Rating Rationale
November 16, 2018 | Mumbai
Excel Industries Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL A+/Stable' ; FD withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.149.5 Crore (Reduced from Rs.174.5 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.13.5 Crore Fixed Deposits FA+/Stable (Withdrawn)
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 Excel Industries Limited (EIL) to 'CRISIL A+/Stable' from 'CRISIL A/Stable' while short term rating reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1'. CRISIL has also withdrawn its rating on fixed deposits and has withdrawn bank loan facilities of Rs.25 crore. The withdrawal is in line with CRISIL's withdrawal policies.

The upgrade reflects the expected improvement in business risk profile led by significant increase in operating profitability and higher revenue growth, while maintaining a strong financial risk profile. The increasing price realisation from Diethyl Thiophosphoryl Chloride (DETC) has led to improvement in operating margins to about ~14% in fiscal 2018 and to 32% in H1-19 from 9%. The increase in DETC prices is driven by supply constraints in China following stringent pollution control measures in the country which has lead to rationalization of production capacities. While China could slowly resume production, the pace of decline in DETC prices will be moderate and given the high cost involved in relocation of capacities and installation of pollution infrastructure, it is expected that the prices will settle at a new normal which will be higher than those prevailing in earlier years.   Hence, though EIL's margins will moderate over the medium term, the cash flows from operations will continue to remain healthy.

CRISIL has also noted the risks associated with any ban on Chlorpyrifos, which uses DETC as key input. Chlorprifos forms a part of the 27 pesticides which are presently under review by Central Insecticides Board. CRISIL believes any decision to ban Chlorpyrifos will be implemented in a phased manner considering the wide usage of the chemical. EIL has also been diversifying into other product lines including pharma intermediates, polymer inputs and speciality chemicals. The Company is also focusing on new business development to introduce new products over the medium term and also is effectively servicing the DETC requirements of companies manufacturing profenofos.Any decline in DETC prices or any regulatory implication on Chlorpyrifos will be closely monitored.

EIL's strong financial risk profile is expected to sustain backed by increase in cash accrual and absence of any large, debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) over the medium term.

The ratings reflect EIL's strong business risk profile backed by its established market position in the DETC segment; presence in diversified end-user industries, customer segments, and geographies; and strong financial risk profile because of healthy networth and debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by high product concentration and exposure to risks in the agrochemical intermediates business.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has made adjustments to the investments and networth of EIL and combined the business and financial risk profiles of EIL and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Kamaljyot Investments Ltd and Excel Bio Resources Ltd.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in the DETC segment: EIL is one of the largest producers of DETC in India with a domestic market share of around 60% with clientele consisting of major agrochemical companies. Company is expected to further strengthen its position in the near to medium term considering the expected continuation of short supply from China and increase in capacity of DETC by EIL.

* Diversified revenue profile across end-user industries, customer segments, and geographies: Over the years, the Company has extended product portfolio by leveraging its process chemistry capabilities in other segments such as performance and speciality chemicals, polymer additives, and pharmaceutical inputs. Performance and speciality chemicals cater to diverse segments such as soaps and detergents, water treatment, Industrial and Institutional (I & I) cleaners and paints and coatings. The company has also entered the polymer additives and pharmaceutical inputs segments to diversify revenue and reduce dependence on agrochemical intermediates segment.

* Strong financial risk profile: Networth is healthy at Rs 334 crore as on March 31, 2018 due to healthy accretion of reserves. Absence of any large debt-funded capex and prudent working capital management will enable low reliance on bank funding. Hence capital structure and debt protection metrics will remain strong over the medium term.

Weakness
* High product concentration in revenue: DETC has a significant share in the overall revenue, which exposes the company to inherent risk associated with price volatility determined by the supply situation in China. It is likely that China will continue to be a key player in DETC and the Chinese situation will have a strong impact on the market prices of DETC which in turn will determine Excel's price realization for DETC. Also Chlorpyrifos, which is the key end molecule for DETC, is under review by the Central Board of Insecticides. Any adverse regulatory decision on Chlorpyrifos or significant decline in prices of DETC will have a material impact on EIL's performance.

