Rating Rationale
April 05, 2024 | Mumbai
Hatsun Agro Product Limited
Rating reaffirmed at 'CRISIL AA-/Stable'; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.2120 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.2105 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL AA-/Stable (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 rating on the long-term bank facilities of Hatsun Agro Product Limited (Hatsun) at CRISIL AA-/Stable.

 

The ratings on the bank facilities of Hatsun continue to reflect a leading market position in the dairy sector supported by strong brand, particularly in South India, healthy operating efficiency backed by established procurement and distribution networks and a diversified product portfolio. The ratings also consider a strong financial risk profile with comfortable capital structure and robust debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset exposure to risks related to entry into new geographies and susceptibility to changes in environmental conditions which could impact availability of milk.

 

Furthermore, the geographical diversification strategy of the management would result in a steady increase in contribution from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra among others. This, coupled with a healthy share from VAP (Value added product) segment aids a strong business profile. Moreover, a longstanding presence in the market aids seamless procurement even during difficult cycles. Hatsun also benefits from its well-established distribution model with over 3700 outlets that follow the B2C (Business to consumer) model. This ensures the sustenance of healthy profitability levels and low dependence on third party for distribution. 

 

A strong business performance also aids a sustained improvement in financial profile. The TOLTNW (total outside liabilities to adj tangible net worth) is estimated at 1.55 times as on March 31, 2024; the ratio was 2.23 times as on March 31, 2022. The interest coverage ratio would remain at over 5 times over the medium term. Any large debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) would remain a key monitorable.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established market position supported by strong brand, particularly in South India: Hatsun is the largest private sector dairy company in India, with a portfolio of established brands, superior brand equity, well-spread distribution and procurement networks, and an aggressive marketing strategy.  Over the last 5 years the company has been diversifying geographically with revenues from Tamil Nadu reducing to around 55 percent in 9 months of fiscal 2024 from around 67 percent 5 years earlier. Product diversification is marked by revenues from VAP at around 43 percent in 9 months of fiscal 2024 as against around 30 percent in fiscal 2016. Strong market position in the milk segment is cemented by widespread presence in South India, with majority of the processing units located across Tamil Nadu. HAP’s established market position is reflected in its turnover of around Rs. 5600.06 – 7275.66 crore over the last 3 fiscals ended March 2023 and the revenues are estimated to be over Rs.8000 crore for fiscal 2024.

 

  • Healthy operating efficiency backed by established procurement and distribution network: Hatsun owns over 9896 milk banks covering around 10,000 villages, with chilling and dairy units across its key operating markets. This enables it to reach out to over 4 lakh farmers. Further the company has an established network of through its network of around 3700+ own distribution outlets.

 

  • Strong financial risk profile: Hatsun’s financial risk profile has been at a healthy level supported by networth of Rs. 1503 crores estimated as on March 31, 2024 while gearing and total outside liabilities to adj tangible net worth (TOL/ANW) ratios are expected at 0.98 and 1.55 times respectively as on March 31, 2024. Debt protection measures have also been at a comfortable level supported by healthy profitability. The interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) ratio estimated at more than 5 times and 0.33 times respectively for fiscal 2024.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Exposure to risks related to entry into new geographies: Hatsun plans to further widen its procurement network to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra; apart from penetrating further into Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Since capital investment is planned across divisions, marketing costs and other manufacturing overheads could be high. Further, intense competition from established players operating in newer geographies may continue to constrain scalability, pricing power, and profitability.

 

  • Susceptibility to changes in environmental conditions: Prices of key products, milk and skimmed milk powder, have fluctuated in the past, owing to droughts and supply constraints. Susceptibility to failure in milk production because of external factors such as cattle diseases also impact the business. Also, higher rainfalls in the last quarter in Tamil Nadu and other southern states dented the ice cream sales, leading to lower margins for the company.

Liquidity: Strong

Bank limit utilization is low at around 32 percent for the past twelve months ended January 2024.  Cash accruals are expected to be over Rs 490 - 600 crore which are sufficient against term debt obligation of around Rs 300 crore over the medium term. Additionally, it will act as a cushion for liquidity for the company. The current ratio are low at 0.64 times on March 31, 2023.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes Hatsun’s business risk profile shall continue to remain strong while financial risk profile will continue to witness sustainable improvement.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained improvement in topline and operating profitability with improved diversification
  • Improvement in financial risk profile particularly TOLTNW at less than 1.4 times.

 

Downward factors:

  • Decline in revenues or profitability, resulting in cash accruals of less than Rs 300 crore
  • Higher than expected debt funded capital expenditure resulting in deterioration in TOLTNW to more than 2 times.

About the Company

Hatsun was incorporated by Mr R G Chandramogan in 1986. The Chennai-based company processes over 40 lakh litres of milk and milk products daily, with strong market presence in Tamil Nadu. It has 20 processing facilities across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana and Maharashtra. Popular brands include Arokya milk; Arun ice creams; Hatsun curd, ghee, and butter; and an ice-cream chain under the Ibaco brand and Santosa Cattle Feed. The company has also entered into the ready-to-eat category, with a pizza chain under the Oyalo brand which is discontinued as on March 31, 2022. Hatsun is listed on the National Stock Exchange and BSE Ltd.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

7,275.66

6,402.93

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

159.47

193.05

PAT margins

%

2.28

3.40

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth

Times

1.01

1.56

Interest coverage

Times

5.58

6.79

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 the instrument Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs.Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 170 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Jun-2027 1305.09 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 644.91 NA CRISIL AA-/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 2120.0 CRISIL AA-/Stable 01-04-24 CRISIL AA-/Stable 08-11-23 CRISIL A1+ / CRISIL AA-/Stable 01-03-22 CRISIL A1+ / CRISIL AA-/Stable 30-09-21 CRISIL A+/Positive / CRISIL A1 CRISIL A+/Stable / CRISIL A1
      --   -- 03-07-23 CRISIL A1+ / CRISIL AA-/Stable 15-02-22 CRISIL A1+ / CRISIL AA-/Stable 27-08-21 CRISIL A+/Positive / CRISIL A1 --
      --   -- 17-01-23 CRISIL AA-/Stable   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 50 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Cash Credit 120 State Bank of India CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 55 Union Bank of India CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 154.68 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 37.51 Shinhan Bank CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 37.51 Mizuho Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 100 The South Indian Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 101.7 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 70 State Bank of India CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 53.9 Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait B.S.C. CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 166.67 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 112 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 163.13 IndusInd Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 29.99 Central Bank Of India CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 223 The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 15 Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 75 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 180 State Bank of India CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 50 IndusInd Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 40 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 50 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 134.91 Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 100 The South Indian Bank Limited CRISIL AA-/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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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