The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
25-Feb-19
Analyst
Ayesha Qasim
ayesha.qasim@pacra.com
+92-42-35869504
www.pacra.com
Applicable Criteria
- Methodology | Corporate Ratings | Jun-18
- Methodology | Criteria | Rating Modifier | Jun-18
- Methodology | Correlation Between Long-Term And Short-Term Rating Scale | Jun-18
Related Research
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PACRA Assigns Initial Entity Ratings to Warble (Pvt.) Limited
| Rating Type | Entity | |
|
Current (25-Feb-19 ) |
||
| Action | Initial | |
| Long Term | BB+ | |
| Short Term | A3 | |
| Outlook | Stable | |
| Rating Watch | - | |
Warble (Pvt.) Limited operates in three segments: i) pesticides ii) seeds and iii) fertilizer. The Company is one of the pioneer groups entered in this segment back in 1990's. The Company has reported adequate turnover, with good contribution of each segment, while pesticide remains predominant segment in terms of revenue. Profitability of the company is slight. Warble expanded its operations by entering into different businesses in agriculture industry and achieving operational efficiency. The company's plant is located at Khanewal; near the Company’s home market (Multan) which benefits the cost structure. The governance structure of the company has room for improvement for more effective business oversight. The company is securing its sales by franchise network named "AGROMART" and interacting end consumers. Company meets its working capital requirements through a mix of internal cashflows and short term borrowings. However, the financial risk remains good on account of low long term finance and adequate coverages. Going forward, the improvement in bottom-line and cash flows, standardization in governance structure and financial transparency is vital. The ratings also take into account the sponsor strength as AllahDin group has interests in diversified segments of agriculture for more than 2 decades.
The ratings are dependent on improvement in business and financial profile of the company. Any deterioration to topline, margins and/or cash flows remains critical to the ratings. The company's sustained business performance in current stretched economic scenario - remains vital for ratings.
About
the Entity
Warble (Pvt.) Limited – one of the pioneer companies of AllahDin Group – is a private limited company. Warble (Pvt.) Limited is equally owned by two brothers. Majority stake is with Mr. Atta ur Rehman 50.8%. Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir holds 45.2%, rest is held by his wife Mrs. Ghazala Asmat and son. The overall board comprises only three members who are also owners of the company.
The Group Chairman, Ch. Iftikhar Nazir, is the pioneer of AllahDin Group of companies. He has accomplished experience of ~3 decades in the industry. Mr. Zain Iftikhar Chaudhry, son of Ch. Iftikhar Nazir, is COO of the company. He is graduate in Financial Management Services from York University, Toronto.