| Benefitted from Experienced Promoters:
The promoters have over four decades of experience in the coal trading business, enabling them to build strong market insights and a healthy network of overseas suppliers as well as domestic suppliers for seamless coal availability. They also maintain healthy relationships with reputed customers, with a well-diversified base where the top 20 customers contributed around 53% of total revenue in FY2025. Acuité believes the group will continue to benefit from the promoters’ extensive experience over the medium term.
Moderation in Scale of Operations with stable margin, expected to improve:
The group’s revenue moderated to Rs.910.50 crore in FY2025 from Rs.992.02 crore in FY2024, primarily due to geopolitical disruptions affecting exports to Bangladesh and reduced demand in Nepal and Singapore. However, revenue of Rs.675 crore in 8MFY2026 indicates stable performance and growth momentum over the medium term. Despite topline degrowth, operating margin improved slightly to 4.71% in FY2025 from 4.69% in FY2024 owing to lower coal handling charges, while PAT margin moderated to 2.71% in FY 25 from 3.24% in FY 24 due to higher finance costs following increased fund-based limit utilization. Acuité expects operational scale to improve with visible traction in 8MFY2026 and profitability to remain stable in the medium term.
Healthy Financial Risk Profile:
The Financial risk profile of the group is marked by healthy net worth, low gearing, stable coverage indicator. The net worth of the group increased to Rs.340.32 crore in FY 25 from Rs.313.44 crore in FY 24 driven by increase in internal accruals. Total borrowing of the Company stood at Rs. 81.38 crore in FY 25 from Rs.78.87 crore in FY 24. The group has no major long-term borrowings. Gearing is below unity and stood at 0.24 times in FY 25 as compared to 0.25 times in FY 24. Debt protection metrics stood comfortable, with ICR and DSCR stood at 2.82 times and 2.33 times in FY 25 as compared to 3.92 times and 3.38 times in FY 24. TOL/TNW and Debt/EBITDA stood at 0.80 times and 1.48 times in FY 25 as compared to 0.94 times and 1.43 times in FY 24. Acuite believes that financial risk profile of the group will remain healthy in the medium term supported by absence of significant long-term debt.
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| Intensive Working Capital Management:
The group’s working capital cycle remains highly intensive, with GCA days increasing to 210 days in FY2025 from 192 days in FY2024 due to elongated debtor and inventory holding periods. Debtor days rose to 79 days in FY 25 from 50 days in FY 24 as certain customers avail open credit of 60–90 days, though most receivables are LC-backed. Inventory days also increased to 93 days in FY 25 from 87 days in FY 24, as the group occasionally holds stock during low-price periods to benefit from price recovery. Accounts payable stood at 83 days in FY 25 versus 97 days in FY 24, with imports fully LC-backed and an average LC holding period of 90–120 days, while domestic procurement is largely on cash terms. Other current assets declined to Rs.92.50 crore from Rs.136.94 crore due to lower advances and EMD payments for coal e-auctions. Acuité believes working capital intensity to persist over the medium term given the nature of operations.
Fragmented Industry, Exposure to Price Volatility, Regulatory Changes and Susceptibility to Cyclical Risks:
The coal trading industry is highly fragmented with numerous small players due to low entry barriers, resulting in intense competition. The group primarily caters to steel, cement, and power sectors, where demand is closely linked to overall economic activity, making its business risk profile vulnerable to cyclical fluctuations. Additionally, operations remain exposed to volatility in coal prices and changes in regulatory policies, which could impact profitability and demand dynamics.
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