Product Quantum (Rs. Cr) (SEBI) Quantum (Rs. Cr) (Other FSR) Long Term Rating Short Term Rating Regulated By
Bank Loan Ratings 0.00 3.75 ACUITE BBB- | Stable | Assigned - RBI
Bank Loan Ratings 0.00 85.00 - ACUITE A3 | Upgraded RBI
Total Outstanding 0.00 88.75 - - -
Total Withdrawn 0.00 0.00 - - -
Note:- For activities or ratings of instruments falling under the purview of Financial Sector Regulators other than SEBI, the grievance / dispute redressal mechanisms and investor protection mechanisms provided by SEBI shall not be available.
 
Rating Rationale

Acuite has upgraded its short-term rating to 'ACUITE A3' (read as ACUITE A three) from 'ACUITE A4' (read as ACUITE A four) on Rs.85.00 Cr. bank facilities of Manickavel Edible Oils Private Limited (MEOPL).

Acuite has also assigned its long-term rating of 'ACUITE BBB-' (read as ACUITE triple B minus) on Rs.3.75 Cr. additional bank facilities of Manickavel Edible Oils Private Limited (MEOPL). The outlook is 'Stable'.

Rationale for rating:
The rating upgrade considers the migration from ’Issuer not-cooperating’ status. The rating also factors in the healthy operating scale with steady improvement in the group’s operating income over the past three years, driven by improved realizations and increased contribution from refining activity. The rating also draws comfort from the group’s healthy financial risk profile, supported by a strong net worth and low gearing levels, adequate liquidity position and extensive industry experience of the promoters. However, the rating is constrained by the group’s inherently thin profitability, moderately intensive working capital operations, exposure to volatility in crude oil prices, forex risk and exposure to agro climatic risk amidst presence in a highly competitive industry.


About the Company

­Tamil Nadu based, Manickavel Edible Oils Private Limited (MEOPL) was incorporated in 2002. The company is engaged in trading and processing of edible oils. Present directors are Mr. Mathavan Jikki, Mr. Nagalingam Manthirisabai Jamuna, Mr. Sankili Karuppasamy, Mr. Manickavel Nagalingam Manthirisabai, Mr. Manickavel Mathavan.

 
About the Group

Tamil Nadu based Yentop Group comprises multiple entities engaged in the manufacturing, refining and trading of edible palm oil. The group operates through six companies, with Manickavel Edible Oils Private Limited. and Yentop Manickam Edible Oils Private Limited. housing processing capacities of 400 TPD and 700 TPD respectively, while the remaining entities operate through leased utilisation of these capacities. The group has a long operating history, with its flagship entities incorporated between 1986 and 2002, and benefits from promoter-driven management with extensive experience in the edible oil industry. Operations are primarily focused on import, refining and bulk trading of palm oil and related products, with integrated activities across sourcing, processing and distribution. The group also shares a common customer base across entities, supporting operational synergies and scale benefits.

 
Unsupported Rating
­Not applicable
 
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 Yentop Manickam Edible Oils Private Limited (YMEOPL), Manickavel Edible Oils Private Limited. (MEOPL), Yentop Manickavel Sons Edible Oils Private Limited. (YMSEOPL), M.M. Nagalingam Refineries Private Limited (MMNRPL), M.M.N. Manickavel Coir Products Private Limited (MMNMCPPL) and Yentop Coirs Private Limited (YCPL), collectively referred to as the ‘Yentop Group’. The consolidation is on account of common management, similar line of business, strong operational linkages and the presence of inter-corporate guarantees among the group entities.

Key Rating Drivers

Strengths

­Established track record and experienced management
The Yentop group benefits from its long and established presence in the edible oil industry, with its flagship entities operating since the late 1980s and early 2000s. The group was established by Mr. Manickavel and is currently managed by his sons, Mr. Nagalingam and Mr. Mathavan, who collectively possess over four decades of experience in the same industry. The promoters’ extensive experience in edible oil importing, refining, and trading continues to support stable business operations. The continuity in leadership across group entities, along with a strong understanding of market dynamics and supply chains, has enabled the group to maintain longstanding relationships with suppliers and customers while supporting steady operational performance. Acuite believes the group’s established presence in the edible oil industry, coupled with experienced promoter leadership, supports continuity and stability in its operations.

Strong year-on-year improvement in revenues:
Yentop group’s revenue improved to Rs.2,713.53 Cr. in FY2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of ~22.50 percent from Rs.2,215.77 Cr. in FY2024 and is further estimated at Rs.3,015.91 Cr. in FY2026, indicating a growth of ~11 percent over FY2025. The growth has been driven by enhanced value addition through in-house refining operations, an improved product mix, and better realizations in palmolein and palm oil, supported by steady demand in the edible oil segment.
Acuite expects the group’s revenues to remain on an improving trajectory, supported by higher trading volumes and increased processing activity.

