Rating Rationale
July 30, 2020 | Mumbai
PI Industries Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL AA+/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.700 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.500 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL AA/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long term bank facilities of PI Industries Limited (PI; part of the PI group) to 'CRISIL AA+/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA/Positive'. The rating on the short term bank facilities has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.
 
The rating upgrade reflects the  sustained improvement in PI's business risk profile backed by product and geographic diversity, especially in the custom synthesis and contract manufacturing (CSM) business, which accounted for ~70% of revenues in fiscal 2020. With a solid product line up, supportive policy environment, and normal monsoon, the domestic business (30% of revenues) is also expected to improve over the medium term. The recent acquisition of Isagro (Asia) Agrochemicals Private Limited (IAPL), with its complementary product portfolio and distribution channel, should further benefit PI's domestic business.
 
A strong order book of USD 1.5 billion (around Rs 11,000 crore) in the CSM segment from the existing product basket, improving contributions from recent new launches in the domestic market, and new molecule additions in both business segments, supports revenue visibility. Besides, agrochemical demand is expected to remain healthy in the domestic and European markets, overall leading to revenue growth of ~18-20% for PI over the medium term. The improving scale of operations and stronger product portfolio, along with healthy operating efficiencies, should translate into sustenance of operating margins of at least 20%, and lead to annual cash accruals of Rs 850-950 crore over the medium term.
 
The rating upgrade also factors in the strengthening of PI's already comfortable financial risk profile and liquidity, following the Rs 2000 crore equity infusion through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) route in July 2020. While PI's medium term organic and inorganic plans remain aggressive, its healthy annual cash generating ability and strong liquidity position is expected to obviate any pressure on the balance sheet, leading to continued strong credit metrics. That said, any material and very large debt funded acquisition will remain a monitorable.
 
 The ratings continue to reflect PI's growing presence in the CSM business supported by strong tie-ups with global innovators and established position in the domestic agrochemicals market supported by in-licensing business. The ratings also factor the group's healthy and improving financial risk profile and strong liquidity position. These rating strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and susceptibility to risks inherent in the agrochemicals sector.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of PI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, PILL Finance & Investments Ltd (PFIL), PI Life Science Research Ltd (PLSRL),  PI Japan Co Ltd (PJCL) and IAPL. That's because all these companies, together referred to as the PI group, have the same promoters, and business and financial linkages. PFIL handles the investment activities of PI, while PLSRL handles its contract research and development activities. PJCL is the group's marketing arm in Japan.
 
Goodwill of ~Rs. 80 crore generated on account of acquisition of IAPL has been amortised over a period of 5 years.

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
* Growing presence in CSM exports: The CSM export segment is marked by a significantly de-risked business model, which provides healthy revenue visibility and stable profitability. The PI group is one of the pioneers of CSM in the agrochemical space in India. The group, which has been engaged in this business for over a decade, has built a strong reputation, based on its sound research capabilities. Its clientele includes some of the largest agrochemical innovator companies in the world. The group has invested significantly in enhancing manufacturing capacities over the past five fiscals and has commercialised 37 molecules up to fiscal 2020.
 
CSM business's revenues registered a healthy CAGR of around 30% between fiscals 2012 and 2020 on the back of regular launches of new products, and not withstanding tepid demand for agrochemicals in the European market in fiscals 2019 and 2020. Going forward, the CSM business is expected to grow at around 20-25% backed by current healthy order book position of ~USD 1.5 billion; thus providing revenue visibility for the next 2-3 years.

* Established position in the domestic agrochemical business with healthy in-licensing and co-marketing (ILCM) product pipeline: A presence of over five decades in the domestic agricultural inputs business, a healthy product mix, leadership in several generic product segments, and increasing number of launches through the ILCM route have helped the group establish itself as one of the top 10 players in this space.
 
Apart from fiscal 2020, where delayed monsoon and erratic rainfall during the year impacted sales, domestic business has witnessed steady growth over the last 5-6 fiscals led by introduction of new molecules and increased market penetration. With a solid product line up, supportive policy environment, and normal monsoon, the domestic business is expected to register healthy revenue growth over the medium term.
 
* Healthy and improving financial risk profile, and strong liquidity: Financial risk profile is healthy, marked by strong networth and comfortable gearing. The recent QIP issue has further solidified the company's financial risk profile, besides bolstering liquidity.
 
Despite slight moderation in fiscal 2020 due to addition of debt on account of the higher capex and IAPL acquisition, credit  metrics remained healthy, reflected in the ratio of net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) and interest coverage of 1.06 times and 45.13 times, respectively for fiscal 2020. Return on capital employed (RoCE) was also strong at ~20% in fiscal 2020, while gearing was at a low 0.19 times.
 
The company has aggressive inorganic and organic expansion plans over the medium term to strengthen its business further.  However, as demonstrated in the past, PI's management has exhibited financial prudence while implementing these growth plans. Annual capex of ~Rs.600 crore per annum is expected to be funded from internal cash flows and QIP proceeds, if necessary, keeping dependence on external borrowings low.
 
Liquidity position is strong, with cash surpluses of over Rs 2400 crore as of July 25, 2020 and negligible utilization of working capital bank limits. While the cash surpluses, currently invested largely in fixed deposits, will gradually be used for inorganic growth opportunities, the healthy annual cash generating ability will ensure liquid surpluses remain healthy.
 
Weaknesses
* Moderate working capital requirement: The agrochemical industry is characterised by working capital-intensive operations, due to large inventory requirement, seasonality in demand, and extended credit to dealers and distributors. The group maintains sizeable inventory of 65-70 days, to ensure that dealers' requirements are met on time, and also because bulk of its raw material (technical) is imported. Dealers too need to be offered credit of 75-90 days, given the intense competition. Credit of 90-120 days from suppliers partly mitigates pressure on working capital management.
 
