Rating Rationale
May 24, 2018 | Mumbai
S H Kelkar And Company Limited
Rating upgraded to 'CRISIL AA-/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.187 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A+/Positive')
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 S H Kelkar And Company Limited (SHK part of Keva; formerly known as Kelkar group) to 'CRISIL AA-/Stable' from 'CRISIL A+/Positive'.

The rating upgrade reflects expectations of sustained improvement in business performance going forward supported by its established presence in the domestic market coupled with increasing presence in the overseas market.

Keva group is one of the leading player in the Indian fragrance industry with a market share of 23% and enjoys a long standing relationship with large FMCG players. Over the years, Keva group has undertaken several acquisition to grow and diversify its revenue profile. Recently,  it has acquired a stake of 51% in Italy based Creative Flavours and Fragrances S.p.A (CFF; turnover of EURO 13.4 million in fiscal 2016) which will enable the group to increase its overseas presence. CRISIL believes that expectation of strong growth in the FMCG sector coupled with increasing international presence, will help the group witness a healthy double digit growth over the medium term.

Keva group witnessed a moderation in growth (~1% year on year) during first nine months of fiscal 2018 on account of GST led issues. However, despite this the group was able to maintain healthy profitability of about 18% during the period.
Keva group will focus on integrating the various acquisitions done over the past couple of years to drive maximum benefits. Going forward, the group will continue to focus on organic as well inorganic growth however, is unlikely to undertake any major debt funded acquisition in the near future thereby by maintaining its strong financial risk profile. Any large debt funded capex leading to deterioration in the financial risk profile and successful integration of these possible acquisitions with the group's existing businesses will remain key rating sensitivity.

The rating continue to reflect the Keva group's established position in the flavours and fragrances industry, extensive industry experience of the promoters, strong research and development capabilities (R&D) and its healthy financial risk profile, marked by low gearing and strong debt protection metrics. These rating strengths are partially offset by an increasing competitive landscape and moderately high working capital intensive nature of operations.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of SH Kelkar and company Ltd (SH Kelkar), its subsidiaries Keva Fragrances Pvt Ltd (Keva Fragrances), Keva Flavours Pvt Ltd (KFPL), Saiba Industries Pvt Ltd (SIPL), Rasiklal Hemani Agencies Private Limited (RHAPL), SH Kelkar's Netherlands based step-down subsidiary PFW Aroma Chemicals BV (PFW) and Indonesia based step-down subsidiary PT SHK Keva Indonesia (PT). This is because all the entities, collectively referred to as Keva group, have a common management and significant business and financial linkages.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established player in fragrances and flavours industry and extensive experience of the promoters: Keva group was set up as partnership firm in 1922 and has a long-standing presence of over nine decades in the industry, spanning over three generations. The group has an established clientele spanning across diverse industries such as FMCG, dairy, beverages, pharma, and tobacco with over 4100 customers. Kedar Vaze, promoter CEO of the group has over 20 years of experience with the group.
 
* Strong R&D capabilities: Keva group has a strong research and development (R&D) capabilities thereby enabling it to continuously innovate and develop new products as per the changing requirement of the end user FMCG industry. The group has five creation and development centres in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Barneveld (Netherlands) and Indonesia with a team of 12 perfumers, 6 flavourists, evaluators and application executives working for the development of fragrance and flavour products. Further the group also has a dedicated research team of 20 scientists operating in facilities in Mumbai and Barneveld. Keva group spent Rs.26 crore on R&D translating to spend of 2.67% of the total operating income in fiscal 2017.
 
* Strong Financial Risk Profile: Keva group's financial risk profile improved significantly driven by debt reduction funded through fresh equity raised through Initial Public Offering (IPO) in November 2015. The gearing improved from 0.61 time as on March 31, 2015 to about 0.20 time (estimated) as on March 31, 2018. Keva group has healthy networth and strong debt protection metrics. Further the liquidity profile remains adequate. With strong cash accruals from business expected to be sufficient to meet its incremental working capital requirements, liquidity profile is expected to remain adequate. CRISIL expects Keva group's Debt to Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization (EBIDTA) ratio to remain less than 1 time over the medium term.
 
