Rating Rationale
November 04, 2020 | Mumbai
Hindustan Unilever Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1000 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AAA/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL).
 
Operating revenue grew by 10% in first half of fiscal 2021 impacted by the pandemic. However, the operating margin moderated 40 basis points to 25.4% during the same period. Merger with GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd (GSKCH), effective from April 1st 2020, will strengthen company's business profile. GSKCH business is expected to generate Rs 4500-5500 crore in fiscal 2021.
 
HUL is the largest FMCG companies in India with strong brands across categories and price points. The brands have high visibility and have sustained their market leadership, backed by an extensive distribution network and strong advertising and marketing support.
 
CRISIL believes HUL will sustain healthy business and financial risk profiles because of its focused effort on brand strengthening, increased advertising, and focus on building premium offerings. The business risk profile will also be backed by strong distribution network and healthy product mix with supply chain efficiencies. CRISIL believes HUL will sustain its healthy operating profitability despite the lower operating leverage due to lockdown, which remains a monitorable.
 
The rating continues to reflect the company's market leadership across segments in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, strong brands, robust financial risk profile, and high operating efficiency. These strengths are partially offset by intensifying competition in the FMCG industry.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of HUL and its subsidiaries.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Leading market position across categories in the FMCG industry: HUL is the largest FMCG company in India. Four of its brands generate annual turnover of over Rs 2,000 crore each and eight brands generate annual turnover of over Rs 1,000 crore each. The company's brands hold the top two spots in most categories that it has presence in, in terms of market share. Its product portfolio includes home care and personal care products, foods, and refreshments. HUL's brands have high visibility and have sustained their leadership over decades, backed by an extensive distribution network and strong advertising and marketing support. HUL has been leveraging its distribution strengths to adapt its channel strategy for its products and market segments.
 
GSKCH merger will enhance HUL's product portfolio in foods and refreshments, and will increase revenue diversity.
 
* Robust financial risk profile: On a consolidated basis, the financial risk profile is supported by strong operating cash accrual of Rs 1492 crore in fiscal 2020 and low gearing of nil as on March 31, 2020. The company has ample liquidity, indicated by cash and bank balance & Investments of ~Rs 6772 crore as on March 31, 2020. The company also has considerable financial flexibility because of negligible debt and largely unutilised bank lines as well as healthy market cap of Rs 4.85 lakh crore as on November 3 2020. It has an aggressive dividend payout policy. In the three fiscals through 2020, it paid dividend of 80% or more of its profit after tax (80% in fiscal 2020). However, the company has funded capital expenditure and debt obligation through internal accrual.
 
* Healthy operating efficiency: HUL has high operating efficiency because of its strong distribution network, geographically diversified production facilities, and strong linkages with the parent, Unilever Plc (Unilever; rated 'A+/Stable/A-1' by S&P Global Ratings). Due to a good mix of owned factories and outsourced production facilities across the country, HUL saves significantly on freight cost. The supply chain has been strengthened by cost saving, and inventory management using artificial intelligence and other digital initiatives. The company has hand-held-based selling systems across distributors.
 
Weakness
* Susceptibility to intense competition: The Indian FMCG industry has both organised and unorganised players across segments and products. HUL continues to face stiff competition, with the entry of new players, including multinationals, in segments such as soaps and detergents, personal care products, and packaged foods.
Liquidity Superior

Net operating cash accrual was healthy at Rs 1492 crore in fiscal 2020, and annual accruals are expected to remain healthy over Rs 1100 crore, against no debt obligation. Bank limits remain unutilised and the company had liquid funds of Rs 6772 crore in mutual funds, bank deposits, bonds, and debentures as on March 31, 2020.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes HUL will maintain its strong financial risk profile and its leading position in the domestic FMCG industry over the medium term. The company's cash flow is sufficient to fund capital expenditure requirement.

Rating Sensitive factors
Downward factors
* Significant erosion in HUL's market share by 10% in key product segments, and decline in operating margin to below 15%
* Any large, debt-funded capex/acquisition

About the Company

HUL is among India's largest FMCG companies with a diverse product portfolio including soaps and detergents, personal care products, and food and beverages. The company has 31 owned factories and many outsourced production facilities across the country.
 
In the 1990s, HUL opted for growth through acquisitions. In 1998, group company Pond's India Ltd was merged with HUL. The company also acquired the Lakme brand, its factories, and Lakme Ltd's 50% stake in Lakme Lever Ltd in 2008. In April 2016, HUL acquired Kerala-based hair oil brand, Indulekha, for Rs 330 crore. Indulekha has a strong presence in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
 
On September 26, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of the brand 'Adityaa Milk' and its front-end distribution network from Vijaykant Dairy and Food Products Limited. The deal comprised the acquisition of the brand 'Adityaa Milk', customer relationship, technical know-how, Property, Plant and Equipment, working capital and other intangible assets for a total consideration of Rs. 65 crores and a deferred consideration of Rs. 18 crores. Adityaa Milk brings in distribution and portfolio synergies to Kwality Wall's across Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.
 
In December 2018, HUL announced the merger of GSKCH with itself. The domestic transaction is valued at Rs 31,700 crore (EUR 396 crore). While GSKCH's Boost, Viva, and Maltova brands are being acquired by HUL, the Horlicks brand will be acquired by Unilever. The transaction, which is expected to be completed in one year, subject to regulatory approvals, is an all-equity merger with 4.39 shares of HUL being allotted for every share in GSKCH.
 
Effective April 1st 2020, HUL completed the merger with GSKCH acquiring brands such as Horlicks and Boost and strengthening its position in consumer healthcare nutrition segment in India.
 
On June 26th 2020, company also announced that it has completed the acquisition of VWash, market leader in female intimate hygiene category from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. Company didn't disclose the value of the transaction.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 2020 2019
Operating Income Rs crore 39783 39310
Adjusted profit after tax Rs crore 6756 6060
PAT margin % 17.0 15.4
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.00 0.01
Adj. Interest coverage Times 89.31 284.33

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity Date Issue size (Rs Crore) Complexity Level Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 1000 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Subsidiary Companies Extent of consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Unilever India Exports Limited 100% Subsidiary
Pond's Exports Limited 90% Subsidiary
Lakme Lever Private Limited 100% Subsidiary
Unilever Nepal Limited 80% Subsidiary
Daverashola Estates Private Limited 100% Subsidiary
Jamnagar Properties Private Limited 100% Subsidiary
Levers Associated Trust Limited 100% Subsidiary
Levindra Trust Limited 100% Subsidiary
Hindlever Trust Limited 100% Subsidiary
Hindustan Unilever Foundation 76% Subsidiary
Bhavishya Alliance Child Nutrition Initiatives 100% Subsidiary
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1000.00  CRISIL AAA/Stable      26-08-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  05-12-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  31-03-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
                14-05-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable       
                27-04-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable       
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
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 1000 CRISIL AAA/Stable Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 527 CRISIL AAA/Stable
-- 0 -- Working Capital Demand Loan 473 CRISIL AAA/Stable
Total 1000 -- Total 1000 --
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 Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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