* Susceptibility to risks inherent in the agrochemicals sector: The crop-protection or agrochemical sector remains susceptible to specific and separate registration processes in different countries, and various environmental rules and regulations. Change in regulatory requirements, such as export and import policies and environmental and safety requirements could also impact growth prospects. For PI, strong early stage association with global innovators offers stable revenue visibility. Nevertheless, as the top 10 products in this division account for 60-65% of revenue, the group is partially susceptible to any product failures or lower-than-expected offtake.
 
Furthermore, the sector is highly dependent on monsoon and level of farm income. With about 30% of revenue coming from the domestic agricultural inputs business, performance remains exposed to monsoon vagaries.
Liquidity Strong

Despite the IAPL acquisition and high capex, both totaling close to Rs.1000 crore in fiscal 2020, the company had ~Rs. 270 crore of surplus cash as on March 31, 2020, which has increased to ~Rs.2400 crore post the QIP issue. While a part of the surplus cash is expected to be used for organic and inorganic expansion plans over the medium term, liquidity is expected to remain healthy
 
Annual cash accruals of Rs 850-950 crore expected in fiscals 2021 and 2022 and surplus cash should comfortably cover capex, minimal maturing debt obligations and incremental working capital requirements. The group also has access to fund based bank lines of Rs 400 crore, utilized moderately over the 6 months through June 2020. With low gearing, the group has sufficient headroom, to raise additional debt to fund its capex and acquisition if required.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that the PI group's business risk profile should strengthen further over the medium term driven by its expanding product portfolio and healthy revenue visibility in both domestic agrochemicals and CSM segments, as well as steady profitability, leading to healthy cash generation. CRISIL also expects the group's financial risk profile and liquidity to remain solid, supported by the QIP issuance in July 2020, prudent working capital management and healthy cash flow generating ability. Inorganic growth opportunities are likely to be phased out and funded mainly from QIP proceeds.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
* Sustained revenue growth of over 22-25% over the medium term, along with strong operating profitability at ~22-24%, further strengthening the business position
* RoCE of ~18-20%, factoring in inorganic growth
* Sustenance of strong credit metrics and solid liquidity.

Downward Factors
* Significant moderation in revenue growth and operating profitability (below 14-15%), impacting the group's cash flows
* Large debt-funded capex or acquisition or elongation of working capital cycle leading to deterioration in key credit metrics ' gearing above 1 time
* Material decline in liquid surplus due to share buyback, large dividend payout or sizeable acquisitions.

About the Group

PI was set up in 1946 as an edible oil refinery by the late Mr P P Singhal. The company later entered the agrochemical formulations business. In the mid-1990s, PI diversified into CSM exports for global agrochemical innovator companies.
 
PI currently operates in the domestic agricultural inputs and CSM exports segments. It is a leading player in the domestic agricultural inputs sector, primarily dealing in agrochemicals and plant nutrients. In the CSM exports segment, its business interests include dealing in custom synthesis and contract manufacturing of chemicals, which constitutes techno-commercial evaluation of chemical processes, process development, lab and pilot scale-up, as well as commercial production. The PI group has three agrochemical formulation plants and five multipurpose plants in Panoli, Gujarat, three multipurpose plants in Jambusar, Gujarat, and an R&D unit in Udaipur, Rajasthan. In December 2019, PI acquired IAPL. IAPL's manufacturing facility are located in Panoli and Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
 
The promoter's shareholding saw dilution by 4.6% (from 51.35% to 46.75%) following the recent QIP issue in July 2020.

Key Financial Indicators - (Consolidated)*
As on/for the period ended March 31, Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs crore 3367 2846
Profit After Tax (PAT)  Rs crore 457 410
PAT margin % 13.6 14.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.19 0.02
Interest coverage Times 45.15 91.11
*CRISIL adjusted numbers

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.Cr)
Complexity level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 420.00 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 280.00 NA CRISIL A1+
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
PILL Finance & Investments Ltd Full common management, similar line of business, business and financial linkages, and common promoters
PI Life Science Research Ltd Full common management, similar line of business, business and financial linkages, and common promoters
PI Japan Co Ltd Full common management, similar line of business, business and financial linkages, and common promoters
Isagro (Asia) Agrochemicals Private Limited Full common management, similar line of business, business and financial linkages, and common promoters
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  420.00  CRISIL AA+/Stable      20-09-19  CRISIL AA/Positive  28-11-18  CRISIL AA/Positive  31-10-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  CRISIL AA/Stable 
            07-06-19  CRISIL AA/Positive           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  280.00  CRISIL A1+      20-09-19  CRISIL A1+  28-11-18  CRISIL A1+  31-10-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
            07-06-19  CRISIL A1+           
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
Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 420 CRISIL AA+/Stable Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 200 CRISIL AA/Positive
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 280 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 285 CRISIL A1+
-- 0 -- Proposed Letter of Credit & Bank Guarantee 15 CRISIL A1+
Total 700 -- Total 500 --
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 Chemical Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Anuj Sethi
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 44 6656 3100
anuj.sethi@crisil.com


Sameer Charania
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4097 8025
sameer.charania@crisil.com


Biswa Sukla
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 44 6656 3137
Biswa.Sukla@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are majority owned by S&P Global Inc., a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.
 
For more information, visit www.crisil.com 


Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as, bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible / convertible / partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address, and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL.For further information on CRISIL’s privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Report” includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the Report. The Report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This Report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Report is to be construed as CRISIL providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the Report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the Report in any way.CRISIL or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL