Rating Rationale
July 25, 2019 | Mumbai
Freshtrop Fruits Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.56 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB/Stable' rating on the bank facilities of Freshtrop Fruits Limited (FFL). The rating continues to reflect the promoter's extensive experience in the fresh fruit segment, and FFL's healthy financial risk profile and moderate operating margin. These strengths are partially offset by working capital intensity in operations, and exposure to seasonality in availability of fruits and vegetables, and to intense competitive pressure.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of the promoter: Benefits from the extensive experience of the promoters, and established relationships with over 1000 farmer-members in the Nashik region, and reputed customers in the domestic and overseas markets, will continue. The company has access to 1000 hectares of grape cultivation, which ensures a regular supply. Key customers include ASDA (part of the Walmart family), Albert Heijn, Pepsico, and ITC Ltd (rated CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+).
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Networth and gearing were healthy at Rs 77 crore and 0.5 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019. Gearing will remain less than 1 time over the medium term despite working capital intensity around year-end. Debt protection metrics are healthy: interest cover exceeded 18 times and net cash accrual to total debt was 0.44 time in fiscal 2019.
 
* Moderate operating margin: Operating margin has been moderate in the four years through March 2019, backed by improvement in operating efficiency and realisation from grapes. Despite seasonality in availability of fruits and vegetables, the margin has been steady above 10%. Enterprise resource planning and supply chain management systems facilitate tracking of farm inputs and production.
 
Weaknesses
* Working capital intensity during peak period: Gross current assets of 219 days, as on March 31, 2019, reflect working capital intensity, mainly due to the moderate receivables and inventory. The company generally offers credit of 60 days to customers in Europe, and cash against documents to those in Russia. While inventory is low (less than 10 days) for grape processing, as the product is dispatched on a daily basis, goods-in-transit is high. However, the company has to maintain inventory of 60 days (including WIP and finished goods), for other fruits. Given the seasonal nature of grape exports, almost 80% of sales happens between January and April every year. Credit of 60-75 days, offered by suppliers, partly eases the pressure on working capital. Hence, efficient management of working capital, especially during the peak season, will be a key rating sensitivity factor.
 
* Exposure to seasonality in the fruits and vegetables processing industry: The company remains susceptible to volatility in the prices of agro commodities such as grapes and pomegranates. Also, availability of fruits and vegetables is highly dependent on monsoon and other climatic conditions, which will remain a key rating sensitivity factor over the medium term.
 
* Intense competitive pressure: FFL has to compete with large, organised and unorganised players, which limits pricing power with customers. Also operations in the fruit juice segment commenced only in the second half (H2) of fiscal 2019, and the segment's contribution to the topline was less than 5%. Stabilisation and ramp-up in operations in the juice business will be a key rating sensitivity factor.
Liquidity

The company has adequate liquidity. Annual accrual is expected at Rs 17-20 crore, and should comfortably cover maturing debt'of around Rs 5 crore per annum. Bank limit of Rs 36 crore has had negligible utilisation during the offseason, but is moderately utilised (around 50%) during the peak season, despite working capital intensity in operations. Healthy liquid investments, with bank balance and mutual funds of over Rs 10 crore also supports liquidity as on March 31, 2019. Current ratio was healthy at 1.46 times.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes FFL will benefit over the medium term from the extensive experience of its promoters and healthy financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of significant and sustained rise in accruals, mostly through ramp-up in the juice business, while maintaining a stable capital structure. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if operating profitability is adversely affected by entry into new business segments, or if financial risk profile weakens on account of stretched working capital cycle or higher-than-expected debt-funded capex.

About the Company

Incorporated as a private limited company in September 1992, in Ahmedabad by Mr Ashok Motiani and reconstituted as a public limited company on September 22, 1994, FFL exports fresh fruits (majorly grapes) and processed fruits. The company has recently ventured into the fresh juices business.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Operating income Rs. crore 172 176
Reported profit after tax Rs. crore 13.7 8.3
PAT margins % 8.0 4.7
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.5 0.68
Interest coverage Times 18.3 22.7

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL 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 Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs Cr) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 21.00 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Export packing credit NA NA NA 15.0 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Long term loan NA NA 30-Sept-23 20.00 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  56.00  CRISIL BBB/Stable      23-04-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable  31-01-17  CRISIL BBB/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
Cash Credit 21 CRISIL BBB/Stable Cash Credit 21 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Export Packing Credit 15 CRISIL BBB/Stable Export Packing Credit 15 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Long Term Loan 20 CRISIL BBB/Stable Long Term Loan 20 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Total 56 -- Total 56 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating Criteria for Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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