Rating Rationale
July 17, 2023 | Mumbai
Robust Hotels Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.150.81 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BB+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BB/Stable')
Short Term RatingCRISIL A4+ (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

This Rating Rationale (RR) is being published in continuation to the RR dated 13th July 2023 which communicated that the ratings was under appeal. Upon due consideration of the additional information received, the ratings has been upgraded to CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+ from CRISIL BB/Stable/CRISIL A4+. The detailed rationale follows:’’

 

CRISIL Ratings has upgraded its ratings on the long-term bank facilities of Robust Hotels Limited (RHPL) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' from 'CRISIL BB/Stable’ and reaffirmed short term rating at 'CRISIL A4+'.

 

The upgrade factors in the sustained improvement in the financial risk profile as a result of the demerger of the two entities: Asian Hotels (East) Ltd (AHEL) and RHL. As a result, there has been significant improvement in the net worth which stood at Rs.506.60 crores as on March 31, 2023 against Rs.304.60 a year ago. Moreover, this has also resulted in bolstered liquidity profile with Rs.90 crores of cash and liquid assets as on March 31, 2023, which would provide ample cushion for debt servicing in the coming years. While the company has also got in-principle sanction letters which will alleviate the principal burden, completing the refinancing and sustenance of the business risk profile would remain key rating sensitivity factor.

 

The ratings reflects the extensive experience of the promoters, an established brand presence, healthy occupancy levels and Average Room Rent (ARR). The ratings also factors in a comfortable net worth and capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by moderate debt protection metrics, revenue concentration and susceptibility to cyclicality in the industry.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the promoters and established brand presence: The company's promoters have more than three and half decades of experience in managing hotel operations association with Hyatt brand, which bring along its existing clientele (both domestic and international). Increase in foreign and NRI clients is expected to augur well for average room rate (ARR) on account of differential tari Hyatt's large network and global marketing strategies. The brand denotes luxury and a high quality of com critical differentiating factors in the premium hotel segment. The occupancy levels have been better than the pre-covid levels in fiscal 2023 and is expected to improve over the medium term.

 

  • Comfortable net worth and capital structure: The financial risk profile is supported by healthy net worth of around Rs.506.60 crore as on March 31, 2023 against net worth of Rs.304.60 crore a year ago. The same has led to comfortable TOL/TNW ratio and gearing of 0.19 and 0.22 times, respectively as on March 31, 2023. With no debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) plans over the medium term and steady accretion to reserve and scheduled term loan repayments, gearing and capital structure is expected to improve further over the medium term.

 

  • Healthy occupancy levels and ARR: Occupancy and ARR for the fiscal 2023 were at 77% to 85% and Rs 5700 to 6500 respectively, as compared to 70% and Rs 5400, respectively, pre-pandemic (for fiscal 2020). Renovation of the hotel rooms will further support the hotel to improve their ARR which will lead to improvement in revenue as well as the operation margins.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Moderate protection metrics: RHL's interest coverage and net cash accruals to total debt (NCATD) ratio stood at 1.9 times and 0.65 times for fiscal 2023.

 

  • Revenue concentration and susceptibility to economic downturns and industry cyclicality: Entire revenue comes from its hotel in Chennai. Dependence on a single location exposes the company to any adverse change in demand-supply situation and event risk. Moreover, the hospitality industry is susceptible to downturns in domestic and international economies. During weaker periods, revenue per available room for premium and mid-segment hotels get more acutely affected than economy hotels. However, RHL has acquisition plans which mitigates the risk.

Liquidity: Adequate

Cash accrual is estimated at Rs. 15 to 30 crore for the next 3 fiscals, against yearly repayment obligation of Rs 23 to 39 crore per annum as per the current repayment terms; However repayments are expected come down to less than Rs.19 crore per annum with the refinancing of existing term loans and hence from the second half of current fiscal accruals would be more than adequate to cover repayment obligations. Also, the surplus cash of Rs.21.33 crores and liquid investments of Rs.68.01 crore as on date will aid financial flexibility. Bank lines were utilized at a modest 46% on average during the 12 months through April 2023 which aids liquidity profile

 

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes that RHL shall benefit from its established market position and from the financial flexibility of its promoters..

