Rating Rationale
March 13, 2024 | Mumbai
Heranba Industries Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; Ratings Reaffirmed; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.265.5 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.230.5 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Positive'; Rating Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL 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 revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Heranba Industries Limited (HIL; part of Heranba group) to Stable’ from 'Positive' while reaffirming the rating at ‘CRISIL A’. The rating on the short-term bank facilities has been reaffirmed at ‘CRISIL A1.

 

The change in outlook reflects the moderation in the business risk profile of the group and slower than expected recovery over the medium term. The group’s scale of operations has been flattish (Rs ~1000 crores for 9MFY24) and operating margin has moderated (5.4% for 9MFY24) owing to continued macro-economic headwinds in the agrochemical’s segments.

 

The business risk profile continues to remain supported by the diversified revenue in terms of products, end-user industries and geographic presence. The group has adequate operating efficiency due to the integrated nature of operations. The group’s branded domestic formulation segment has supported the revenue profile of the group while the technical and export segment has remained sluggish. With prices bottoming out, operating margin is expected to improve and will remain key monitorable.

 

The financial risk profile remains strong despite capex plans which are funded through available cash and internal accruals.

 

The rating continues to reflect the established presence of the Group in the agrochemicals market and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirement and exposure to risks inherent in the agrochemicals industry.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL Ratings has combined the business and financial risk profiles of HIL; its subsidiaries- Mikusu India Private Limited (MIPL) and Heranba Organics Pivate Limited (HOPL).

 

Please refer Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established track record in the agrochemicals industry: Heranba group is one of the leading players in the agrochemicals industry and has diversified product mix comprising of Technicals, Formulations and Intermediates. The group has more than 350 products across Technicals, Intermediates and Formulations’ business which are commercialized till date. The Group has around 45% of the revenue generated from Exports in fiscal 2023 which has reduced to 37% for 9M FY2024. This is majorly because of the decline in demand in the international market. The Group exports to over 60+ countries across Asia, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, etc. Also, the Group has a dealership network comprising of 9400+ dealers and about 21+ depots pan India which support its domestic revenue growth. For fiscal 2024 Group has achieved revenue of Rs 1000 crore for 9 months ended December 2023. While group’s operating performance was impacted in Q1 fiscal 2024 due to muted demand it is expected to gradually improve and will remain key monitorable.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: The networth of the Group is healthy at over Rs. 826 crores as on September 30, 2023. Gearing & total outside liabilities to adjusted net worth (TOLANW) low at 0.11 times & 0.42 times respectively as on March 31, 2023. Debt protection metrics are comfortable, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios at over 22 times and almost 1.3 times, respectively for fiscal 2023. The Group continues to have no long-term debt liabilities as on September 30, 2023. Group financial risk profile is expected to improve over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Large working capital requirement: Gross current assets (GCA) were at 231 days as on March 31, 2023, driven by large receivables and moderate inventory. Debtors and inventory were at 107 days and 96 days respectively as on March 31,2023. GCA days are expected to be in the same range over the medium term.

 

  • Exposure to risks inherent in the domestic agrochemicals market: The demand for agrochemicals is driven by agricultural production, which depends on monsoon. A substantial area under cultivation in India is still not well irrigated and depends on the monsoon for water requirement. Surplus or inadequate rainfall could affect the domestic revenue and profitability of HIL. Furthermore, the agrochemicals industry is regulated by specific and separate registration processes in different countries. Changes in the export and import policy of these countries will affect Indian agrochemical exporters.

Liquidity: Strong

Liquidity is Strong marked by Net cash accruals of Rs 119 crores against nil repayment obligations for fiscal 2023. Going forward net cash accruals are expected to be over Rs 65 crores against no repayment obligations. Bank Limit Utilization is 64.3% utilized for the last 14 months ending December 2023. Group has cash and cash equivalent of Rs 45 crores as on September 30,2023 which is expected to reduce as Group is utilizing the available fund for capex.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes HIL will continue to benefit from its pan-India presence, established market position, and robust financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Growth in revenue and improvement in operating margins lead to accruals over Rs 150 crores on sustained basis.
  • Improvement in working capital cycle with debtors’ collection and inventory rationalization.

 

Downward factors

  • Decline in revenue by over 25% or further dip in operating margin resulting in lower-than-expected accruals.
  • Increase in working capital requirement, larger-than-expected, debt-funded capex or acquisition, or more-than-expected dividend pay-out, weakening the financial risk profile, particularly liquidity.

About the Group

HIL was incorporated in 1992, and taken over by current promoters, Mr Sadashiv K Shetty and Mr Raghuram K Shetty, in 1994. It manufactures formulations and active ingredients for insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides at its three units in Vapi, Gujarat. The company made an IPO and got listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in March 2021.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit 

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs.Crore

1454

1219

Reported profit after tax

Rs.Crore

189

153

PAT margins

%

13

12.5

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth

Times

0.13

0.11

Interest coverage

Times

68.49

42.31

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

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

99.75

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Packing credit

NA

NA

NA

70

NA

CRISIL A/Stable

NA

Bill Discounting

NA

NA

NA

40

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Letter of Credit & Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

40.5

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Foreign Exchange Forward

NA

NA

NA

5.25

NA

CRISIL A1

NA

Letter of credit

NA

NA

NA

10

NA

CRISIL A1

Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated

Extent of Consolidation

Rationale for Consolidation

Mikusu India Private Limited

Full

same business and managed by common promoters

Heranba Organics Pivate Limited

Full

same business and managed by common promoters

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 ST/LT 215.0 CRISIL A1 / CRISIL A/Stable   -- 09-02-23 CRISIL A/Positive / CRISIL A1 30-06-22 CRISIL A/Positive / CRISIL A1 27-04-21 CRISIL A1 / CRISIL A/Stable CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable
      --   --   --   --   -- CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 50.5 CRISIL A1   -- 09-02-23 CRISIL A1 30-06-22 CRISIL A1 27-04-21 CRISIL A1 CRISIL A2+
      --   --   --   --   -- CRISIL A2+
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bill Discounting 30 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A1
Bill Discounting 10 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 74.75 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A/Stable
Cash Credit 25 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Foreign Exchange Forward 5.25 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A1
Letter of Credit 10 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A1
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 10 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A1
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 30.5 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A1
Packing Credit 15 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A/Stable
Packing Credit 20 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A/Stable
Packing Credit 35 CTBC Bank Co 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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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