Rating Rationale
May 28, 2024 | Mumbai
Ahimsa Industries Limited
Rating downgraded to 'CRISIL BB-/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.5 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BB-/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BB/Stable')
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has downgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Ahimsa Industries Ltd (AIL) to ‘CRISIL BB-/Stable’ from ‘CRISIL BB/Stable’.

 

The downgrade reflects the decline in the overall business profile, as indicated by fall in operating income to Rs 14.80 crore in fiscal 2024 from Rs 20.24 crore in fiscal 2023, mainly due to demand fluctuation and increased domestic competition in the industry. Operating margin has declined from 3.10% in fiscal 2023 to around 0.50% in fiscal 2024 due to increase in expenses caused by the shutdown of its unit in Maharashtra. The company generates insufficient net cash accrual for debt repayment in FY24 which was supported by the working capital cycle. CRISIL Ratings believes that any further decline in operating margin would impact on the business profile.

 

The rating reflects the extensive experience of the promoters in the packaging industry and above-average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by its susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and intense competition and modest scale of operations.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive industry experience of the promoters: The promoters have experience of over 30 years in packaging-plastic industry. This has given them a strong understanding of the market dynamics and enabled them to establish strong relationships with suppliers and customers.

 

  • Above-average financial profile: AIL’s capital structure is comfortable with low gearing and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth (TOLANW) ratio of 0.17 time and 0.23 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2024. With low reliance on debt the same is expected to improve over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and intense competition: The prices of the raw materials, purified terephthalic acid, mono ethylene glycol and resin are volatile in nature. Raw material cost accounts for a significant proportion of the cost of sales, and any adverse movement in the prices could constrain the operating margin of the company.

 

  • Modest scale of operations: AIL’s business profile is constrained by its scale of operations with revenue of Rs 14.78 crore in fiscal 2024 from Rs 20.24 crore in fiscal 2023. The packaging-plastic industry is intensely competitive. It has low entry barriers and limited value addition, leading to intense competition. This restricts the ability to ramp up operations and bargain with customers and suppliers.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilization was low at 43% on average for the six months through March 2024. The company generated insufficient net cash accrual for debt repayment in FY24 which was supported by the working capital cycle. Cash accrual is expected to be Rs 0.70 crore which will be sufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 0.34 crore over the medium term, and the surplus will cushion the liquidity of the company.

 

The current ratio was healthy at 2.83 times as on March 31, 2024. Low gearing and moderate networth support its financial flexibility and provides the financial cushion required in case of any adverse conditions or downturn in the business.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes AIL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters and established relationships with clients.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sustained increase in revenue by 35% and stable operating margin, leading to higher cash accrual of over Rs 2 crore.
  • Improvement in the working capital cycle with gross current assets (GCAs) below 150 days.

 

Downward factors

  • Decline in net cash accrual to below Rs 60 lakh on account of decline in revenue or operating profit.
  • Large debt-funded capital expenditure weakening the capital structure.

About the Company

AIL was incorporated in 1996 and later reconstituted as a public limited company in 2015. It is engaged in manufacturing of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Also exporting & trading of sugar confectionary machinery, plastic processing machinery, injection moulds. It has manufacturing unit located in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and promoted by Mr. Ashutosh Gandhi and his wife Mrs. Sneha Gandhi. The company got listed at NSE-SME in October 2015.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit 

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs.Crore

14.80

20.24

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs.Crore

-0.92

0.10

PAT margin

%

-6.5

0.47

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.17

0.23

Interest coverage

Times

0.22

2.15

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 and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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) Complexity levels Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 2.3 NA CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 1.9 NA CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Apr-2027 0.8 NA CRISIL BB-/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 5.0 CRISIL BB-/Stable   -- 28-11-23 CRISIL BB/Stable 08-12-22 CRISIL BB /Stable / CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)* 27-09-21 CRISIL BB/Stable / CRISIL A4+ --
      --   -- 18-10-23 Withdrawn (Issuer Not Cooperating)*   --   -- --
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 2.3 Union Bank of India CRISIL BB-/Stable
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 1.9 Not Applicable CRISIL BB-/Stable
Term Loan 0.8 Union Bank of India CRISIL BB-/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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