Rating Rationale
August 05, 2024 | Mumbai
Godfrey Phillips India Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.167 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.100 Crore Commercial PaperCRISIL A1+ (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 AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of Godfrey Phillips India Ltd (GPIL).

 

Operating income grew by around 23% to Rs. 4,395 crores in fiscal 2024 from Rs. 3,564 crores in fiscal 2023, driven by healthy growth in cigarettes segment and sale of unmanufactured tobacco.  Operating profitability, however, moderated to 20% in fiscal 2024 as against 23.1% in the previous fiscal mainly due to an increase in tobacco prices, increase in share of unmanufactured tobacco and marketing expenses. Revenue growth is expected to remain healthy over the medium term while the operating margin remains steady at over 20%.

 

The financial risk profile is expected to remain strong due to nil repayment obligation, healthy debt protection metrics and superior liquidity; cash surplus was over Rs 2300 crore as on March 31, 2024.

 

CRISIL Ratings has taken note of the ongoing dispute among members of the K.K. Modi family. The matter has not impacted the business operations of GPIL as per the management articulation. CRISIL Ratings will continue to monitor the developments and any impact on business operations and liquidity will be key monitorable.

 

The ratings continue to reflect healthy market position of GPIL in the Indian cigarette industry and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to geographical concentration in revenue, intense competition, and unfavorable regulatory changes.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has considered the standalone financial and business risk profiles of GPIL because operations of wholly-owned subsidiaries—International Tobacco Company Ltd, Godfrey Phillips Middle East DMCC (Under closure) and investment companies—do not have any material bearing on its financials.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Healthy market position: Business risk profile continue to remain strong as indicated by healthy market position in cigarette business in India as indicated by market share of ~14%. GPIL has been in the cigarette business in India for over eight decades. Its portfolio comprises established cigarette brands such as Four Square, Red & White, Stellar, and Cavenders; the company also manufactures and distributes the Marlboro brand of cigarettes, which enjoy strong customer loyalty and has been a significant revenue driver. The company has also signed a product supply agreement with Ferrero India Private Limited for distribution/re-sale of the sweet-packaged food products. The strong distribution network helps promote other products such as cigarettes, unmanufactured tobacco, and confectionery.

 

  • Strong financial risk profile: The financial risk profile should remain supported by the absence of any repayment obligation over the medium term. Gearing was low at 0.01 time as on March 31, 2024. Debt protection metrics were robust, with interest coverage ratio more than 526 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of ~17 times for fiscal 2024. Liquidity has been superior, with surplus of over Rs 2,300 crore as on March 31, 2024.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Exposure to geographical concentration in revenue and intense competition: Operations are concentrated in northern and western India, which contribute to more than 90% of its cigarette sales. Further, GPIL is a distant second in the Indian tobacco industry, accounting for around ~14% of volume share, and faces intense competition from the dominant player -- ITC Ltd (‘CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+’).

 

  • Susceptibility to regulatory changes: The cigarette industry continues to be highly vulnerable to changes in government policies and regulations. On one hand, the industry faces a high tax structure, while on the other, there are limitations on promotion, consumption, and packaging of cigarettes, constraining growth.

Liquidity: Superior

In the absence of any repayment obligation, the entire cash accrual -- projected at Rs 600-650 crore per annum for fiscals 2025 and 2026 – will be used to meet the capital expenditure (capex) and working capital requirements. Cash and cash equivalents were strong at over Rs 2,300 crore as on March 31, 2024. Utilisation of the fund-based bank limit was negligible during the 12 months through July 2024.

 

ESG profile

CRISIL Ratings believes the environment, social and governance (ESG) profile of GPIL supports its already strong credit risk profile.

 

The tobacco sector has a high environmental impact because of its raw material sourcing strategies and waste-intensive processes. It also has a high social impact owing to health hazards associated with the use of tobacco, including smoking addiction and underage consumption, as well as risk of government intervention by way of restriction on sales, regulation of marketing practices and higher tax.

 

The company’s strong focus on addressing some of these ESG risks supports its already strong credit risk profile.

