Rating Rationale
January 03, 2020 | Mumbai
Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Modern Rice Mill
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.46 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Modern Rice Mill (SLS; part of Sameera group).

The rating reflects the extensive experience of the partners in the rice industry and established relationship with customers, healthy scale of operations, and above-average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations, high dependence on the monsoon, and exposure to changes in government policies.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of SLS and Sameera Agro Industries (SAI). That's because the two entities, together referred as the Sameera group, are engaged in a similar business and have common management.
 
Unsecured loans from partners have been treated as neither debt nor equity. That is because these loans are subordinated to bank debt, carry an interest rate lower than the bank rate, and are expected to remain in the business over the medium term.

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
Strengths
* Extensive industry experience of the partners and an established relationship with customers: Sameera group's managing partner, Mr. Jonnada Sridhar has been in the rice milling business since the 1998. Due to extensive experience, they have developed an understanding of the dynamics of the industry and the local market, which has helped to establish a strong customer relationship.
 
* Healthy scale of operations
With revenue of Rs. 306 Cr in fiscal 2018-19, Sameera group is one of the largest players in Andhra Pradesh. Scale of operations remain healthy in this highly competitive rice milling industry. While large players have better efficiencies and pricing power because of their scale of operations, small players are exposed to intense competition. Due to the advantage of scale of operations, Sameera group has operating profitability around 4 % while smaller players have profitability around 2-3 %.
 
* Above average financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is marked by healthy networth base, moderate capital structure and above-average debt protection metrics.
 
Net worth remains healthy at Rs. 47.8 Cr as on March 31, 2019. With modest net profit margins, networth is estimated to be around Rs. 51-53 Cr over the medium term.
 
Capital structure remains moderate with gearing and total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) of 1.45 times and 1.58 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2019. With no major debt funded capital expenditure program expected, capital structure should improve over the medium term. Debt protection metrics remain adequate, with interest coverage of 1.98 times for fiscal 2019. With revenue growth of around 15 % expected for FY20 while profitability expected to be maintained, interest coverage is expected to be around 2.1 times for FY20.
 
Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive nature of operations
Gross current assets were high at around 123 days as on March 31, 2019, mainly due large inventory requirement. Paddy, the major raw material, is available only in the crop season (October to December). Therefore, players have to procure a substantial portion (50-60%) of their annual paddy requirement during this period.
 
* High dependence on the monsoon and exposure to changes in government policies: Agricultural commodities depend on rainfall, which, if weak in a year, can lead to lower operating income and depressed profitability for players. Given the seasonal availability of rice, the operating margin will remain modest and vulnerable to volatility in raw material prices over the medium term. Also, agricultural commodity exports are highly regulated.
Liquidity Adequate

Sameera group has generated Rs. 5.3 Cr against repayment obligations of less than Rs. 1 Cr for FY19. With no major debt funded capital expenditure, it is expected to maintain healthy cushion between accruals and repayments over the medium term. Due to working capital intensive operations, bank limit utilization remains moderate with average utilization of 76 % for the past 14 months ending November 2019. Current ratio remains healthy at 1.50 times as on March 31, 2019.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that the Sameera group will continue to benefit from the extensive industry experience of its partners and their funding support.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factor
Upward factor
*Interest cover above 2.5 times
*Sustained improvement in scale of operations while operating profitability is maintained

Downward factor
*Decline in operating profitability below 3.5 %
*Large debt-funded capital expenditure weakens capital structure.

About the Group

SAI was established as a partnership firm in 2014 by Mr. Jonnada Sridhar and his family members. The firm mills and processes non-basmati rice at its facilities in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. It has a milling and sorting capacity of around 12 tons per hour.
 
SLS was established as a partnership firm in 2004 by the same partners. The firm mills and processes non-basmati rice at its facilities in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. It has a milling and sorting capacity of around 16 tons per hour.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 306 283
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 1.95 1.90
PAT Margin % 0.6 0.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 1.45 1.60
Interest coverage Times 1.96 2.02

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 (%) Maturity date Issue Size (Rs.Cr) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 45.00 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Term loan NA NA Dec-2020 1.00 CRISIL BB+/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Sameera Agro Industries Full Common management team and are into similar line of business
Sri Lakshmi Srinivasa Modern Rice Mill Full Common management team and are into similar line of business
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  46.00  CRISIL BB+/Stable      29-01-19  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
Cash Credit 45 CRISIL BB+/Stable Cash Credit 45 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Term Loan 1 CRISIL BB+/Stable Term Loan 1 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Total 46 -- Total 46 --
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
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Criteria for rating entities belonging to homogenous groups
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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