Weakness
* Moderate susceptibility of group's revenues to any changes in offtake by user sectors, especially in wake of increasing competitive landscape: Keva group's products range from fragrances, flavours, and ingredients finds applications in varied industries such as pharmaceuticals, food products, dairy products, and FMCG. The demand for these products moves in tune with the tastes and preferences of the consumers. With changing tastes and preferences of the consumers and increasing competition, FMCG companies are under pressure to constantly innovate and develop affordable end products. Accordingly, Keva group remains under constant pressure to innovate and develop cost-effective fragrances, flavours, and ingredients, which will help them market their own products in cost effective ways. Further, Keva group faces competition from international players like Givaudan SA and International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF; rated 'BBB+/Watch Neg/A2' by Standard and Poors [S&P]) who compete in the same segment, and from unorganised local players and other speciality chemicals makers, who manufacture aromatic chemicals. CRISIL believes that Keva group's operating performance will be moderately susceptible to any changes in offtake by its end-user industries and intensifying competition in the segment. However, the new acquisitions are expected to partially offset the impact.
 
* Moderately high working capital operations: Keva group's operations are marked by moderately high working-capital-intensive operations, as reflected in its gross current asset (GCA) days of around 239 days as on March 31, 2017. This is primarily driven by the group's high inventory holdings of around 5-6 months. This also exposes the group to volatility in raw material prices. Besides, as a portion of raw materials are imported, sharp foreign exchange (forex) movements can result in inventory loss at times, despite natural hedge being available in form of exports of finished products.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that Keva group will continue to benefit over the medium term from its established position in the flavours and fragrances industry and promoters' extensive industry experience. CRISIL also believes the group will maintain its financial risk profile, supported by healthy cash generation.
 
Upside Scenario
* Substantial improvement in its scale and diversity while maintaining profitability at healthy levels.
* Significant improvement in the working capital cycle.
 
Downside Scenario
* Sharp decline in the profitability resulting in deterioration in debt protection metrics; or
* Significant debt-funded capital expenditure or acquisition; or
* Significant stretch in working capital cycle

About the Company

Set up in 1922 as a partnership firm by Mr. Sadashiv Haribhau Kelkar and his brother, Mr. Damodar Vaze; and reconstituted as a private limited company in 1955, SH Kelkar is a leading manufacturer of fragrances and flavours. Its products have applications in varied sectors such as fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, and dairy products. Manufacturing units are located in Vashivalli (Maharashtra), Vapi (Gujarat), and Mumbai (Maharashtra). The company's registered office is at Mulund in Mumbai. Mr. Ramesh Vaze is the company's managing director. His son, Mr. Kedar Vaze, who is a director on the boards of various Kelkar group companies, is the group's Chief Executive Officer.
 
Keva Fragrances, KFPL, and SIPL manufacture fragrances, flavours, and intermediaries used in the flavours and fragrance industry. RHAPL is involved in intermediary services for trade of flavours, fragrances & essential oils. PFW manufactures aroma and speciality chemicals. PT is engaged in the business of trading and distribution of cosmetic goods (perfumes, soaps, powders etc.).
 
For nine months ended December 31, 2017, the company, on a consolidated basis, reported a PAT at Rs 73 crore on total operating income of Rs 740 crore vis -a -vis PAT at Rs 77 crore on total operating income of Rs 733 crore respectively during the same period in fiscal 2017.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 989 928
Profit after tax Rs crore 105 55
PAT margins % 10.6 5.9
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.10 0.12
Interest coverage Times 28.30 7.30
 

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 Assigned with Outlook
NA Working Capital Demand Loan* NA NA NA 167.00 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 20.00 CRISIL AA-/Stable
*Includes sub-limit of Rs.95 crore export packing credit facility, sub-limit of Rs.20 crore overdraft facility, sub-limit of Rs.40 crore bills discounting facility, sub-limit of Rs.20 crore letter of credit facility/bank guarantee.
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  187.00  CRISIL AA-/Stable      23-02-17  CRISIL A+/Positive      23-11-15  CRISIL A+/Stable  CRISIL A/Stable 
                    05-03-15  CRISIL A/Positive   
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
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 20 CRISIL AA-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 20 CRISIL A+/Positive
Working Capital Demand Loan* 167 CRISIL AA-/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan* 167 CRISIL A+/Positive
Total 187 -- Total 187 --
*Includes sub-limit of Rs.95 crore export packing credit facility, sub-limit of Rs.20 crore overdraft facility, sub-limit of Rs.40 crore bills discounting facility, sub-limit of Rs.20 crore letter of credit facility/bank guarantee.
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

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