Rating Rationale
September 07, 2022 | Mumbai
Aether Industries Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.275 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A-/Stable')
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A2+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has upgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Aether Industries Limited (AIL) to 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' from 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'.

 

The ratingd upgrade follows equity infusion of Rs 757 crores by way of initial public offering, the proceeds used to reduce outstanding debt, for capex and for working capital purposes, strengthening the financial risk profile.  The rating upgrade also reflects improvement in business risk profile backed by above average revenue growth and sustained profitability supported by higher utlisation and realizations. Business risk profile is expected to improve over medium term, with company working on capacities with new products with higher realisations.

 

The ratings on the bank loan facilities of AIL continue to reflect an established market position in the specialty chemicals business, strong relationship with reputed global and domestic customers, presence across diverse end-user segments and a comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by sizeable working capital requirements and susceptibility to project implementation and stabilization risks.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings treated has treated unsecured loans of Rs 14.92 crores from AIL’s shareholders as on March 31, 2022, as it is repaid after infusion of IPO proceeds.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established market position and strong relationship with reputed global and domestic customers: Company has established market position in the specialty chemical business is backed by presence in a niche product portfolio, reputed clientele, and strong relations with customers. The strong and reputed customer base includes BYK Chemie, Corteva, Divi’s Lab, Aarti Drugs Ltd, Moehs Catalana, Neogen Chemicals, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Reddy’s laboratories etc. Continuous research and development has helped company to manufacture products using multiple chemistries and multiple technologies and thus widen the product portfolio and diversify the end-user industry which has contributed materially to the revenue growth. Company has a presence across diverse end-user segments like pharmaceutical, material science, agrochemical, electronic chemical, and fine/speciality chemical industries. The strong technical and business acumen of the promoters has helped support the overall business risk profile and ramp up the scale of operations. Further, for many of its key products, AIL is the only large scale manufacturer in India of various niche products, which gives it a competitive advantage over other players and strengthens its market position. Business risk profile is expected to improve over medium term supported by above average growth in revenue and sustained operating margins. The Company had clocked revenue of ~Rs. 160 crores with an operating margin of more than ~26% in Q1FY23.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile supported by capital infusion: Company’s Networth as on March 31, 2022 was ~Rs. 386 crores. Company had raised Rs. 757 crores through initial public offering (IPO) in June 2022, thereby resulting in improved capital structure. Total outside liabilities to adjusted networth (TOLANW) is expected to improve from around 1x in FY22 to below 0.25x in FY23. Debt protection metrics is healthy with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio estimated at 13.3 and 0.4 times respectively in fiscal 2022 and likely to improve to over 50 times and 3 times respectively over the medium term. Financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy over medium term in the absence of any debt funded capital expenditure.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to project implementation and stabilization risks: Company will be undertaking capex for setting up of new facility. Planned capex for site 3 and site 4 is expected to be completed by December 2022 and December 2023 respectively. Timely completion of the capex within budgeted costs, timely commencement of commercial operations and offtake from the same will remain key monitorable. The plants is also susceptible to initial stabilization issues with capacity utilizations remaining a key monitorable. However, funding risk is mitigated as the company had raised funds for its capex purposes from IPO. Further, promoters extensive experience and vintage in same industry partly mitigates the implementation risk.

 

  • Sizeable working capital requirements: Gross current asset (GCA) days were high at 240 days as on March 31, 2022, driven by debtor days and inventory days of 101 days and 141 days, respectively. This is however in-line with the working capital cycle observed for the specialty chemicals industry. Credit period of 60-90 days is extended to customers with good track record and some portion of sales are also against DA/LC of 60-90 days. Inventory is a mix of raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods. Higher inventory is maintained for raw material due to large product portfolio. Overall operations are likely to remain working capital intensive over the medium term.

Liquidity: Strong

Net Cash accruals are expected to be over Rs 150 crore per fiscal over the medium term against NIL debt repayment obligations. Bank limit were moderately utilized at 84% during the 12 months through May 2022. Planned capex of around Rs 190 crore is adequately funded by proceeds from IPO and internal accruals. IPO proceeds of has helped the company to reduce debt and strengthen the capital structure, thereby enhancing its financial flexibility. Current ratio as on March 31, 2022 was ~1.7 times

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes AIL will continue to benefit from the strong technical and business acumen of promoters, company’s established market position, reputed clientele, and healthy profitability.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained revenue growth of over 15% and sustenance of operating margin leading to higher cash accruals.
  • Completion of capital expenditure plans without any cost or time overruns and healthy offtake from the enhanced capacity
  • Improved working capital cycle

 

Downward factors:

  • Drop in revenue or significant decline in operating profitability below 20% resulting in significantly lower cash accruals
  • Any time or cost over-runs in completing the capex or lower than expected ramp up due to lower offtake
  • Stretch in working capital cycle or larger than any expected debt funded capex leading to higher-than-expected debt

About the Company

AIL was incorporated on 23rd January 2013. It is promoted Mr. Ashvin Desai, Ms. Purnima Desai, Mr. Rohan Desai and Mr. Aman Desai. AIL is based in Surat (Gujarat) and is a leading manufacturer of advanced intermediates and active ingredients for the pharmaceutical, material science, agrochemical, electronic chemical, and fine / speciality chemical industries. Company commenced its manufacturing operations in 2016. Company got listed on bourses in June 2022.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2022

2021

Operating income

Rs crore

593

452.1

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

172.7

73.7

PAT margins

%

18.4

15.3

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

0.7

1.2

Interest coverage

Times

13.3

10.5

 

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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)

Complexity level

Rating assigned

with outlook

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

77.0

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Working Capital Term Loan

NA

NA

Mar-25

25.0

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Term Loan

NA

NA

Mar-26

93.59

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Foreign Exchange Forward

NA

NA

NA

1.8

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Proposed Fund Based Bank Limits

NA

NA

NA

2.61

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Letter of Credit & Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

23.0

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Standby Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

2.0

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Term Loan

NA

NA

Oct-29

20.0

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Working Capital facility

NA

NA

NA

25.0

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

4.0

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Proposed Working facility

NA

NA

NA

1.0

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

 

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 246.0 CRISIL A/Stable 07-01-22 CRISIL A-/Stable 08-10-21 CRISIL A-/Stable 18-03-20 Withdrawn (Issuer Not Cooperating)* 20-06-19 CRISIL BB /Stable / CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)* CRISIL BB/Stable / CRISIL A4+
      --   -- 21-09-21 CRISIL A-/Stable   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 29.0 CRISIL A1 07-01-22 CRISIL A2+ 08-10-21 CRISIL A2+ 18-03-20 Withdrawn (Issuer Not Cooperating)* 20-06-19 CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)* CRISIL A4+
      --   -- 21-09-21 CRISIL A2+   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 57 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Cash Credit 20 State Bank of India CRISIL A/Stable
Foreign Exchange Forward 1.8 State Bank of India CRISIL A/Stable
Letter of Credit 4 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A1
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 8 State Bank of India CRISIL A1
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 15 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A1
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 2.61 Not Applicable CRISIL A/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 1 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Standby Letter of Credit 2 State Bank of India CRISIL A1
Term Loan 57 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Term Loan 36.59 State Bank of India CRISIL A/Stable
Term Loan 20 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Working Capital Facility 25 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Working Capital Term Loan 25 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable

This Annexure has been updated on 07-Sep-22 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 20-Sep-21 received from the rated entity.

Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Chemical Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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