Rating Rationale
December 27, 2019 | Mumbai
Nectafresh Agro Foods
'CRISIL BB/Stable' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.7 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB/Stable (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL BB/Stable' rating to the long-term bank facilities of Nectafresh Agro Foods (NAF).
 
The rating reflects the extensive experience of the partners in the sugar industry, a diverse product portfolio, and comfortable debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to cyclicality in the industry, dependence on the monsoon, a modest scale of operations.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has treated unsecured loans (Rs 2.79 crore as on March 31, 2019) from the partners as neither debt nor equity. That's because these loans carry an interest rate that is lower than the market rate, and are expected to remain in the business over the medium term.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive industry experience of the partners
The partners have an experience of over nine years in the sugar industry. This has given them an understanding of the dynamics of the market, and enabled them to establish relationships with suppliers and customers.
 
* Product diversity
The firm is an established player in the market and has been in operations for over nine years. The scale of operations remains healthy. The diversified product basket mitigates the exposure to risk of obsolescence in case of any new technology coming into the market.  
 
* Comfortable debt protection metrics
The metrics have been comfortable, despite leverage, due to moderately healthy profitability. The interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios were 4.70 times and 0.35 times, respectively, for fiscal 2019 and are expected to remain at similar levels over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses
* Exposure to cyclicality in the industry and dependence on the monsoon
Cane production is highly dependent on the monsoon and realisations in alternative crops such as rice and wheat, which may prompt farmers to switch to sowing other crops. Also, cane availability is restricted to the command area allocated to each company. In India, alternative sweeteners to sugar are gur and khandsari. Lower sugarcane yields and an increase in the sale of sugarcane to these alternative product manufacturers may lead to decrease in sugar production.
 
* Modest scale of operations
Revenue is modest in the intensely competitive fast-moving consumer goods industry.  This should continue to limit operating flexibility. Revenue for fiscal 2019 was Rs 59.67 crore, expected at Rs. 60-62 crore over the medium term.

Liquidity Stretched
Average bank limit utilisation was moderate at around 81% during the 12 months through October 2019. Cash accrual is expected at around Rs 2.0 crore, against debt obligation of Rs 0.80 crore, per fiscal over the medium term. Cash and cash equivalents were modest at Rs 0.07 crore as on March 31, 2019.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believe NAF will continue to benefit from the extensive industry experience of the partners and established relationship with clients.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained revenue growth at 10% per fiscal along with better operating efficiency 
* Improvement in the working capital cycle.

Downward factors
* Decline in revenue to below Rs 50.00 crore per fiscal and in profitability.
* Stretch in receivables or inventory pile-up, adversely affecting the working capital
cycle.

About the Firm

NAF was established in 2010, by Mr Rakesh Singh and Mr Vikesh Kumar. The firm manufactures inverted sugar syrup and cattle feed at its facilities in Jaspur, Uttarakhand.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 59.67 26.91
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 0.40 0.19
PAT margin % 0.66 0.70
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 1.58 2.10
Interest coverage Times 4.70 10.27

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 2.00 CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Dec-2023 4.50 CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 0.50 CRISIL BB/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  7.00  CRISIL BB/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
Term Loan 4.5 CRISIL BB/Stable -- 0 --
Cash Credit 2 CRISIL BB/Stable -- 0 --
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .5 CRISIL BB/Stable -- 0 --
Total 7 -- Total 0 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process

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