Rating Rationale
August 01, 2024 | Mumbai
Associated Alcohols and Breweries Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.160 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.110 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
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 reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+’ ratings on the bank facilities of Associated Alcohols and Breweries Limited (AABL).

 

The rating continues to reflect AABL’s established market position in Madhya Pradesh (MP), backed by extensive experience of its promoters, diversified product offering and presence of own brand etc. The rating also factors in group’s healthy financial risk profile driven by low gearing and healthy debt protection metrics. These strengths are, however, Moderate scale of operations, presence in the highly regulated alcoholic beverages industry, and geographical concentration in revenue.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Group’s established market position: The AABL has an established position in the liquor and beer industry, backed by its longstanding presence and the promoters’ extensive experience of over three decades and strong relationship with the supplier. The company manufactures rectified spirit (RS), extra neutral alcohol (ENA), country liquor (CL) and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL). This has given the promoters an understanding of the dynamics of the market and helped establish relationships with suppliers and customers. All these factors have aided steady growth in revenue. The Company has achieved turnover of Rs. 764 crores in fiscal 2024 supported by improvement in revenue from recently launched new brands and ethanol plant which gets operational in Feb 2024. Regular addition of new products, and capacity expansion will further enhance the market position and the business risk profile of the company.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: The capital structure is supported by healthy estimated networth of Rs. 420-422 crore and low total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio of less than 1 time for the three fiscals ended March 31, 2024. Debt protection metrics were comfortable due to low leverage and healthy profitability as indicated by interest coverage of 22-23 times and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio of 0.6-0.65 times in fiscal 2024. The company is also planning for multiple capex but same is managed through internal accruals, therefore financial risk profile is expected to remain comfortable going forward as well. CRISIL believes timely completion of planned capex with no cost overrun impacting the financial risk profile remains key monitorable.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Moderate scale of operations: Although the company has achieved an operating income CAGR of ~21% for last three fiscal years through 2024, the scale of operations continues to remain moderate. The Company has booked turnover of ~Rs. 764 crores in fiscal 2024 supported by improvement in revenue from recently launched new brands, improved traction from other states like Kerela, UP, Delhi etc., and ethanol plant which gets operational in Feb 2024 and going forward management is expecting revenue of ~Rs. 200-250 crores from Ethanol plant which will further add to support the overall business risk profile going forward. While management intends to launch new products, as per market requirement, steady market penetration leading to sustained volume growth amidst steady realization will remain a key monitorable.

 

  • Presence in the highly regulated alcoholic beverages industry: AABL operates in the Indian brewery and distillery industry. Various facets of the industry such as production, distribution, raw material availability and advertisements are highly regulated by the state and central governments. The industry operates based on licences provided by state governments. Sale and distribution of liquor products in both the wholesale and retail sectors are controlled by each state. Thus, government regulations have a significant effect on profitability, particularly in states where the government controls the pricing and any significant change in excise policy of respective state and subsequently its impact on the company will be closely monitored.

 

  • Geographical concentration of revenue: The company generates majority of its revenue from MP and is susceptible to regulatory actions by the state or state specific events, which can have a significant impact on revenue and profitability. The company will likely improve its market share outside MP and is looking to enter other key consumption markets such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The management’s focus on diversifying presence and revenue streams (entry into ethanol) will lower the geographical concentration in revenue in the long run and its sustenance to be closely monitored.

Liquidity: Strong

Bank limit utilisation is low at around 38 percent for the past twelve months ended January 2024.Cash accrual are expected to be over Rs 65-70 crore which are sufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 10-15 crore over the medium term. In addition, it will be act as cushion to the liquidity of the company.

 

Current ratio is healthy at 2.36 times on March31, 2023. The promoters are likely to extend support in the form of equity and unsecured loans to meet its working capital requirements and repayment obligations. Further, Low gearing and moderate net worth support its financial flexibility and provides the financial cushion available in case of any adverse conditions or downturn in the business.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes the AABL will continue to benefit from its established market position and sustain its healthy operating performance.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained and significant revenue growth along with operating profitability at over 11-12% leading to more than expected net cash accruals.
  • Penetration into different geographies leading to decline in dependence on sale from MP.
  • Efficient working capital management, amid business growth, leading to lower reliance on external debt and an improved return on capital employed.

 

Downward factors:

  • Adverse regulations or highly competitive environment leading to fall in revenue and margins below 7-8% leading to lower-than-expected net cash accruals.
  • Fall in operating profitability or stretch in the working capital cycle impacting the net cash accrual and liquidity.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1989, AABL is the flagship company of the Indore-based Kedia group, promoted by the late Mr Bhagwati Prasad Kedia. The company is managed by Mr. Prasann Kedia supported by a professional board and management. The company produces a variety of alcohol, including rectified spirit, ENA, CL and IMFL, along with bottling for international brands such as Diageo. AABL has a distillery and bottling facility in Khargone, MP, with capacity of 45 MLPA. It is expanding its distillery capacity by 40 MLPA to cater to rising ethanol demand.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit 

2024*

2023

Operating income

Rs.Crore

764.24

701.80

Reported profit after tax

Rs.Crore

50.62

38.20

PAT margins

%

6.62

5.44

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth

Times

0.25

0.26

Interest coverage

Times

22.27

43.96

*Provisional

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.Cr) Complexity Levels Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 40 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 40 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Jul-2028 80 NA CRISIL A-/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 120.0 CRISIL A-/Stable 26-04-24 CRISIL A-/Stable 05-06-23 CRISIL A/Stable 30-12-22 CRISIL A/Stable 01-11-21 CRISIL A-/Stable Withdrawn
      -- 28-03-24 CRISIL BBB+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)* 04-01-23 CRISIL A/Stable   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 40.0 CRISIL A2+ 26-04-24 CRISIL A2+ 05-06-23 CRISIL A1 30-12-22 CRISIL A1 01-11-21 CRISIL A2+ Withdrawn
      -- 28-03-24 CRISIL A2 (Issuer Not Cooperating)* 04-01-23 CRISIL A1   --   -- --
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
Bank Guarantee 13 IDBI Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Bank Guarantee 5 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Bank Guarantee 22 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 15 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 10 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 10 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 5 IDBI Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Term Loan 80 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
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

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