Rating Rationale
October 19, 2020 | Mumbai
Heritage Foods Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.503.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' ratings on the bank facilities of Heritage Foods Limited (HFL; a part of the Heritage group).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the group's established market position in the dairy business, strong distribution network, prudent working capital management, comfortable financial risk profile and the extensive experience of its promoter. These strengths are partially offset by geographic concentration in revenue, and susceptibility to changes in government regulations, intensifying competition and epidemic-related factors, inherent in the dairy industry.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has considered the consolidated financials of HFL, its subsidiary, Heritage Nutrivet Ltd (HNL; formerly known as Heritage Foods Retail Ltd; wholly-owned subsidiary of HFL) and Heritage Farmers Welfare Trust (HFWT; controlled by HFL). This is because all these entities, collectively referred to as the Heritage group, are under the same management and have significant business and financial linkages. CRISIL has also proportionately consolidated its joint venture, Heritage Foods Novandie Pvt Ltd (HFNPL), and its associate SKIL (Raigam) Power India Ltd (SKIL), to the extent of its shareholding in these entities, to reflect the support required to the extent of its interests in these businesses.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position
HFL is one of the largest private dairies in South India with significant market share in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. HFL also has over 22 products in its portfolio, which are available through 1.2 lakh retail stores and 1,380 own parlours under the brand, Heritage. Benefits from the promoter's experience of over 27 years and healthy relations with customers and suppliers should continue to support the business.
 
* Prudent working capital management
Gross current assets were at 31 days on March 31, 2020, driven by inventory of 20 days and receivables of 3 days.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile
Networth and gearing were healthy at Rs 454.4 crore and 0.63 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2020; the total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio was also comfortable at 1.1 times. Debt protection metrics were healthy, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 6.12 times and 0.33 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020.
 
Weaknesses
* High geographic concentration in revenue
Geographical concentration in revenue is high as 75-80% of the revenues accrue from South India.
 
* Susceptibility to changes in government regulations, intensifying competition and epidemic-related factors
Raw material prices in the dairy industry remain susceptible to change in government policies and environmental conditions. Dairies are also vulnerable to risks of failure in milk production due to external factors, such as incidents of epidemics affecting cattle. Moreover, intense competition may continue to constrain scalability, pricing power, and profitability.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is expected to remain adequate. Net cash accrual, expected at Rs 120-140 crore each in fiscals 2021 and 2022 should be more than sufficient to cover maturing term debt of Rs 44-50 crore. Moreover, the company benefits from the healthy financial flexibility derived from its investment in FRL, of over Rs 131.89 crore (HFL's share).

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Heritage group will maintain its healthy financial risk profile over the medium term, despite the ongoing large, debt'funded capital expenditure.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Significant growth in revenue of 40-50% along with reduction in topline contribution from South India to 55-60% and higher revenue contribution from value-added products.
* Substantial rise in net cash accrual further strengthening the financial risk profile.
 
Downward factors
* Continuous large debt-funded capital expenditure weakening the capital structure resulting in gearing increasing to over 1.2 times.
* Significant decline in operating margin resulting in a sharp reduction in cushion between net cash accrual and maturing debt.

About the Company

HFL was established in 1992 by Mr Nara Chandra Babu Naidu. The Hyderabad-based group sells milk and dairy products under the brand, Heritage. The group also has captive solar and wind power plants with installed capacity of 10.3 megawatt. The group had ventured into organised retail business in 2006 by opening stores under the brand, Heritage Fresh. On March 31, 2017, the group demerged its retail business undertakings consisting of retail (136 stores with 4.81 lakh square feet), agricultural and bakery divisions to FRL. After the demerger, HFL holds 3.65% equity share capital in FRL.
 
HNL was established in 2008; however, there were no operations until 2016. In November 2016, HFL transferred its retail undertakings (retail, agriculture and bakery) and veterinary care businesses to HNL. On March 31, 2017, the retail undertakings were demerged from HNL and were transferred to FRL. HNL currently manufactures and sells cattle feed.
 
SKIL is an affiliate of HFL and is in the process of implementation and completion of a hydel power project. HFNPL was incorporated as a 50:50 joint venture between HFL and Novandie SNC, France in November, 2017. The JV was set-up to manufacture value-added products, particularly yogurt. The company is in the process of setting-up a new unit in Maharashtra.
 
The Heritage group reported consolidated profit after tax of Rs 29.42 crore on revenue of Rs 638 crore for the three months ended June 30, 2020, as against Rs 18.97 crore and Rs 721 crore, respectively, in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. 

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars - consolidated Unit 2020* 2019*
Revenue Rs crore 2734.77 2515
PAT Rs crore 57.1 82.6
PAT margin % 2.13 3.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.63 0.71
Interest coverage Times 6.12 8.5
*CRISIL adjusted numbers

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs crore) Complexity level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 100 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Letter of credit NA NA NA 5.16 NA CRISIL A1
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 7.34 NA CRISIL A1
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Sep-21 15 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Sep-23 12 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Mar-23 4 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Feb-24 20 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Jan-24 35 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Sep-24 20 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Feb-25 15 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Dec-25 39 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Apr-25 25 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Nov-25 10.5 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Feb-26 7 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Aug-26 10.25 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Sep-26 28.25 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Jan-27 8 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Sep-26 20.5 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Feb-23 10 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Sep-23 10 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Aug-24 11 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Sep-26 33.5 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Proposed long term bank loan facility NA NA NA 57 NA CRISIL A/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of entities consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Heritage Foods Ltd Full consolidation Same line of business, common promoter and significant operational linkages
HNL Full consolidation Wholly-owned subsidiary of HFL with significant operational and financial linkages
HFWT Full consolidation Trust controlled by HFL
HFNPL Proportionate consolidation Proportionately consolidated to reflect the support required to the extent of its interests in these businesses
SKIL Proportionate consolidation Proportionately consolidated to reflect the support required to the extent of its interests in these businesses
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  491.00  CRISIL A/Stable      11-12-19  CRISIL A/Stable  05-01-18  CRISIL A-/Positive      CRISIL A-/Positive 
            29-11-19  CRISIL A/Stable           
            07-02-19  CRISIL A/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  12.50  CRISIL A1      11-12-19  CRISIL A1  05-01-18  CRISIL A2+      CRISIL A2+ 
            29-11-19  CRISIL A1           
            07-02-19  CRISIL A1           
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
Bank Guarantee 7.34 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 7.34 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 100 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 100 CRISIL A/Stable
Letter of Credit 5.16 CRISIL A1 Letter of Credit 5.16 CRISIL A1
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 57 CRISIL A/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 24.75 CRISIL A/Stable
Rupee Term Loan 334 CRISIL A/Stable Rupee Term Loan 366.25 CRISIL A/Stable
Total 503.5 -- Total 503.5 --
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 Consolidation

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