Rating Rationale
December 31, 2021 | Mumbai
Speciality Restaurants Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL BBB+ / Negative / CRISIL A2 '
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.10 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB+/Negative (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2 (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

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL BBB+/Negative/CRISIL A2’ rating on the bank loan facilities of Speciality Restaurants Limited (SRL).

 

The ratings continue to reflect SRL’s established market position with strong brands and wide geographic reach, extensive experience of the promoter in the restaurant industry, and its healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to economic cycles and exposure to intense competition, leading to subdued profitability.

 

Revenue and profitability was impacted materially in fiscal 2021 due to pandemic related disruption. Revenue declined by over 57% in fiscal 2021 with operating losses (adjusted for IndAS treatment of leased assets) and net losses. While the revenue and profitability is expected to improve in current fiscal, it is likely to remain lower than expectations constraining the business risk profile

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established position with strong brands and wide geographical reach: SRL’s flagship brand, Mainland China, is one of the most recognised home-grown restaurant brands in India. The other brands, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, Riyasat, Barishh, Episode One,  Hoppipola, Oh! Calcutta, and Sweet Bengal have also a strong market position in the respective categories. The company is present in major metros and large cities, with 79 restaurants and 38 confectionaries, as of March 2021. The two-and-half-decade-long experience of the promoters in the restaurant business and the established market presence will help the company maintain its competitive position in its target segments.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: Capital structure and debt protection metrics should remain healthy over the medium term. Despite significant losses in the recent past, networth is comfortable at Rs 135.6crore as on March 31 2020 (Rs 164.4 crore as on March 31, 2019), and is likely to sustain at Rs 135-145 crore over the medium term. Total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio were at 1.5 times as on March 31 2021 compared to 0.3 time as on March 31 2019. The increase in liability is on account of adoption of IndAS 116 on leases. The company continues to remain debt free and leverage levels are likely to remain low over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • High fixed cost structure and susceptibility to economic cycles: Any economic downturn adversely affects the restaurant industry. Typically, fine-dining premium restaurants are more affected during a slowdown than quick-service restaurants or fast-food chains, as indicated by SRL’s subdued revenue growth in the past, and modest operating margin. Operating margins remained subdued over the past three fiscals in the range of -4.6 to 4.9% through fiscal 2021. SRL has adopted multiple cost saving strategies amidst the pandemic related disruption, including reduction in employee cost, renegotiation of leases, control on overheads etc. These efforts are likely to reap benefits over the medium term. However operating margins and overall profitability is likely to remain moderate.

 

  • Exposure to intense competition: The restaurant industry in India is highly fragmented, with unorganised players having significant market share. Thus, SRL faces intense competition and needs to continuously innovate in terms of menu and décor, to match the fast-changing customer preferences.

Liquidity: Adequate

Liquidity remains adequate, marked by a surplus liquid investment of around Rs 72.5 crore as on September 30th 2021. There are no significant capital expenditure planned over medium term. Bank limit continues to remain unutilised. Substantial liquid investments and unavailed bank lines should help maintain adequate liquidity over the medium term. However, significantly higher than expected cash losses over the medium term could result in significant reduction in liquid assets and deterioration in credit profile of the company and would remain a key monitorable.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL Ratings believes that SSML’s business risk profile is likely to weaken over the medium term due to sluggish demand amidst impact of pandemic on the restaurant industry

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained improvement in revenue and operating margins, strengthening net cash accruals to above Rs.18 crore over medium term
  • Sustained financial risk profile with low leverage levels and ample liquidity

 

Downward factors:

  • Decline in revenue and subdued operating margins, leading to net cash accrual of less than Rs 14 crore over the medium term
  • Higher than expected losses, debt funded capex or further reduction in networth or significant reduction in liquid assets weakens the financial risk profile

About the Company

SRL was promoted by Mr Anjan Chatterjee (Founder promoter) in 1999. The promoter entered the restaurant business by setting up Only Fish in 1992, followed by Main Land China, in Mumbai. SRL is now one of the largest fine-dining restaurant chains in India. Its brands, Mainland China, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, Riyasat, Barishh, Episode One, Oh! Calcutta, Sigree/Sigree Global Grill, Haka, Flame & Grill, Café Mezzuna, and Hoppipola offer a variety of cuisines and dining formats. Sweet Bengal and Dariole are  company’s confectionary brand.

Key Financial Indicators

Particulars

Unit

2021

2020

Reported revenue

Rs crore

166.7

367.75

Profit after tax

Rs crore

-29.3

-38.2

PAT margin

%

-17.6

-10.4

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.0

0.0

Interest coverage

Times

-

-

 

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 Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs Cr) Complexity Levels Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.5 NA CRISIL A2
NA Overdraft Facility NA NA NA 9.5 NA CRISIL BBB+/Negative

 

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2021 (History) 2020  2019  2018  Start of 2018
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 9.5 CRISIL BBB+/Negative   -- 29-09-20 CRISIL BBB+/Negative 30-07-19 CRISIL A-/Negative 03-04-18 CRISIL A-/Negative CRISIL A/Negative
      --   -- 08-05-20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable   --   -- --
      --   -- 26-03-20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 0.5 CRISIL A2   -- 29-09-20 CRISIL A2 30-07-19 CRISIL A2+ 03-04-18 CRISIL A2+ CRISIL A1
      --   -- 08-05-20 CRISIL A2   --   -- --
      --   -- 26-03-20 CRISIL A2   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 0.5 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL A2
Overdraft Facility 9.5 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL BBB+/Negative

This Annexure has been updated on 31-Mar-2023 in line with ender-wise facility details as on 02-Feb-2023 received from the rated entity.

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 Criteria for rating short term debt
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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