai
Meghmani Dyes and Intermediates LLP
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.60 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Meghmani Dyes and Intermediates LLP [MDIL; part of the Meghmani Industries Limited (MIL)-MDIL group] continues to reflect an established market position, diverse revenue profile, and a healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations, exposure to volatility in input prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates, and susceptibility to inherent risks in the agrochemicals sector.
 
On July 02, 2019 CRISIL assigned its 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1' ratings to the bank loan facilities of MDIL. MIL-MDIL group is expected to sustain the improvement in business performance driven by steady demand, scaling up of new capacities and penetration into new geographies overseas. Besides, the operating margins should gradually improve supported by a better product mix, improving backward integration and lowering reliance on imports. The financial risk profile is likely to remain comfortable supported by healthy cash generation and lower capital expenditure (capex).
 
The strong revenue growth of around 40% fiscal-on-fiscal in fiscal 2019 was driven by higher realisations in optical brightening agent (OBA) and agrochemical segments, and substantial increase in dyes volume led by access to additional capacities. Going forward, group's revenue growth is expected to stabilise to 7-9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over fiscals 2020 to 2022. The operating profitability margin, which improved to an estimated 13.5% in fiscal 2019 from 11.7% in fiscal 2018, is expected to improve further to 14-15% over the medium term. The group has been undertaking various measures to increase backward integration across all three segments and thus reduce reliance on imports and ensure steady material supplies. Besides, price revisions agreed with customers should also support realisations.
 
Capex is expected to be modest at about Rs 10 crore per fiscal over the medium term. Improving cash generation and prudent working capital management will result in debt reduction and further strengthening of credit metrics. The capital structure has been healthy, with gearing below 0.3 time over the three fiscals ended March 31, 2019.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of MIL and MDIL. That's because both these entities, together referred to as the MIL-MDIL group, are in the same business and have common promoters and management, and financial fungibility. Besides, the significant financial synergies, as observed in the past, are likely to continue.

CRISIL has reduced from the networth goodwill of Rs 275 crore created in fiscal 2016 on account of the merger of MDIL and its subsidiary.

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

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position and healthy revenue diversity: Presence of nearly four decades in the reactive dyes segment has enabled the promoters to modernise and enhance production capacity. In the OBA segment, the group has developed strong capabilities to manufacture customised products with application in diverse industries such as detergents, textiles, and paper. Besides, it has market leadership in pendimethalin atrazine and hexaconazole. The market position is also supported by a strong distribution network comprising of 21 depots, 500 dealers, and 2,500 sub-dealers. There is healthy revenue diversity across both products and areas of operations. Each of the three product segments contributes to around 33% of revenue. Besides, 55-60% of sales are from exports.

* Healthy financial risk profile: The networth was healthy, estimated at Rs 719 crore, and gearing strong, estimated at 0.16 time, as on March 31, 2019. The capital structure and debt protection metrics should improve further over the medium term driven by expected healthy cash accrual of around Rs 140 crore per fiscal and no large debt-funded capex plans.

Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets (GCAs) averaged 284 days for the three fiscals ended March 31, 2019, because of extended credit terms to overseas clients, policy to maintain large inventory, and the seasonal nature of operations. However, incremental working capital requirement has been prudently managed through a mix of cash accrual, supplier credit, and debt. Nevertheless, given the large GCAs and increasing scale of operations, continued prudent management of working capital will be critical. 

* Exposure to risks associated with volatility in input prices and forex rates:
There is significant forex exposure as 55-60% of sales are from exports and around 40-45% of raw materials are imported. Besides, reliance on input supplies from China is high. Prices of key raw materials such as H-acid and Vinyl Sulphone (in dyes), Diamino Stilbene Disulfonic Acid (DASDA in OBA) and many agrochemical molecules have witnessed significant fluctuation in the past due to supply constraints in China. Given the limited ability to pass on input price increases, the operating margin is susceptible to any adverse price movements. For instance, the margin declined to 11.7% in fiscal 2018 from 18-19% in the previous two fiscals.

However, the group has taken various measures such as backward integration and tie-ups with local suppliers to counter supply issues in China, apart from revising prices to partly pass on input cost hike. It also uses forward contracts to hedge forex exposure. Nevertheless, given the sizeable forex exposure and limited pricing flexibility, the margin will remain partly susceptible to these risks. Ability to sustain profitability will remain critical.

