Rating Rationale
September 21, 2023 | Mumbai
Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.245 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.215 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2+ (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 ‘CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+’ ratings on the bank loan facilities of Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem Limited (TCPCL; part of TCPCL Group).

 

The ratings continue to reflect the company’s established market presence, supported by the extensive experience of its promoters, sound operating efficiencies and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by TCPCL's large working-capital requirements, and susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has combined the business and financial risk profiles of TCPCL and its wholly owned subsidiaries, which are its marketing arms, Tatva Chintan (USA) Inc and Tatva Chintan Europe B.V., herein after together referred to as TCPCL group, as there are operational and financial linkages between these entities.

 

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 market presence backed by the experience of the promoters: Group is the largest manufacturer of Structure Directing Agents (SDA) for Zeolites in India and leading manufacturer of some of the other products it has in its portfolio. Group will continue to benefit from its established position in the niche segment. Further, promoters’ experience of over 25 years, their understanding of industry dynamics and healthy relations with customers and suppliers should continue to support the business. This can be seen from improving scale of operations, revenue has increased from Rs 297 crore for fiscal 2021 to Rs 420 crores for fiscal 2023. Group has already done revenue of Rs 114 crore for Q1 FY24.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: Capital structure was strong, as reflected in networth and total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio of Rs 514 crore and 0.45 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2023. Debt protection metrics were comfortable, as indicated by interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 7.1 times and 0.3 times, respectively, in fiscal 2023. Group has also raised equity through QIP, which will further support the financial risk profile.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Large working capital requirement: Operations have been working capital intensive, with gross current assets (GCAs) in range of 220-250 days over past 3 years through March 31, 2023. GCA were at around 247 days as on March 31, 2023, driven by inventory, and receivables at around 164, and 73 days, respectively. High cash and cash equivalents have also resulted in increased GCA.

 

  • Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices: The raw materials consumed are primarily crude oil derivatives. Operating margin remains susceptible to volatility in raw material prices. This can be seen from decline in operating margin from 25.95% for fiscal 2022 to 14.4% for fiscal 2023. Further the decline in margins has been on account of lower sales from the SDA segment where margins are higher. With stability in raw material and improving demand and higher sales from SDA Segment, operating margins have improved to 18.66%. While operating margins are expected to improve, sustenance of the improved operating margins to be seen.

Liquidity: Strong

Net cash accruals are expected to be over Rs 65 crores against repayment obligations of Rs 14 crores over the medium term. Bank Limit Utilization is 76.6% utilized for the last 12 months ending March 2023. Company has cash and cash equivalent of Rs 44.7 (Encumbered & Unencumbered) Rs 200 crores have been raised via QIP which will further support liquidity and capex plans.

 

ESG Profile

CRISIL Ratings believes that TCPCL’s Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) profile supports its strong credit risk profile.

 

The Chemical sector has a high impact on the environment because of the high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, high hazardous waste generation by its core operations. The sector has a social impact because of its large workforce, impact on health and wellbeing of its workers and local community on account of its nature of operations.

 

TCPCL has continuously focused on mitigating its environmental and social impact.

 

TCPCL’s Key ESG highlights

  • ESG disclosures of the company are evolving, and it is in the process of further strengthening the disclosures going forward.

 

  • Company’s both manufacturing site is partially meeting its electricity power demand with renewable energy, which has helped to reduce carbon dioxide emission.

 

  • TCPCL’s Attrition rate have reduced in fiscal 2023 at 27.6% compared to previous fiscal.

 

  • TCPCL’s governance structure is characterized by 50% of its board comprising independent directors and the presence of investor grievance redressal mechanism.

 

There is growing importance of ESG among investors and lenders. TCPCL’s commitment to ESG principles will play a key role in enhancing stakeholder confidence.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes that TCPCL will continue to benefit from its strong and diverse product profile, established relations with customers and enhanced manufacturing capacities

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward Factors:

  • Sustained improvement in scale of operations and sustenance of operating margin in range of 23-24% resulting in higher accruals.
  • Sustenance of financial risk profile and liquidity.

 

Downward Factors:

  • Significant decline in the scale of operations or weaker operating profitability resulting in lower net cash accruals below 45 crores.
  • 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

About the Group

Incorporated in 1996, TCPCL is promoted by Mr Chintan Shah, Mr Ajay Patel, and Mr Shekhar Somani. The company manufactures Structure Directing Agents, Phase Transfer Catalysts, Electrolyte Salts for Super Capacitor Batteries and Pharma & Agro Intermediates and Specialty Chemicals. Its units in Ankleshwar and Dahej (both in Gujarat) together have 500 KL Reactor Capacity and 39 Assembly Lines.

 

TCPCL has set up two marketing arms Tatva Chintan (USA) Inc and Tatva Chintan Europe B.V. (in Netherlands) with warehouse facilities.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs.Crore

420.8

431.2

Reported profit after tax

Rs.Crore

45.4

81.9

PAT Margin

%

10.7

18.9

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth

Times

0.33

0.25

Interest coverage

Times

7.1

22.01

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 135 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 4.5 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-26 14.5 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 85 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Foreign Exchange Forward NA NA NA 5 NA CRISIL A2+

Annexure – List of entities consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated

Extent of Consolidation

Rationale for Consolidation

Tatva Chintan Europe BV

Full

Marketing arm of TCPCL; strong operational synergies and wholly-owned subsidiary

Tatva Chintan USA Inc

Full

Marketing arm of TCPCL; strong operational synergies and wholly-owned subsidiary

Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem Limited

Full

Parent company; strong operational synergies

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities ST/LT 239.5 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 13-07-22 CRISIL A-/Stable 29-06-21 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable 23-12-20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable CRISIL BBB+/Stable
      --   -- 07-06-22 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 5.5 CRISIL A2+   -- 13-07-22 CRISIL A2+ 29-06-21 CRISIL A2+ 23-12-20 CRISIL A2 CRISIL A2
      --   -- 07-06-22 CRISIL A2+   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 1 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 40 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 20 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 35 DBS Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 40 State Bank of India CRISIL A-/Stable
Foreign Exchange Forward 5 State Bank of India CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 4.5 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Term Loan 12.5 Citibank N. A. CRISIL A-/Stable
Term Loan 2 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Working Capital Facility 80 Citibank N. A. CRISIL A-/Stable
Working Capital Facility 5 Citibank N. A. 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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