 

Key ESG highlights:

 

  • GPIL aims for 30% reduction in GHG emissions in manufacturing operations by 2030.
  • GPIL aim to have 50% of Total Energy from Renewable Sources by 2030.
  • GPIL aims to Replenish 30% of water consumed by 2030.
  • GPIL aims to ensure 100% of GPIL contracted burley tobacco farmers have access to clean drinking water in close vicinity by 2030.
  • Its governance structure is characterised by more than 60% of its Board comprising independent directors, presence of non-executive chairman and extensive disclosures.

 

There is growing importance of ESG among investors and lenders. CRISIL Ratings believes the company’s continuous commitment to embedding sustainability principles across the organization and its value chain will partly offset the inherent impact of the tobacco sector on environment and social aspects.

Outlook: Stable

GPIL will continue to benefit from its healthy market position and strong financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Substantial and sustained increase in market share to over 25%
  • Significant and sustained improvement in the operating margin

 

Downward factors

  • Weakening of operating performance with operating margin falling below 10%
  • Substantial decline in market share to less than 8%
  • Large, debt-funded capex or considerable decline in cash and liquid investments
  • Any adverse regulatory change in the cigarette industry

About the Company

GPIL is an associate of the KK Modi group of companies and Philip Morris Global Brands Inc (Philip Morris; a subsidiary of Altria Group Inc [rated ‘BBB/Stable/A-2’ by S&P Global Ratings]). The KK Modi group owns 47.48% equity shares of the company, and Philip Morris owns 25.1%. GPIL primarily manufactures cigarettes. It has diversified into segments such as confectionary, and retail. It has retail stores, named 24SEVEN (TFS), in the National Capital Region, Hyderabad and Chandigarh from which it has announced to exit in May 2024.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the year ended March 31

Units

2024*

2023

Operating income

Rs crore

4395

3564

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

881

608

PAT margin

%

20.1

17.1

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.01

0.01

Interest coverage^

Times

526.10

243

*Provisional

^net of lease liabilities

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 Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 100 Simple CRISIL A1+
NA Cash Credit* NA NA NA 29 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Cash Credit$ NA NA NA 10 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Cash Credit# NA NA NA 31 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 77 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee% NA NA NA 3 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Bank Guarantee%@ NA NA NA 17 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable

*Fund-based facility; interchangeable with other fund-based facilities

$Interchangeable with other fund-based/non-fund-based facilities

#Fund-based facility; interchangeable with other fund-based and 50% one way interchangeable with non-fund-based facilities

%Interchangeable with other non-fund-based facilities

@Interchangeable with letter of credit

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 147.0 CRISIL AA+/Stable   -- 25-08-23 CRISIL AA+/Stable 30-08-22 CRISIL AA+/Stable 20-09-21 CRISIL AA+/Stable CRISIL AA+/Stable / CRISIL A1+
Non-Fund Based Facilities LT/ST 20.0 CRISIL AA+/Stable / CRISIL A1+   -- 25-08-23 CRISIL AA+/Stable / CRISIL A1+ 30-08-22 CRISIL AA+/Stable / CRISIL A1+ 20-09-21 CRISIL AA+/Stable / CRISIL A1+ CRISIL AA+/Stable / CRISIL A1+
Commercial Paper ST 100.0 CRISIL A1+   -- 25-08-23 CRISIL A1+ 30-08-22 CRISIL A1+ 20-09-21 CRISIL A1+ CRISIL A1+
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee& 7 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Bank Guarantee& 10 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit% 10 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit$ 10 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit$ 19 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Cash Credit@ 31 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee! 3 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 77 CRISIL AA+/Stable
& - Interchangeable with other non-fund-based facilities, Interchangeable with letter of credit
% - Interchangeable with other fund-based/non-fund-based facilities
$ - Fund-based facility; interchangeable with other fund-based facilities
@ - Fund-based facility; interchangeable with other fund-based and 50% one way interchangeable with non-fund-based facilities
! - Interchangeable with other non-fund-based facilities
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 Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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