Rating Rationale
July 23, 2020 | Mumbai
Nitta Gelatin India Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.92.21 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.91.56 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' ratings on the bank facilities of Nitta Gelatin India Limited (NGIL; part of the NGIL group).
 
The revenues of NGIL group grew 13% in fiscal 2020, while margins improved to 11.8% as against 10.5% in fiscal 2019, because of better realisations and turnaround in its subsidiary, Reva Proteins Ltd (Reva; now merged with NGIL); this, despite rise in crushed bone (CB) prices.
 
Operating performance for fiscal 2021 to remain broadly stable as gelatin is largely used in the pharmaceutical industry where demand is expected to remain steady. Given the essential nature of the product, NGIL operations across plants continued without any major disruption. However, the shortage of CB due to lockdown has led to increase in its cost and also relatively lower utilisation of the ossein capacities as compared to gelatin capacity in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. As the supply situation for CB eases in domestic markets and with part imports, operations are expected to scale up going forward, however input prices will remain firm.  NGIL has negotiated price increase with its customers, which should partly offset the impact of increased CB costs. Revenues for fiscal 2021 are expected to be broadly flat and operating margin is expected to moderate by about 150 basis points. With expected accrual of over Rs 20 crore per annum, prudent working capital management, and moderate capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 10-12 crore yearly, financial risk profile is expected to remain adequate over the medium term.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the NGIL group's established position in the gelatin industry, steady support from its joint venture (JV) partner, Nitta Gelatin Inc, Japan (NGI), and comfortable financial risk profile because of healthy capital structure and debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to fluctuations in input prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates and exposure to the risk of disruption of operations or sub-optimal capacity utilisation because of pollution concerns.

Analytical Approach

The financial and business risk profiles of NGIL and its subsidiary, Bamni Proteins Ltd (BPL) have been combined. This is because the two companies, collectively referred to as the NGIL group, are in the same business, and have common management and significant operational and financial synergies.
 
NGIL also has optionally convertible preference shares of Rs 13.8 crore, which have been fully subscribed by the parent. It also has redeemable preference shares of Rs 3.8 crore as consideration towards NGI's stake in Reva. Considering the redeemable and interest-bearing nature of these shares, CRISIL has treated the same as debt.

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 presence in the gelatin market with recognised brand, and steady support from NGI: The NGIL group is an established player in the gelatin market. The NGIL group started producing ossein and di-calcium phosphate (DCP) in 1978 and gelatin in 1999. The group has a technological tie-up and operational linkages with Osaka-based NGI (has 43% stake in NGIL), one of the leading gelatin manufacturers in the world, and enjoys considerable brand equity.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is adequate, with healthy gearing and debt protection metrics, and should remain comfortable over the medium term. The interest coverage and net cash accrual to debt (NCATD) ratios were 4.8 times and 0.3 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020 as against 3.1 times and 0.16 time, respectively, in fiscal 2019. Gearing too is comfortable at less than 0.7 time as on March 31, 2020. Given the moderate capex, steady accruals, and progressive debt repayment, credit metrics should remain comfortable.
 
Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to volatile input prices and forex rates: The group's two main raw materials are crushed animal (cattle) bone and hydrochloric acid. The market for crushed animal bone is highly unorganised and exposes the operating margin to increase in input prices. Additionally, the NGIL group has sizeable forex exposure in the form of export sales. Although 60% of the export receivables are hedged using forward contracts, the group remains vulnerable to any steep fluctuations in forex rates.
 
* Environmental pollution concerns: In the past, NGIL has faced interruptions in operations at its ossein plant in Koratty, Kerala, owing to agitation by local protestors. These protests pertain to the alleged pollution of environment in the surrounding region due to effluent discharge from the plant. While NGIL has taken various measures to address these concerns, the pollution allegation case is currently pending before the High Court of Kerala. The group's operations remain susceptible to further such protests as well as the verdict on pollution allegations and any stringent pollution control requirements hereon.
Liquidity Adequate

The NGIL group has adequate liquidity. Cash accruals are expected to be in excess of Rs 20 crore each in fiscals 2021 and 2022 should comfortably meet maturing debt obligations of Rs 6-7 crore per annum. The fund-based limits of Rs 97 crore were moderately utlilised at 49% as on March 31, 2020. Capex is expected to be at Rs 10-12 crore per annum. Accruals and unutilised bank lines should meet capex and incremental working capital requirements.

Outlook: Stable

The NGIL group's credit risk profile will continue to benefit from its established position in the domestic gelatin market, support from NGI, and adequate financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained increase in revenue by 12-14% or more, while maintaining operating profitability at over 11%
* Improvement in gearing and debt protection metrics
 
Downward factors
* Decline in revenue by more than 20% or in operating profitability to below 8%
* Change in stance of support from NGI
* Major debt-funded capex weakening credit metrics
* Adverse operational disturbances, if any, on account of perceived environmental concerns, agitations or court verdicts on pollution control
About the Group

Set up in 1975, NGIL is a joint venture between the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (32% shareholding) and NGI (43%), and manufactures gelatin, ossein, limed ossein, and DCP by processing crushed animal bone and treating it with hydrochloric acid. The company also manufactures collagen peptide-based consumer products that are used in the pharmaceuticals/healthcare industry. BPL process raw materials'crushed animal bone and hydrochloric acid' into ossein, which they then supply to NGIL.

NGIL merged erstwhile subsidiary, Reva, with itself after receipt of a National Company Law Tribunal approval in fiscal 2019, with effect from April 1, 2017.

Key Financial Indicators(Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs crore 343 303
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 12 5
PAT margin % 3.6 1.6
Adjusted debt/ adjusted networth Times 0.54 0.71
Interest coverage Times 4.83 3.14

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 crore) Complexity
Levels
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Bill Purchase-Discounting Facility NA NA NA 33.5 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 7 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 3.91 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Packing Credit NA NA NA 47.8 NA CRISIL A2+
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Name of Entity Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Bamni Proteins Ltd Full Subsidiary, business synergies
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  88.30  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  06-03-20  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  08-04-19  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  17-04-18  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  23-02-17  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+ 
            22-03-19  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  16-04-18  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+       
                16-03-18  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  3.91  CRISIL A2+  06-03-20  CRISIL A2+  08-04-19  CRISIL A2+  17-04-18  CRISIL A2+  23-02-17  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
            22-03-19  CRISIL A2+  16-04-18  CRISIL A2+       
                16-03-18  CRISIL A2+       
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
Bill Purchase-Discounting Facility 33.5 CRISIL A2+ Bill Purchase-Discounting Facility 40 CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 7 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 7 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 3.91 CRISIL A2+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 3.91 CRISIL A2+
Packing Credit 47.8 CRISIL A2+ Line of Credit 6.4 CRISIL A2+
-- 0 -- Long Term Loan 1.35 CRISIL A-/Stable
-- 0 -- Packing Credit 32.9 CRISIL A2+
Total 92.21 -- Total 91.56 --
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 the Pharmaceutical Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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