Rating Rationale
December 18, 2020 | Mumbai
LT Foods Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Positive'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1187.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Positive (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long-term bank facilities of LT Foods Limited (LTF; part of the LT group) to 'Positive' from 'Stable' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL A-'. The short-term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A2+'.
 
The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's expectations that the group's business and financial risk profiles will continue to improve over the medium term. Improvement in business performance is reflected in operating income of Rs 2,424 crore in the first half of fiscal 2021, compared to Rs 1,952 crore in the first half of fiscal 2020, which was aided by higher volumes achieved in both rice and organic business despite the impact of the Covid-19-induced lockdowns on the HORECA segment. Operating margin (earnings before income, depreciation, tax and amortisation [EBIDTA] margin) was also higher at 12.7% for the first half of the current fiscal compared to 11.4% for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, aided by higher realisations in the rice business, especially in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and change of product mix towards high-margin products. Hence, fiscal 2021 revenue and EBITDA margin are expected to be higher than CRISIL's expectations and will continue to be so over the medium term, driven by the management's focus on profitability.
 
The financial risk profile also continues to improve as is reflected in continuously declining absolute debt levels of the group (Rs 1,149 crore as on September 30, 2020, compared to Rs 1,458 crore as on March 31, 2020 and Rs 1,273 crore as on September 30, 2019) despite significant revenue growth. The group is expected to maintain debt-to-EBIDTA ratio of less than 3 times, going ahead. CRISIL believes that the group would be able to keep the debt-to-EBIDTA ratio under 3 times as on March 31, 2021, although it needs to be monitored in the near term.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the LT group's strong market position in the basmati rice industry, resulting in sales growth and stable profitability. The ratings also factor in the group's diversified geographical reach through strong brands (Daawat in the domestic market and Royal in the US market), established marketing network and improving financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirement, susceptibility to volatile raw material prices and changes in trade policies of key importing countries.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of LTF and its majority-owned subsidiaries, Daawat Foods Ltd (DFL), Nature Bio Foods Ltd (NBFL) and Raghunath Agro Industries Pvt Ltd (RAIPL) and other step-down subsidiaries. This is because all these companies, collectively referred to as the LT group, operate in the same line of business and have significant financial linkages and are majorly owned by LTF.

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 and track record in the basmati rice industry: The promoters' experience of five decades in the rice industry and the group's established market position as one of the top three players in the domestic basmati rice industry, have led to consolidated turnover of Rs 4,150 crore in fiscal 2020 and Rs 2,424 crore in the first half of fiscal 2021 (Rs 1,952 crore in the first half of fiscal 2020). The strong distribution and procurement networks, growing branded business and longstanding relationships with key importers and customers, also lend stability to the business risk profile.
 
* Geographically diverse revenue profile with strong brand portfolio: The group is a globally reputed player in the rice industry, with established market presence across more than 50 countries. It has a strong brand portfolio with Daawat being the most prominent brand in the domestic market.
 
* Improving financial risk profile:  Aided by continuous reduction in debt levels with no major capital expenditure (capex) over the medium term and improving networth, total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio is expected to continue to improve and remain below 1.2 times over the medium term.
 
Debt protection metrics are also healthy with interest coverage ratio of 3.8 times in fiscal 2020, which further improved to 6.4 times in the first half of fiscal 2021 (3.5 times in the first half of fiscal 2020). With continuous reduction in bank debt and significant interest cost reduction, the interest coverage ratio is expected to continue to improve over the medium term. Net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratio was 0.18 time in fiscal 2020 and is expected to continue to improve with expected reduction in debt and continued improvement in profit, over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets were high at around 226 days as on March 31, 2020, mainly driven by inventory of 175 days, primarily on account of higher stocking at year end.
 
* Susceptibility to volatile raw material prices and changes in trade policies of key importing countries: The group usually enters into an understanding with customers for supply of rice, though this is not binding. Hence, exposure to risks related to any steep variation in paddy prices, subsequent to procurement, remains high. Additionally, the group is exposed to changes in the trade policies of the countries to whom the group exports basmati rice from India. However, having strong brands, wide geographical reach and sourcing capabilities have helped the group maintain profitability.
Liquidity Strong

Net cash accrual in fiscal 2020 was Rs 266 crore. Furthermore, cash accrual is expected to be over Rs 300 crore in fiscal 2021. Debt repayment remains at Rs 30 crore over the next two years. The group does not envisage any big capex, only regular capex of around Rs 100 crore.
 
Cash and cash equivalent was Rs 35 crore as on March 31, 2020. The average bank line utilisation remained moderate at 68% for the 12 months through September 2020.

Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes the LT group's credit risk profile will continue to benefit from its established market position, strong brands and diverse geographical presence in the basmati rice industry and expected improvement in its financial risk profile.
 
