Rating Rationale
February 21, 2020 | Mumbai
Manipur Tea Co. Private Limited
Rating upgraded to 'CRISIL B-/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.6.34 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL B-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL C')
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 Manipur Tea Co. Private Limited (Manipur Tea; part of the Mantri group) to 'CRISIL B-/Stable' from 'CRISIL C'. The upgrade has been driven by improved operating efficiency of the company because of better operating profitability.
 
CRISIL's rating reflects the group's exposure to seasonality of tea production, high operating leverage, and weak financial risk profile. These weaknesses are partially offset by the extensive experience of the promoters in the tea industry.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Manipur Tea, Mantri Tea Co. Pvt Ltd (MTCPL), Derby Plantation Pvt Ltd (DPPL), and Ruttonpore Plantations Pvt Ltd (RPPL) collectively referred to as the Mantri group. This is because these entities have a common management, and are in the same line of business, with operational and financial linkages.
 
Unsecured loans have been treated as debt.

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
Weakness:
* Exposure to seasonality of tea production and high operating leverage
Being a seasonal product, the production of tea depends on the monsoon and remains susceptible to adverse weather conditions. Tea plantations also incur fixed cost, with labour alone accounting for nearly 40% of total cost. If tea production is lower than expected, then the group could incur operating losses, as seen in the past. Limited pricing power further constrains the operating margin of small players like the Mantri group.
 
* Weak financial risk profile
The weak financial risk profile is reflected in below-average debt protection metrics. Interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios were minus 1.29 times and minus 0.02 time, respectively, for fiscal 2019. Gearing and networth were moderate at 2.13 times and Rs 19.43 crore, respectively, as on March 31, 2019.
 
Strength:
* Extensive experience of the promoters in the tea industry
The promoters have an experience of five decades in the tea plantation business, which has helped the group sustain its position, despite regular volatility in prices, and report stable revenue growth over the four fiscals through 2018.
Liquidity Stretched

* High bank limit utilisation:
Bank limit utilisation is high at 92.04% for the six months through September 2019.
 
* Cash accrual insufficient to meet debt obligation 
Cash accrual is expected to be over Rs 0.60 crore, which is insufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 1.00 crore over the medium term. The same is supported by unsecured loans from the promoters.
 
* Low current ratio:
Current ratio was low at 0.62 time as on March 31, 2019.
 
* Support from the promoters in the form of equity infusion or unsecured loans
The promoters are likely to extend support in the form of equity or unsecured loans to meet the company's working capital requirement and debt obligation.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that growth in revenue along with stable operating margin will lead to healthy financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if the firm reports significant revenue growth and healthy operating margin, and improves its financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of lower-than-expected growth in revenue, drop in profitability, or any large capital withdrawal, weakening the financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained improvement in revenue by at least 10% and stable operating margin, leading to higher cash accrual (in excess of debt obligation)
* Improvement in working capital cycle, with debtors falling below 45 days
 
Downward factors
* Overdrawing of working capital limit for more than 30 days
* Single-day delay in repayment of term debt (either principal or interest)
About the Group

The Mantri group was formed in 1948 by Mr Govind Prasad Mantri. The Manipur Tea Estate, located in Assam, was its first acquisition in 1954. Subsequently, the group acquired three more tea gardens in Assam: Ruttonpore Tea Estate in 1986, Derby Tea Estate in 2005, and Pathini Tea Estate (MTCPL) in 2006. Daily operations are now overseen by the second and third-generation members of the promoter family, along with a professional management team.

Key Financial Indicators - Combined
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 49.60 47.74
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore -0.39 -3.22
PAT margin % -0.79 -6.75
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 2.13 2.00
Interest coverage Times 1.27 -0.04

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 crore)
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Proposed Cash Credit Limit NA NA NA 1.54 CRISIL B-/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 4.8 CRISIL B-/Stable
 
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Mantri Tea Co Pvt Ltd Full Managerial, operational, and financial linkages
Derby Plantation Pvt Ltd Full Managerial, operational, and financial linkages
Ruttonpore Plantations Pvt Ltd Full Managerial, operational, and financial linkages
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  6.34  CRISIL B-/Stable          09-11-18  CRISIL C      CRISIL C 
                30-01-18  CRISIL C       
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 4.8 CRISIL B-/Stable Cash Credit 4.8 CRISIL C
Proposed Cash Credit Limit 1.54 CRISIL B-/Stable Proposed Cash Credit Limit 1.54 CRISIL C
Total 6.34 -- Total 6.34 --
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 Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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