Rating Rationale
November 17, 2020 | Mumbai
Sanyasihat Tea Processing Private Limited
Ratings migrated to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.10 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Migrated from 'CRISIL B/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'*)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Migrated from 'CRISIL A4 ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'*)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Detailed Rationale

Due to inadequate information and in line with the guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, CRISIL had migrated the ratings of Sanyasihat Tea Processing Private Limited (STPPL; part of the Suman Tea group) to 'CRISIL B/Stable/CRISIL A4 Issuer Not Cooperating'. However, the management has subsequently started sharing the requisite information necessary for carrying out a comprehensive review of the ratings. Consequently, CRISIL is migrating the ratings on the bank facilities of STPPL to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+'.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the promoters' longstanding presence in the tea industry, diversified customer base and the group's above-average financial risk profile, as indicated by moderate networth, low gearing and above-average debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition in the highly fragmented tea industry and susceptibility of operating margin to volatility in tea prices.
 
The rating also taken into consideration that, in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, players in the tea industry were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with nationwide lockdown declared by the central government reducing tea production by around 10-12% across the country. Nevertheless, realisations have been increasing and if prices sustain for the fiscal, tea growers may see a higher margin along with higher realization expected to cover up for production loss. This however, remains a rating sensitivity factor.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of STPPL with New Leaf Tea Plantation Pvt Ltd (NLTPL), Brojendra Plantation Pvt Ltd (BPPL), Mars Tea India Pvt Ltd (MTIPL), Sarodamoni Tea Company Pvt Ltd (STCPL) and Suman Mfg. Works Pvt Ltd (SMWPL). This is because all these companies, together referred to as the Suman Tea group, are engaged in the same business and have common promoters.

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 experience of the promoters and established customer and supplier base: Benefits from the promoters' experience of over five decades in the tea industry, their good business insights and healthy relationships with tea garden owners and tea leaves brokers, has enabled seamless procurement of green leaves and established diversified customer base with sales to auction houses, private parties, export merchants and consignment agents, which should support the business risk profile.
 
* Above-average financial risk profile: The Suman Tea group's financial risk profile remains comfortable with moderate networth and low gearing estimated at around Rs 43 crore and 0.57 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2020 (against Rs 40.29 crore and 0.76 time, respectively, in the last year). Supported by low gearing and moderate profitability level, the debt protection metrics are above average with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios estimated at 3.2 times and 0.28 time, respectively, for fiscal 2020.
 
Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to volatility in commodity prices: The quality and realisation of crush-tear-curl (CTC) tea quality depends on the yield and quality of tea leaves, which is a seasonal product. However, in case of poor weather conditions, the production and quality deteriorates leading to volatile realisations as reflected in operating profitability of 6.5-8.0% over the four years through fiscal 2020. Thus, profitability will remain vulnerable to volatility in rates of tea and tea leaves, constraining the business risk profile.
 
* Exposure to intense competition: The tea industry in India is at a mature stage. Consequently, growth is expected to remain modest over the medium term. Furthermore, the industry's fragmented nature and the presence of established players constrain the growth prospects and bargaining power for smaller tea manufacturers.
Liquidity Adequate

The group is estimated to have generated accrual of Rs 6.8 crore, against maturing debt of Rs 2.9 crore. Going forward, the group could achieve accrual of Rs 7.5-7.8 crore against maturing debt of Rs 3.3-3.98 crore annually over the medium term. Working capital limit of the group was moderately utilised at around 70% in the 12 months through August 2020. Current ratio is adequate at 1.3 times as on March 31, 2020. In the absence of any large, debt-funded capital expenditure and adequate cushion in bank lines, the liquidity profile is expected to remain adequate.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Suman Tea group will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Improvement in revenue to above Rs 150 crore, along with sustenance of operating profitability above 7%
* Reduction in annual debt obligation, leading to increase in cushion between debt repayment and accrual generated
 
Downward factors
* Decline in scale and profitability, leading to fall in accrual to below Rs 4 crore
* Any addition of large debt either weakening the capital structure or debt protection metrics
About the Group

Suman Tea Group is promoted by the Siliguri-based Bansal family who have been in the tea business for more than three and a half decades. The promoters entered the tea business in 1960 with small-time tea trading, which gradually evolved into wholesale trading. Subsequently, the promoters entered tea blending and packaging operations with the brand, Suman Tea.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2020* 2019
Revenue Rs crore 138.33 138.87
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 2.76 2.93
PAT Margin % 2 2.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.57 0.76
Interest coverage Times 3.2 3.5
*Provisional

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 Levels Rating assigned with outlook
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar- 2022 1.23 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.4 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 5 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Aug-2024 1.15 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 2.22 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entity Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Suman Mfg. Works Pvt Ltd 100% Engaged in the same business and have common promoters
Mars Tea India Pvt Ltd 100% Engaged in the same business and have common promoters
Brojendra Plantation Pvt Ltd 100% Engaged in the same business and have common promoters
Sanyasihat Tea Processing Pvt Ltd 100% Engaged in the same business and have common promoters
Sarodamoni Tea Company Pvt Ltd 100% Engaged in the same business and have common promoters
New Leaf Tea Plantation Pvt Ltd 100% Engaged in the same business and have common promoters
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  9.60  CRISIL BB+/Stable  31-08-20  CRISIL B/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  28-05-19  CRISIL BB+/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  02-02-18  CRISIL BB+/Stable  25-07-17  CRISIL BB+/Stable  CRISIL BB+/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  0.40  CRISIL A4+  31-08-20  CRISIL A4 (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  28-05-19  CRISIL A4+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  02-02-18  CRISIL A4+  25-07-17  CRISIL A4+  CRISIL A4+ 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee .4 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee .4 CRISIL A4/Issuer Not Cooperating
Cash Credit 5 CRISIL BB+/Stable Cash Credit 4.5 CRISIL B/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating
Long Term Loan 1.15 CRISIL BB+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1.49 CRISIL B/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 2.22 CRISIL BB+/Stable Term Loan 3.61 CRISIL B/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating
Term Loan 1.23 CRISIL BB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 10 -- Total 10 --
Links to related criteria
Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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