Product Quantum (Rs. Cr) Long Term Rating Short Term Rating
Bank Loan Ratings 28.00 ACUITE BBB | Upgraded & Withdrawn -
Total Outstanding Quantum (Rs. Cr) 0.00 - -
Total Withdrawn Quantum (Rs. Cr) 28.00 - -
 
Rating Rationale
­­Acuite has upgraded and withdrawn its long term rating of "ACUITE BBB" (read as ACUITE Triple B) of Rs.28 Crore bank facilities of BEST CROP SCIENCE PRIVATE LIMITED (ERSTWHILE BEST CROP SCIENCE LLP). The rating wirhdrawan is on account of the request received from the company and the NOC received from the banker. The rating is withdrawn on Acuite's policy of withdrawal of ratings.

Rationale for rating
Sustained performance, ­Established track record of operation and experienced management and healthy financial risk profile were the driving factors of the rating however the rating is underpinned by the moderately intensive working capital operation and competition from other players.

About Company
­Best Crop Science Private limited has converted into private limited,earlier it was a partnership firm established in 2015. It is a part of Delhi based Best Agro Group and is engaged in manufacturing and trading of crop protection products such as pesticides, herbicides, insecticides etc. the firm started its operation in 2016. The company is promoted by Mr. Vimal Alawadhi, and the others.
 
About the Group
­Best Agrolife Group is a Delhi based group, promoted by Mr. Vimal Alawadhi, Mr. Braj Kishore Prasad, among the others, which is engaged in the manufacturing and trading of agrochemical products such as insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and plant nutrients. The group currently comprises of two entities i.e. Best Agrolife Limited and Best Crop Science Private limited.
 

Analytical Approach

Extent of Consolidation
•Full Consolidation
Rationale for Consolidation or Parent / Group / Govt. Support
­Acuité has consolidated the business and financial risk profiles of Best Agrolife Limited and Best Crop Science LLP together known as Best Agro Group, to arrive at this rating. The consolidation is on account of common management, similar line of business, and operational linkages. 

Key Rating Drivers

Strengths
­Established track record of operation and experience management
Mr. Vimal Kumar is the managing director and has vast experience in the agrochemical industry. He is ably supported by other directors who are professionally running the company. The group has a distribution network with more than 3600 distributers and direct dealers and over 1500 retail points across the country with 18 stock points which has enabled them to clock revenues of Rs.1451.36 crore in FY2022 as compared to Rs.992.79 crore in FY2021.  Acuité believes that the group will continue to benefit from its experienced management and long track record of operation in agrochemical industry.


Healthy financial risk profile
Group’s Financial risk profile remain healthy marked by strong net worth, strong gearing and strong debt protection metrics. The net worth of the group stood at Rs.355.95 Crore as on March 2022 against Rs.148.30 Crore in FY21. The net worth levels have seen significant improvement over the last three years on an account of healthy accretion to reserve during the same period. The gearing level stood at 0.87 times in FY22 against 1.07 times in FY21. In addition to this, the interest coverage ratio stood high at 9.15 times in FY22 against 7.59 times in FY21. Acuite expects that financial risk profile of the group to remain healthy over the medium term on an account of high net worth and strong debt protection metrics.
Weaknesses
­Moderate working Capital operations
The working capital operations of the company is intensive in FY22 marked by GCA (Gross current days) Days of 217 days in FY22 against 198 days in FY21.The GCA days are high on an account of high inventory days due to import from China. The current ratio of the company stood at 1.23 times in FY22. Acuite believes that the working capital requirement will continue to remain intensive over the medium term.

Competitive and fragmented nature of operation
The group is operating in competitive and fragmented nature of industry. There are several players engaged in the agrochemical industry in organized and unorganized sector. Hence, the group might face pricing pressure from other competitors. Therefore, having an established brand name is of utmost importance in this industry along with continuous addition of value added products in the product offerings.
Rating Sensitivities
  • ­Significant improvement in operating income and profitability
  • Stretch in working capital cycle
 
Material Covenants
­None.
 
Liquidity Position
Strong
­The group has strong liquidity marked by high net cash accruals to its maturing debt obligations. The group generated net cash accruals of Rs.125.89 Crore against CPLTD of Rs.1.45 Crore for the same period. Company maintains unencumbered cash and bank balance of Rs.12.79 Crore. Acuite believes that the liquidity of the company is likely to remain strong over the medium term on account of healthy cash accrual and no major repayments over the medium term.
 
Outlook:
­Not Applicable.
 
Other Factors affecting Rating
­None
 

Particulars Unit FY 22 (Actual) FY 21 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr. 1451.36 992.79
PAT Rs. Cr. 114.98 50.07
PAT Margin (%) 7.92 5.04
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 0.87 1.07
PBDIT/Interest Times 9.15 7.59
Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable)
None
 
Any Other Information
­None
 
Applicable Criteria
• Complexity Level Of Financial Instruments: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-55.htm
• Consolidation Of Companies: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-60.htm
• Default Recognition: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-52.htm
• Manufacturing Entities: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-59.htm

Note on Complexity Levels of the Rated Instrument
https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-55.htm

Date Name of Instruments/Facilities Term Amount (Rs. Cr) Rating/Outlook
19 Jul 2022 Cash Credit Long Term 16.50 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded and Issuer not co-operating*)
Proposed Bank Facility Long Term 0.63 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded and Issuer not co-operating*)
Term Loan Long Term 7.57 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded and Issuer not co-operating*)
Working Capital Term Loan Long Term 3.30 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded and Issuer not co-operating*)
27 Apr 2021 Term Loan Long Term 7.57 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Assigned)
Working Capital Term Loan Long Term 3.30 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Assigned)
Cash Credit Long Term 16.50 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Assigned)
Proposed Bank Facility Long Term 0.63 ACUITE BBB (Assigned)
28 Dec 2018 Cash Credit Long Term 16.00 ACUITE BB | Stable (Withdrawn)
Term Loan Long Term 12.65 ACUITE BB | Stable (Withdrawn)
Proposed Long Term Loan Long Term 1.35 ACUITE BB | Stable (Withdrawn)
26 Dec 2017 Term Loan Long Term 12.65 ACUITE BB | Stable (Assigned)
Cash Credit Long Term 16.00 ACUITE BB | Stable (Assigned)
Proposed Long Term Loan Long Term 1.35 ACUITE BB | Stable (Assigned)
­

Lender’s Name ISIN Facilities Date Of Issuance Coupon Rate Maturity Date Quantum (Rs. Cr.) Rating
Axis Bank Not Applicable Cash Credit Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 16.50 ACUITE BBB | Upgraded & Withdrawn
Not Applicable Not Applicable Proposed Long Term Bank Facility Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 0.63 ACUITE BBB | Upgraded & Withdrawn
Axis Bank Not Applicable Term Loan Not available 9.25 31-03-2023 7.57 ACUITE BBB | Upgraded & Withdrawn
Axis Bank Not Applicable Working Capital Term Loan Not available Not available Not available 3.30 ACUITE BBB | Upgraded & Withdrawn

Contacts
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