Rating sensitivity factors:
Upward factors
* Debt-to-EBIDTA ratio of less than 3 times over the medium term
* EBITDA margin upwards of 12%
* Better working capital management, strengthening the financial risk profile, especially capital structure
 
Downward factors:
* Decline in scale of operations by 10% or profitability by 150 basis points
* Any major, debt-based capex weakening the financial risk profile
* Stretch in the working capital cycle

About the Group

LTF, which was set up in 1990, by the Amritsar-based Arora family, mills, processes, and markets rice (largely basmati). The company has established brands such as Daawat, Royal, Devaaya, Rozana, Heritage, and Chef's Secretz, varying from basic to premium quality, both in the domestic and overseas markets. It has facilities in Haryana, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, with combined milling capacity of 106 tonne per hour (tph) and individual capacity of 58 tph.

Incorporated in May 2006, DFL is a majority-owned subsidiary of LTF, which has a shareholding of 70.09%; the balance, held by United United Farmers Investment Company - a subsidiary of Saudi Agricultural & Livestock Investment Company ('SALIC'), owned by the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SALIC acquired 29.81% stake from India Agri Business Fund, sponsored by Rabobank and 0.1% from REAL Trust in May, 2020. The company processes and markets basmati rice. Its manufacturing unit at Mandideep (Bhopal), has an installed capacity of 36 tons per hour.

NBFL, incorporated in 2007, is a majority-owned subsidiary of LTF. The company deals in organic Basmati Rice, Non-Basmati Rice, Soya, Pulses, Spices, rice flour, wheat flour and miscellaneous agri commodities. Domestically it sells under its brand name Ecolife, while exports are mainly as ingredients. It has a capacity of 6 tph in Sonipat, Haryana.

RAIPL processes rice at its facility in Amritsar with a capacity of 6 tph. It primarily produces raw and par-boiled rice under brands such as Devaya, Rozana, and Chef's Secretz. It is a majority owned subsidiary of LTF, which has a shareholding of 96%; the remaining is held by DFL.

Key Financial Indicators - Consolidated
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs Cr. 4157 3897
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs Cr. 199 137
PAT Margin % 4.8 3.5
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.99 1.32
Interest coverage Times 3.79 2.99

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 Letter of credit & bank guarantee NA NA NA 66.5 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Non-fund based limits NA NA NA 29.0 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Working capital facility NA NA NA 685.2 NA CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Proposed fund based bank limits NA NA NA 267.5 NA CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Proposed long term bank loan facility NA NA NA 14.5 NA CRISIL A-/Positive
NA Proposed working capital facility NA NA NA 124.7 NA CRISIL A-/Positive
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Daawat Foods Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
SDC Foods India Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
L T International Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
LT Overseas North America Inc. Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Sona Global Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Raghuvesh Foods & Infrastructure Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
LT Foods International Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Nature Bio Foods Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
LT Agri Services Private Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
LT Foods USA LLC Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
LT Foods Middle East DMCC Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Universal Traders Inc. Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Expo Services Private Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Fresco Fruits N Nuts Private Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
LT Foods Europe B.V. Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
LT Foods Americas, Inc. Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Raghunath Agro Industries Private Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Deva Singh Sham Singh Export Private Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Daawat Kameda (India) Private Limited Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Nature Bio-Foods B.V. Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
Nature Bio Foods Inc Full consolidation Same business and fungible cash flows
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  1092.00  CRISIL A-/Positive  29-04-20  CRISIL A-/Stable      27-12-18  CRISIL A-/Positive  07-07-17  CRISIL BBB+/Positive  CRISIL BBB+/Stable 
        24-03-20  CRISIL A-/Stable      16-08-18  CRISIL A-/Positive       
                05-03-18  CRISIL A-/Positive       
                21-02-18  CRISIL A-/Positive       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  95.50  CRISIL A2+  29-04-20  CRISIL A2+      27-12-18  CRISIL A2+  07-07-17  CRISIL A2  CRISIL A2 
        24-03-20  CRISIL A2+      16-08-18  CRISIL A2+       
                05-03-18  CRISIL A2+       
                21-02-18  CRISIL A2+       
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
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 66.5 CRISIL A2+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 66.5 CRISIL A2+
Non-Fund Based Limit 29 CRISIL A2+ Non-Fund Based Limit 29 CRISIL A2+
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 267.5 CRISIL A-/Positive Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 267.5 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 14.5 CRISIL A-/Positive Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 14.5 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 124.75 CRISIL A-/Positive Proposed Working Capital Facility 124.75 CRISIL A-/Stable
Working Capital Facility 685.25 CRISIL A-/Positive Working Capital Facility 685.25 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 1187.5 -- Total 1187.5 --
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
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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