Rating Rationale
December 21, 2017 | Mumbai
Chaman Lal Setia Exports Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.100 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A2')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its ratings on the bank loan facilities of Chaman Lal Setia Exports Limited (CLSE) to 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive/CRISIL A2'.

The upgrade reflects improvement in the business risk profile, while sustaining its conservative financial and liquidity profile. Company has reported healthy compound annual growth rate of 15.3% in sales volume during the three fiscals through 2017, while sustaining healthy operating profitability and working capital cycle. In the first half of fiscal 2018, operating income grew by 43.9% fiscal-on-fiscal to Rs 342 crore and healthy growth is expected over medium term, backed by an established relationship with customers across more than 60 countries. Furthermore, owing to a policy of keeping order-backed inventory, the working capital cycle has remained moderate, as reflected in gross current assets (GCAs) of 95'140 days in the three fiscals ended March 31, 2017. Consequently, despite a challenging market scenario for basmati rice exporters, profitability has remained above average.

The upgrade also reflects healthy liquidity, reflected in low average bank limit utilisation at 8% during the 12 months through September 2017. Furthermore, high net cash accrual, expected at Rs 34-35 crore per fiscal against no long-term debt repayment obligation or major capital expenditure (capex), should keep liquidity comfortable over medium term. Unencumbered fixed deposits of Rs. 47.01 crore, as on March 31, 2017, provide a cushion to liquidity, and is used partially for rice procurement during the peak season.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has considered unsecured loans of Rs. 16.99 crore from the promoters as 75% equity and 25% debt. These loans are expected to stay invested in the business and interest on them is completed ploughed back. 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Healthy financial risk profile: The adjusted networth was high at Rs 157.89 crore and the total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio low at 0.34 time, as on March 31, 2017. The adjusted interest coverage ratio was also strong at 13.59 times for fiscal 2017. The ratio is expected to remain at a similar level owing to low reliance on external debt and healthy cash accrual, over the medium term. 

* Established market position: The company has a diversified customer base spread across more than 60 countries with the top 10 customers contributing only 39% of sales in fiscal 2017. The supplier base is also diversified across a number of millers in Punjab and Haryana with the top 10 suppliers contributing only 15% of total purchases in fiscal 2017.  

* Prudent working capital management: Gross current assets were 139 days, driven by low debtors of 25 days and order-backed inventory of 90 days, as on March 31, 2017 and expected at similar level over the medium term.

Weakness
* High susceptibility to fluctuation in raw material prices and regulatory changes: Raw material cost is 75-80% of sales; hence, any fluctuation in the prices can directly impact operating profitability. Input prices depend on availability, which in turn depends on the total agricultural output. Government regulations pertaining to minimum support price and procurement policies also impact raw material availability. The operating profitability margin was 7.5-13.2% in the five fiscals through 2017, and is expected to remain susceptible to raw material price fluctuation and regulatory changes.
 
* Low brand penetration: Own brands-Maharani, Begum, and Mithas-contribute only 10-15% of the revenue. Most of the sales are under customer brands or in bulk. The limited brand penetration limits the ability charge a high margin in comparison with industry players such as KRBL Ltd.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes CLSE will maintain its established market position and healthy financial risk profile, over the medium term. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of a significant increase in the scale of operations through geographical diversification and higher penetration of branded sales, while profitability and working capital cycle are maintained. The outlook may be revised to Negative in case of lower-than-expected cash accrual, a stretched working capital cycle, or any major capital expenditure, adversely impacting the financial risk profile.

About the Company

CLSE was set up as a partnership firm in 1983 by Mr Chamanlal Setia and his sons, Mr Vijay Setia and Mr Rajeev Setia, in Amritsar, Punjab. The firm was reconstituted as a public limited company in 1994, and was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1995. It undertakes milling, sorting, and packaging of rice for the domestic and global markets.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. Cr. 493.50 482.77
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. 64.95 61.07
PAT Margins % 7.6 6.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 0.19 0.09
Interest coverage* Times 13.82 17.96
*Adjusted

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 2.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Packing Credit NA NA NA 76.5 CRISIL A2+
NA Foreign Bill Discounting NA NA NA 15.5 CRISIL A2+
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 6.0 CRISIL A2+
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  94  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+    No Rating Change  17-10-16  CRISIL BBB+/Positive/ CRISIL A2  23-06-15  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2  04-03-14  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  CRISIL BBB-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  CRISIL A2+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  23-06-15  CRISIL A2  04-03-14  CRISIL A3+  CRISIL A3 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 2 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 2 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Foreign Bill Discounting 15.5 CRISIL A2+ Foreign Bill Discounting 15.5 CRISIL A2
Letter of Credit 6 CRISIL A2+ Letter of Credit 6 CRISIL A2
Packing Credit 76.5 CRISIL A2+ Packing Credit 76.5 CRISIL A2
Total 100 -- Total 100 --
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 Criteria for rating short term debt

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