Rating Rationale
December 06, 2019 | Mumbai
Noveltech Feeds Private Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.250 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A/Stable' rating to the long-term bank facilities of Noveltech Feeds Private Limited (NFPL; part of the Noveltech group).
 
The rating reflects the group's established market position in the Indian poultry feed industry, and comfortable financial risk profile and financial flexibility. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to volatile raw material prices, moderate working capital intensity, and risks inherent in the poultry industry.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of NFPL and its wholly owned subsidiaries: Nutricraft India Pvt. Ltd. (NIPL) and Neogenetics Foods Pvt. Ltd. (NOFPL). That is because, all three entities, together referred to as the Noveltech group or 'group', are in the same line of business, operate under a common management and have significant operational linkages.

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
* Established market position in the poultry feed business: NFPL was formed to acquire poultry feeds business of Rohini Minerals Pvt Ltd, NIPL and NOFPL which were established businesses operating in the industry since at least a decade. The group is one of the largest poultry feed players in India with large and geographically diverse manufacturing capacities, pan-India presence and dominant position in key poultry feeds markets such as Andhra Pradesh (AP), Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana. The group has a presence in both egg-layer and broiler feeds, adding to the diversity to revenue. Scale of operations is large, with estimated annual revenue of about Rs 20 billion on an annual basis. The business risk profile should continue to benefit from the steadily increasing demand and awareness about the use of nutrition-rich compound feeds for poultry. The professional and experienced management team should support strategic initiatives and governance.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile and strong financial flexibility
The financial risk profile is comfortable, with gearing and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio estimated at 0.4 time and 1.3 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019.  The debt protection metrics are healthy because of moderate cash accrual and limited debt in fiscal 2019.
 
Furthermore, the Noveltech group is owned and promoted by Goldman Sachs Private Equity (99.49% stake). For any large capex or acquisition, the promoter group is committed to infusing equity funds. The group is incurring CAPEX of around Rs 250 crores, to be largely funded by fresh equity infusion from Goldman Sachs Private Equity. The said CAPEX is expected to bring on three benefits to the group. Firstly it is aimed at backward integration for the group's key plants which contribute significant revenues leading to improvement of operating margins. Secondly, it is aimed at reducing subcontracting for NIPL and thirdly, diversification into newer product category of fish feed. Further the promoter is also expected to infuse around Rs.50-55 crore (of which Rs 35 crore has already been infused) for the working capital needs by March 2020. CRISIL continues to believe that the group's financial flexibility is aided by financial flexibility of its shareholder.
 
Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to volatile raw material prices and to inherent risks in the poultry industry
Operating profitability remains average because of competition and is vulnerable to volatility in input prices. Maize, soya, soya meal and other agro commodities are the key inputs used to manufacture poultry feed, and account for 80-85% of the total cost of production. Due to competitive pressure, the group has limited ability to pass on price hikes. A sharp hike in input prices can adversely impact group' profitability. This was evident in the year to date (YTD) financial performance wherein the operating margins of the group has moderated.
 
Though the group has sought to improve operating efficiency through strategic bulk procurement, better supply chain management, R&D efforts to control costs, synergy benefits derived from integrated operations within the group and from backward integration post CAPEX, the accrued benefits from the same are yet to be seen. The poultry industry is also vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases, which could lead to a decline in sales and selling prices. Furthermore, seasonal demand in the industry leads to fluctuations in end-product prices. The inherent industry risks will, therefore, continue to constrain the players in the poultry industry.
 
* Moderate working capital requirements
Working capital requirements are moderate, reflected in estimated gross current assets of 131 days, driven by moderate inventory and receivables. Because of ramp-up in scale, pressure on working capital should remain moderate, however, the company has already tied-up for the working capital needs with its existing lenders. Ability to manage working capital cycle while ramping up scale and commercialization of CAPEX will be critical for group.
Liquidity Strong

The group's liquidity should remain adequate because of healthy cash accruals vis-a-vis scheduled debt repayments, currently adequate working capital bank lines, cushion derived from free cash/FD balances and healthy financial flexibility. The group is expected to report a cash accrual of Rs 50-55 crore in fiscal 2020 against repayment obligation of Rs 37 crore while it is expected to generate cash accrual of Rs 75-80 crore in fiscal 2021 against repayment obligation of around Rs 45-50 crore. The bank limit of Rs 270 crore was moderately utilized on average at 86% over past 6 months ending September 2019. The group's total working capital bank lines stand currently at Rs 310 crore. Also the group has unencumbered cash and bank balances and fixed deposits of around Rs 110 crore. Further equity infusion of the promoters expected in the current year support incremental working capital requirement and hence the liquidity profile.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Noveltech group will continue to benefit from its established market position in the Indian poultry feed industry and its healthy financial flexibility.
 
Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward Factor

* Substantial and sustained ramp up in revenue and demonstration of improved operating margin over 6% for the group
* Efficient working capital management and maintenance of financial risk profile and liquidity
 
Downward Factor
* Debt/EBITDA of more than 3 times over medium term
* Unanticipated large debt funded capex constraining financial flexibility.

About the Company

NFPL, incorporated on March 14, 2018, was set up to acquire animal feeds businesses in India. NFPL took over the poultry feed business of Hyderabad based - Rohini Minerals Pvt Ltd (RMPL) from August 9 2018.  Also, NFPL acquired 100% shares of Bangalore based, poultry feed companies - Nutricraft India Pvt Ltd (NIPL) and Neogenetics Foods Pvt Ltd (NOFPL). RMPL's business was primarily concentrated in AP and Telangana and focused on eggs-layer segment while NIPL and NOFPL mainly deal in broiler feed with pan India presence.
 
NFPL is owned and promoted by Goldman Sachs Private Equity, which has invested in these animal feed companies through its investment arms.

Key Financial Indicators - Noveltech Feeds Private Limited (Standalone)
Particulars Unit 2019* 2018
Revenue Rs. Crore 720 NA
Profit after tax Rs. Crore -16 NA
PAT Margin % -2.3% NA
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.71 NA
Interest coverage Times 4.68 NA
*performance from august 9, 2018 to march 31, 2019
 
Key Financial Indicators - Nutrikraft India Private Limited (Standalone)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs. Crore 857 NA
Profit after tax Rs. Crore 0 NA
PAT Margin % 0 NA
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0 NA
Interest coverage Times 46 NA

Key Financial Indicators - Neogenetics Foods Private Limited (Standalone)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs. Crore 309 NA
Profit after tax Rs. Crore 1 NA
PAT Margin % 0.2% NA
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0 NA
Interest coverage Times 28 NA
 

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 crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 50 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 35 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Long Term loan NA NA Mar-2024 165 CRISIL A/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Noveltech Feeds Private Limited Full The companies are in the same line of business, operate under a common management and have significant operational linkages.
Nutrikraft India Private Limited Full
Neogenetics Foods Private Limited Full
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  250.00  CRISIL A/Stable  30-03-19  CRISIL A/Stable    --    --    --  -- 
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 35 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 35 CRISIL A/Stable
Long Term Loan 165 CRISIL A/Stable Long Term Loan 165 CRISIL A/Stable
Working Capital Facility 50 CRISIL A/Stable Working Capital Facility 50 CRISIL A/Stable
Total 250 -- Total 250 --
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
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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