Rating Rationale
December 15, 2017 | Mumbai
Rallis India Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL AA+/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.360 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL AA/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.75 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Rallis India Limited (Rallis) to 'CRISIL AA+/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA/Positive'; the rating on the short-term bank facility and commercial paper programme have been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.

The upgrade factors in CRISIL's belief that Rallis's business risk profile will improve over the medium term, with increase in value-added products and better distribution reach and farmer connect in the domestic market. Higher focus on exports (including contract manufacturing) and seeds business will improve revenue diversity as well as aid business growth over the medium term. Revenue may grow at 10-12% annually over the medium term, with profitability at 17-18%.

Financial risk profile is also likely to remain robust as moderate capital spending and efficient working capital management will reduce debt levels. Liquidity is also expected to benefit from increased cash generation.

The ratings also continue to reflect the strategic importance of Rallis to its parent, Tata Chemicals Ltd (TCL; rated 'CRISIL A1+'). Rallis will remain critical for TCL and will continue to receive strong business, operational, and need-based funding support from TCL.

Analytical Approach

* For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Rallis and its subsidiaries, Metahelix Life Sciences Ltd. (MLSL), Zero Waste Agro Organics Ltd (ZWAOL) and Rallis Chemistry Exports Ltd, because of the close operational and financial linkages among these entities.
* Further, CRISIL has applied its parent notch-up framework to factor in support from TCL.
* CRISIL has also amortised goodwill on acquisitions over a period of 10 years.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position: Rallis is a major player in the crop protection sector with strong presence in all three segments of the pesticide industry (insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides) in India and abroad. In addition to crop protection products, the company is focused on providing end-to-end solution in the agriculture input chain and thus entered into related sectors such as seeds (largely through MLSL which has a commercialised portfolio of hybrid seeds), plant growth nutrients and organic compost, helping it to diversify the revenue base.

* Strong focus on branding and relationship with farmers: Strong brand and steady engagement with farmers facilitated regular launch of new products. Rallis undertakes farmer relationship programmes such as 'Rallis Kisan Kutumba'?, through which it provides them information on new and improved practices in agriculture. Further, in fiscal 2017, the company launched 'Rallis Samrudh Krishi'? through which it provides agri-solutions to farmers and has also been working on improving productivity of crops. In addition, Grow More Pulses (MoPu), an initiative launched six years ago in Tamil Nadu to increase productivity in pulses, has been extended to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka and covers over 350,000 farmers. TCL procures pulses from farmers under the MoPu programme, thereby reflecting strong operating synergy.

* Comfortable financial risk profile: Networth was large at Rs 1,051 crore and gearing healthy at 0.04 time as on March 31, 2017; debt protection metrics were also strong during fiscal 2017. Overall liquidity is backed by healthy build-up of cash and cash equivalent (Rs 128 crore as on September 30, 2017)

* Support from parent: Managerial and operational support from TCL continues to benefit Rallis.

Weakness
* Vulnerability to risks inherent in the crop protection sector: The domestic crop protection segment is affected by irregular monsoon and volatility in farm income. Also, the sector is highly regulated by specific registration processes in different countries and is subject to various environmental rules and regulations.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Rallis's business risk profile will be supported by healthy demand prospects for crop protection products in the domestic market, and its increasing focus on exports and non-crop protection businesses. Furthermore, steady growth in cash accrual is expected to benefit financial risk profile and liquidity over the medium term. Rallis will continue to be critical for TCL and keep receiving operational and managerial support.

Upward scenario
* Significant improvement in business performance in the domestic market and in subsidiaries
* Healthy financial risk profile and liquidity, backed by efficient working capital management and prudent capital spending
* Upward revision in TCL's credit risk profile

Downward scenario
* Significant or sustained deterioration in business performance
* Larger-than-expected, debt-funded capital spending, or substantial acquisition or stretch in working capital adversely affecting key credit metrics and liquidity
* Downward revision in TCL's credit risk profile.

About the Company

Rallis, a part of the Tata group, is one of the leading players in the domestic crop protection sector and manufactures pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides at its factories in four locations. These agrochemicals are spread across 80% of India's districts through an extensive distribution network. The Rallis Innovation Chemistry Hub (RICH) caters to global requirements and plays a key role in contract manufacturing. In fiscal 2010, Rallis became a subsidiary of TCL; earlier, it was jointly owned by multiple Tata group companies.

Rallis acquired a majority stake in MLSL, a Bengaluru-based seeds company, in fiscal 2011. MLSL was established in 2000 by scientists to focus on seed research and manufacturing. The company has proprietary bacillus thuringiensis trait and cry1C approvals for its cotton business. In fiscal 2013, Rallis acquired stake in Maharashtra-based ZWAOL that manufactures scientifically prepared organic compost from waste derived from the sugar industry. Currently, both the entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Rallis.

During the first half of fiscal 2018, consolidated net profit was Rs 122 crore on revenue of Rs 1055 crore vis-a-vis Rs 241 crore and Rs 1057 crore, respectively in the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators - (Consolidated)^
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. cr. 1,678 1,633
Profit After Tax (PAT)* Rs. cr. 277 116
PAT Margins % 16.5 7.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.04 0.12
Interest coverage Times 30.24 15.00
^CRISIL adjusted numbers
*Adjusted

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 Issue Size
(Rs. Cr)
Date of Allotment Date of Maturity Coupon Rate (%) Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Cash Credit* 130.5 NA NA NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Term loan 15.0 NA Feb-2023 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Proposed long term bank loan facility 35.0 NA NA NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Letter of credit# 179.5 NA NA NA CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial Paper 75.0 NA 7-365 days NA CRISIL A1+
*Interchangeable with other fund-based facilities
#Interchangeable with other non-fund based facilities
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  75  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
Non Convertible Debentures  LT    --    --    --    --  29-09-14  Withdrawal  CRISIL AA/Stable 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  180.5  CRISIL AA+/Stable  08-02-17  CRISIL AA/Positive  09-02-16  CRISIL AA/Stable    No Rating Change  29-09-14  CRISIL AA/Positive  CRISIL AA/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  179.5  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit* 130.5 CRISIL AA+/Stable Cash Credit* 130.5 CRISIL AA/Positive
Letter of Credit# 179.5 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit# 179.5 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 35 CRISIL AA+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 31.87 CRISIL AA/Positive
Term Loan 15 CRISIL AA+/Stable Term Loan 18.13 CRISIL AA/Positive
Total 360 -- Total 360 --
*Interchangeable with other fund-based facilities
#Interchangeable with other non-fund based facilities
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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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