Rating Sensitivity factors:

Upward Factors:

  • Sustenance of operating performance with stable revenue growth and operating margins sustained at more than 25%.
  • Reduction in repayment obligations through completion of refinancing.

 

Downward Factors:

  • Delay in implementing the refinancing or current liquidity going below Rs.30 crores alongside continuation of heavy repayment obligation
  • Large, debt-funded capital expenditure or acquisition impacting financial profile

About the Company

Incorporated in 2007 and promoted by Mr Radhe Shyam Saraf and his family members, RHL operates a five-star hotel property under the brand Hyatt Regency in Chennai. The hotel has 325 rooms, including 28 suits, and is equipped with swimming pool, fitness centre, business centre, banquet hall, salon and restaurants. RHPL was a wholly owned subsidiary of Asian Hotels (East) Ltd and currently its demerged and listed their shares.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

106.34

41.42

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

55.31

-35.00

PAT margins

%

52.02

-84.50

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

0.16

0.46

Interest coverage

Times

1.9

-0.21

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 5 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-26 73.26 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-26 18.7 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-27 22 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 26.85 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Proposed Non-Fund based limits NA NA NA 5 NA CRISIL A4+
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 LT 145.81 CRISIL BB+/Stable 13-07-23 CRISIL BB/Stable 16-11-22 CRISIL BB/Stable 30-11-21 CRISIL B/Stable 14-12-20 CRISIL BB/Watch Developing CRISIL BB+/Stable
      --   --   -- 03-03-21 CRISIL D   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 5.0 CRISIL A4+ 13-07-23 CRISIL A4+ 16-11-22 CRISIL A4+ 30-11-21 CRISIL A4 14-12-20 CRISIL A4+/Watch Developing CRISIL A4+
      --   --   -- 03-03-21 CRISIL D   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 5 IDBI Bank Limited CRISIL BB+/Stable
Long Term Loan 22 Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited CRISIL BB+/Stable
Long Term Loan 73.26 Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited CRISIL BB+/Stable
Long Term Loan 18.7 Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited CRISIL BB+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 26.85 Not Applicable CRISIL BB+/Stable
Proposed Non Fund based limits 5 Not Applicable CRISIL A4+
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 Bank Loan Ratings
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Aveek Datta
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 99204 93912
B: +91 22 3342 3000
AVEEK.DATTA@crisil.com

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Jayashree Nandakumar
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 44 6656 3100
jayashree.nandakumar@crisil.com


Rishi Hari
Team Leader
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 44 6656 3100
RISHI.HARI1@crisil.com


Joshina J
Senior Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 44 6656 3100
Joshina.J@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL Ratings. However, CRISIL Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About CRISIL Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of CRISIL Limited, an S&P Global Company)

CRISIL Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).
 
CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited ('CRISIL'). CRISIL Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").
 
For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL. For further information on CRISIL's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') that is provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). To avoid doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as CRISIL Ratings providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the report. In preparing our report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Ratings are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any securities/instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL Ratings assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinions and analysis. The rating contained in the report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way. CRISIL Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains.

Neither CRISIL Ratings nor its affiliates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, 'CRISIL Ratings Parties') guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the report, and no CRISIL Ratings Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the report. EACH CRISIL RATINGS PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Ratings Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its website, www.crisilratings.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee - more details about ratings by CRISIL Ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL Ratings and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on in its reports. CRISIL Ratings has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to:
https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html.

Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL Ratings public website, www.crisilratings.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without prior written consent from CRISIL Ratings.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL Ratings Limited. CRISIL Ratings is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited.

 

 

CRISIL Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on CRISIL Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html