* Exposure to risks inherent in the agrochemicals business: Revenue and profitability are susceptible to any unfavourable impact of amendments in government policies with respect to pollution control, product toxicity and regulatory policies / decisions or import and export of raw materials. The agrochemical revenue of agrochemical intermediates product group is dependent on the monsoon.  While diversification into other product lines segment provides some cushion, revenue and profitability will be linked to the above-mentioned risks as EIL derives a large part of its income from agrochemical intermediates.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes EIL's business risk profile will continue to benefit over the medium term from its diversified revenue profile, while financial risk profile will remain adequate due to steady growth in cash accrual over the medium term.

Upward scenario
* Significantly higher and sustained revenue growth, including through diversification into non-agrochemcal intermediates business, along with steady profitability.
* Sustenance of healthy financial risk profile and improvement in liquidity

Downward scenario
* Significant decline in business performance due to reduction in DETC prices or volumes
* Larger-than-expected, debt-funded capex or working capital affecting key credit metrics and liquidity

About the Company

Incorporated as a private limited company in 1960, EIL was reconstituted as a public limited company in 1971. Following the demerger of its crop protection business from its former associate, Excel Crop Care Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AA-/Watch Positive/CRISIL A1+'), in 2003, EIL began manufacturing chemical intermediaries used in agrochemicals, commodity polymers, engineering polymers, soaps and detergents, water-treatment chemicals, and biocides. As on June 30, 2018, the promoter group (Mr. Atul G. Shroff, Ami K. Shroff, Mr. Ashwin C Shroff, Mr. Kantisen C. Shroff, Mr Dilipsingh Bhatia, Mr Ravi A. Shroff, Mr. Hrishit A. Shroff, M/s Anshul Specialty Molecules, etc.) owned 52.38% (52.38% as on September 30, 2018) of total equity shares.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31   2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 599 460
Profit after tax Rs crore 74 63
PAT margin % 12.3 13.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 0.03 0.26
Interest coverage Times 18.31 4.25
 
Year to date*   H1-19 H1-18
Revenue Rs crore 398 252
Profit after tax Rs crore 82 19
PAT margin % 20.6 7.5
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 0.03 0.14
Interest coverage Times 109.04 12.04
*Standalone

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 Cash Credit* NA NA NA 65.0 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Channel Financing NA NA NA 5.0 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed bank
Guarantee
NA NA NA 3.5 CRISIL A1
NA Inland/Import
Letter of Credit
NA NA NA 45.0 CRISIL A1
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 1.0 CRISIL A1
NA Supplier Bill
Discounting
NA NA NA 10.0 CRISIL A1
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Dec-2021 20.0 Withdrawn
NA Short-Term Loan NA NA NA 20.0 CRISIL A1
NA Short-Term Loan NA NA NA 5.0 Withdrawn
NA Fixed Deposit NA NA NA 13.5 Withdrawn
* Interchangeable with export packing credit, foreign bills discounting, and inland bills discounting
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
Fixed Deposits  FD  13.50  Withdrawn  29-01-18  FA+/Stable  06-03-17  FA/Stable  02-03-16  FA/Stable  03-03-15  FA/Positive  FA/Stable 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  91.00  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1  29-01-18  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  06-03-17  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  02-03-16  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  03-03-15  CRISIL A-/Positive/ CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  58.50  CRISIL A1  29-01-18  CRISIL A1  06-03-17  CRISIL A2+  02-03-16  CRISIL A2+  03-03-15  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A2+ 
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
Cash Credit* 65 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit* 65 CRISIL A/Stable
Channel Financing 5 CRISIL A1 Channel Financing 5 CRISIL A1
Inland/Import Letter of Credit 45 CRISIL A1 Inland/Import Letter of Credit 45 CRISIL A1
Overdraft 1 CRISIL A1 Overdraft 1 CRISIL A1
Proposed Bank Guarantee 3.5 CRISIL A1 Proposed Bank Guarantee 3.5 CRISIL A1
Rupee Term Loan 20 Withdrawn Rupee Term Loan 20 CRISIL A/Stable
Short Term Loan 20 CRISIL A1 Short Term Loan 25 CRISIL A1
Short Term Loan 5 Withdrawn Supplier Bill Discounting 10 CRISIL A1
Supplier Bill Discounting 10 CRISIL A1 -- 0 --
Total 174.5 -- Total 174.5 --
*Interchangeable with export packing credit, foreign bills discounting, and inland bills discounting
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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