* Exposure to inherent risks in the agrochemical sector: The domestic agrochemicals sector is highly dependent on the monsoon and the level of farm income, thus exposing players' revenue to volatile seasonal trends. Surplus or inadequate rainfall also threatens profitability and leads to build-up in working capital requirement. Furthermore, the segment is regulated by specific and separate registration processes in different countries. Changes in the export and import policies of these countries will affect Indian agrochemical players. Besides, they are exposed to risks of product bans.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate, driven by expected cash accrual of around Rs 140 crore per fiscal in fiscals 2020 and 2021 and cash and cash equivalents of Rs 20 crore as on March 31, 2019. The fund-based limits of MIL and MDIL were utilised at an average of 69% and 21%, respectively, during the 14 months through May 2019. Long-term repayment obligation is modest at Rs 6 crore per fiscal over the medium term and capex plans are moderate at Rs 10 crore each, in fiscals 2020 and 2021. Internal cash accrual, cash and cash equivalents, and unutilised bank lines should be sufficient to meet capex and incremental working capital requirement. Moreover, given the expectation of moderate dividend and withdrawals, surplus liquidity is likely to build-up further.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the MIL-MDIL group's business risk profile will continue to benefit over the medium term from revenue diversity, steady demand prospects, and various measures to improve profitability. The financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy on the back of better cash generation and modest capex plans, notwithstanding high working capital intensity. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if the market position in key business segments is strengthened, leading to higher-than-expected revenue and a sustained increase in profitability, while the comfortable financial risk profile is maintained. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of significantly lower-than-expected revenue or profitability, or weakening of the financial risk profile because of large, debt-funded capex or acquisition, or significant stretch in the working capital cycle.

About the Group

MDIL was set up in 1979 by Mr Natwarlal M Patel and Mr Ramesh M Patel as a partnership firm, Meghmani Dyes and Intermediates, to manufacture reactive dyes and OBAs. It was reconstituted as a limited company, Meghmani Dyes and Intermediates Ltd, in 1999. In 2015, as a part of organisational changes, the management merged Meghmani Dyes and Intermediates Ltd and its subsidiary, Synergy Chlorination Pvt Ltd, with Unison Industries Ltd (Unison). Unison's name was later changed to MDIL and it was reconstituted as an LLP.

As a part of the restructuring exercise, a portion of the export-oriented OBA capacities were moved to MIL, which set up its special economic zone (SEZ) manufacturing facility. The company caters to domestic and global markets, selling reactive dyes and OBA under the Reactobond and Megawhite brands, respectively.

MDIL has manufacturing capacity to produce 13,500 (including Tapasheel Enterprises) tonne per annum (tpa) of reactive dyes and 5,400 tpa of OBAs, and 1,800 tpa for intermediates at Padra, Nandesari and Vatva.

MIL, part of the Ahmedabad-based Meghmani group, was incorporated in 1993 and has the same promoters. The company manufactures agrochemical technicals and formulations, and dyes and OBA. In agrochemicals it is primarily present in the herbicide and fungicide segments. Its two facilities in Vatva and Dahej SEZ in Gujarat have a combined capacity of 13,500 tpa. The Dahej unit has a 4,200 tpa agrochemical facility, a 5,000 tpa OBA facility, and a 1,500 tpa acid/mix dyes facility.

About the Meghmani group
The Meghmani group is established in India as well as abroad in the agrochemicals, dyes, pigments, intermediates, and base chemicals segments. It commenced operations in 1977 with manufacturing of pigments, and has about 20 units across Gujarat. The group's flagship company is Meghmani Organics Ltd (rated 'CRISIL A+/Positive/CRISIL A1').

For fiscal 2019, the MIL-MDIL group's revenue was Rs 1,284 crore and profit of tax (PAT) Rs 132 crore (provisional).

Key Financial Indicators (MIL-MDIL - Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 929 830
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 78 117
PAT Margin % 8.4 14.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.21 0.18
Interest coverage Times 9.27 10.78

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 with Outlook
NA Term Loan NA NA Apr-2020 25.5 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Fund-Based Facilities NA NA NA 12.5 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Non-Fund Based Limit NA NA NA 7.5 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 7.5 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Proposed Non Fund based limits NA NA NA 7 CRISIL A1
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Sr.No. Fully consolidated entities
1 Meghmani Industries Ltd
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST    --    --    --    --  16-03-16  Withdrawal  CRISIL A1 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  45.50  CRISIL A+/Stable  02-07-19  CRISIL A+/Stable    --    --  16-03-16  Withdrawal  CRISIL A/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  14.50  CRISIL A1  02-07-19  CRISIL A1    --    --  16-03-16  Withdrawal  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
Fund-Based Facilities 12.5 CRISIL A+/Stable Fund-Based Facilities 20 CRISIL A+/Stable
Non-Fund Based Limit 7.5 CRISIL A1 Non-Fund Based Limit 14.5 CRISIL A1
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 7.5 CRISIL A+/Stable Term Loan 25.5 CRISIL A+/Stable
Term Loan 25.5 CRISIL A+/Stable -- 0 --
Proposed Non Fund based limits 7 CRISIL A1 -- 0 --
Total 60 -- Total 60 --
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 Chemical Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Criteria for rating entities belonging to homogenous groups

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