Rating Rationale
July 20, 2020 | Mumbai
IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.1032 Crore (Reduced from Rs.1682 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities of IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited (IPM). CRISIL has withdrawn its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Rs 650 crore, following a request from the company and no dues certificate from the bank. The withdrawal is in line with CRISIL's policy on withdrawal of bank loan ratings.
 
Effective December 2019, IPM has changed it reporting period to calendar year (CY) ending December. Therefore, results for the period ended December 2019, will be reported for nine months i.e. from April to December 2019. Thereafter, the company will report financial numbers for each CY ending December.
 
The hike in the National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) on cigarettes, announced in the Union Budget in February 2020, is estimated to marginally increase the tax incidence. Thereafter, to stem the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of India imposed a nation-wide lockdown on March 25, 2020, which led to a disruption of operations in March 2020, and a complete washout of sales in April 2020. Though cigarette volume and revenue have recovered in June, post easing of lockdown restrictions, however such disruptions arising from the duty hike followed by the pandemic will result in a decline in overall industry volume during CY 2020. Therefore, revenue and operating profit are expected to remain subdued for CY 2020.
 
The ratings continue to centrally factor in the strong business and financial support IPM expects from the ultimate parent, Philip Morris International Inc (PMI; rated 'A/Stable/A1' by S&P Global Ratings). The ratings also reflect healthy volume growth of the Marlboro brand, and improvement in operating performance. These strengths are partially offset by a weak financial risk profile and susceptibility to regulatory changes.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has applied its parent notch-up criteria to factor in support from the ultimate parent, PMI.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Strong business and financial support from PMI:
The strong business, financial, and operational linkages with the parent, PMI should continue to support IPM's credit risk profile. IPM holds the licence to PMI's flagship brand, Marlboro, and other known international brands, for the Indian market. The parent has strong control over the company's product and sales strategy with integrated systems and processes. In addition, it exercises control over the board of directors and oversees the daily operations. The parent's stake in IPM is held through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Philip Morris Brand Sarl of Switzerland. The indirect subsidiary has provided a letter of indemnity to IPM's bankers for the facilities provided by them.
 
* Healthy volume growth of the Marlboro brand, leading to gain in market share
Marlboro's market share rose to around 2% in CY 2019, from 1.1% in CY 2015, driven by strong growth in volume during this period. Products such as Marlboro Gold Advance and Fuse Beyond have witnessed healthy year-on-year volume growth in CY 2019. Marlboro is likely to maintain a healthy market position in India over the medium term.
 
* Improving operating performance
OPBDIT (operating profit before depreciation, interest, and tax) margin was 26.2% and 22.7% in fiscals 2019 and 2018, respectively, compared with nominal loss in fiscal 2016, and is estimated to be healthy in CY 2019 as well. The improvement in performance was driven by higher realisations, strong growth in volume and sales, and cost rationalisation measures. Barring the temporary impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on operating performance and margin in CY 2020, IPM's improving market position, along with timely price hikes, should ensure healthy profit over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses:
* Weak financial risk profile
Large accumulated losses led to negative networth of Rs 660 crore as on March 31, 2019. These losses have been funded via borrowings over the years, with debt balance at Rs 464 crore as on December 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics, however, remain moderate; interest coverage ratio was 3.20 times in fiscal 2019, and is estimated over 4 times in CY19, compared with 0.64 time in fiscal 2017. Higher net cash accrual helped reduce debt to Rs 464 crore as on December 31, 2019, from Rs 607 crore as on March 31, 2019. Improving cash generation is expected to reduce debt further, but networth should remain negative over the medium term.
 
* Susceptibility to regulatory changes:
Government policies and regulations impact all market participants in the domestic cigarette industry, including IPM. There have been successive increases in tax rates, latest being the hike in NCCD in February 2020, and the industry is thus, one of the largest tax payers in India. Also, government regulations with respect to the promotion, distribution, and consumption of cigarettes, tend to have a negative impact on sales growth.
Liquidity Superior

The company had liquidity of around Rs 607 crore as of March 2020, in form of unutilised bank lines. Liquidity is aided by the letter of indemnity provided by PMI, which enables the company to have significant cushion in its bank limit. Utilisation of fund-based limit of Rs 1,032 crore, averaged 48% in the 12 months through March 2020. Furthermore, in the absence of any long-term debt or significant capital expenditure, net cash accrual'although temporarily subdued in CY 2020'should suffice to cover the incremental working capital expenses.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes IPM will continue to benefit from its association with its ultimate parent, PMI, and maintain a healthy business risk profile, backed by its licence for sale of the Marlboro brand in India.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors:
* Increase in effective ownership stake of PMI to over 75%
* Significant rise in market share and higher realisation per cigarette stick, leading to sustained improvement in operating margin
 
Downward factors:
* Downgrade in S&P Global's ratings on PMI by one notch
* Sizeable drop in volume on account of a price hike or enhanced competition
About the Company

IPM, incorporated in 2009, is a joint venture between Philip Morris Brands Sarl (a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of PMI) and two Indian partners, Godfrey Phillips India Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+') and KK Modi Investment and Financial Services Pvt Ltd. Philip Morris Brands Sarl holds 50.1% stake in IPM, whereas the other two partners hold 24.8% and 25.1%, respectively. IPM holds the licence for the flagship brand of PMI, Marlboro, for the Indian market. The company is a wholesale trader of Marlboro cigarettes in India. IPM has an arrangement with Godfrey Philips India Ltd, which manufactures the cigarettes on its behalf.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Units 31-Mar-19 31-Mar-18
Operating Revenue Rs crore 661 732
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 93 98
PAT margin % 14.1 13.4
Adjusted debt / adjusted networth times -0.92 -1.09
Interest coverage times 3.20 2.51

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. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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 instruments Date of allotment Coupon
rate (%)
Maturity date Issue size (Rs crore) Complexity level Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Overdraft* NA NA NA 152 NA CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Short Term Loan NA NA NA 880 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 456 NA Withdrawn
NA Overdraft* NA NA NA 194 NA Withdrawn
*Interchangeable with short-term loan
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  1032.00  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+      25-10-19  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  30-07-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+    --  -- 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Name of Lender Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Overdraft Facility* Deutsche Bank 194 Withdrawn
Overdraft Facility* Deutsche Bank 152 CRISIL AA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility Not Applicable 456 Withdrawn
Short Term Loan Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank 300 CRISIL A1+
Short Term Loan Mizuho Bank Limited 280 CRISIL A1+
Short Term Loan Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation 300 CRISIL A1+
*Interchangeable with short-term loan
This Annexure has been updated on 26-Sep-2021 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 02-Aug-2021 received from the rated entity.
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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