Healthy financial risk profile:
The Yentop group’s financial risk profile is marked by a healthy net worth, comfortable capital structure, and adequate debt protection metrics. The group’s net worth is estimated at around Rs. 370.00–375.00 Cr. as on March 31, 2026, as compared to Rs. 364.71 Cr. as on March 31, 2025, improving significantly from Rs. 110.17 Cr. as on March 31, 2024, primarily on account of the reclassification of unsecured loans amounting to Rs. 246.68 Cr. as quasi-equity. The total debt levels are estimated to remain low at around Rs. 35.00 Cr. as on March 31, 2026 (primarily comprising Rs. 3.12 Cr. of long-term debt, Rs. 19.45 Cr. of short-term debt, Rs. 10 Cr. of unsecured loans, and Rs. 1.74 Cr. of current maturities of long-term debt). Consequently, the gearing remains low at around 0.09 times as on March 31, 2026 (Est.), consistent with FY2025 levels and significantly improved from 2.18 times as on March 31, 2024. The total outside liabilities to tangible net worth (TOL/TNW) is estimated at around 2.25 times as on March 31, 2026, compared to 2.18 times as on March 31, 2025 and 9.41 times as on March 31, 2024.
The debt protection metrics remain comfortable, with an interest coverage ratio (ICR) of 3.10 times and a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of 1.54 times as on March 31, 2025, compared to 3.29 times and 1.42 times, respectively, in the previous year. For FY2026 (Est.), the ICR and DSCR are expected to moderate to 2.72 times and 1.25 times, respectively due to increased interest cost. Debt to EBITDA stood at 1.45 times as on March 31, 2025, improving significantly from 11.97 times in the previous year, and is estimated at around 1.51 times in FY2026.
Acuite believes that the financial risk profile is likely to remain healthy over the medium term, supported by the group’s strong net worth position, low leverage, and absence of any significant debt-funded capital expenditure plans.


Weaknesses

Inherently thin profitability margins:
The group’s operating margins remained thin, with EBITDA margins at 0.79 percent in FY2025 compared to 0.88 percent in FY2024 and are expected to remain in the range of 0.75–0.80 percent in FY2026. The modest margins continue to reflect the inherently competitive and trading-oriented nature of the edible oil industry especially low value additive palm oil processing. Nevertheless, the group has witnessed a gradual improvement in absolute EBITDA, which increased to Rs.21.36 Cr. in FY2025 from Rs.19.45 Cr. in FY2024, and is further expected to improve to Rs.22.50–23.00 Cr. in FY2026, supported by higher scale of operations. Profitability at the PAT level remained thin as well, with PAT margins at 0.29 percent in FY2025 as against 0.31 percent in FY2024 and is expected to sustain in the range of 0.25–0.30 percent in FY2026. Acuite believes, the profitability margins of the group would remain thin in the medium to long term due to its nature of business.

Moderately intensive working capital operations:
The group’s working capital operations are moderately intensive as reflected through the gross current asset (GCA) of around 120-125 days in FY2026 (Est.) improved from 130 days in FY2025 and 158 days in FY2024. The improvement in GCA is primarily due to improved inventory holding and receivable days. The inventory holding period estimated to be around 65-70 days in FY2026 (Est.), against 70 days in FY2025 and 79 days in FY2024. The debtor days are estimated to be around 45-50 days in FY2026 (Est.) from 52 days in FY2025 and 74 days in FY2024, reflecting a quick collection of bills from customers. The creditor days are estimated to be around 95-100 in FY2026 (Est.) against 100 days in FY2025 and 134 days in FY2024, (The improvement in creditor days is majorly due to improved payment terms with suppliers). The fund based working capital limits were utilized at an average of ~51 percent during past 12 months ending  March 2026, while non-fund based limits were utilized at an average of ~99 percent, reflecting reliance on trade finance instruments for procurement. 
Acuite believes that the group’s working capital operations are likely to remain moderately intensive over the medium term on account of the inherently high working capital requirements of the edible oil industry.

Exposure to agro climatic and Forex risks:
The group remains exposed to agro-climatic risks as the availability and pricing of key raw materials, particularly crude edible oils, are influenced by crop yields and weather conditions in major producing regions, with adverse developments potentially leading to volatility in input costs. Additionally, the group is exposed to foreign exchange risk due to its reliance on imports for procurement, wherein fluctuations in currency rates can impact the landed cost of raw materials and profitability. However, the impact of forex risk is mitigated to an extent through the use of forward contracts, which help in locking in exchange rates and reducing the effect of adverse currency movements on operations.

Highly competitive industry:
The group operates in a highly competitive and fragmented industry with the presence of numerous organized and unorganized players. The commoditized nature of products limits pricing flexibility, resulting in pressure on margins and competition largely based on pricing and credit terms.

Rating Sensitivities

Potential triggers (individual or collective) for an upward rating action:
  • Significant growth in operating revenues along with improvement in EBITDA margins above 1.10 percent on a sustained basis.
  • Maintenance of healthy financial risk profile and liquidity position.
  • Improvement in working capital management.
Potential triggers (individual or collective) for a downward rating action:
  • ­Any significant decline in EBITDA margin below ~0.50 percent.
  • Deterioration in financial risk profile due to increase in debt levels or weakening liquidity position.
  • Elongation in working capital cycle with GCA above 160 days.
Liquidity Position
Adequate

­The group’s liquidity position is adequate, supported by sufficient net cash accruals (NCAs) against the modest repayment obligations and healthy unencumbered cash and bank balances. The group is estimated to register NCAs in the range of Rs.10-11 Cr. in FY2026 (Est.) against the repayment obligations of Rs.2.11Cr. Over the medium term, the NCAs are projected to remain around Rs.12.5 Cr. to 15.00 Cr. against the nominal repayment obligation of Rs.1.00-1.71 Cr.
The group’s working capital operations are moderately intensive with an estimated GCA of 121 days in FY2026 (Est.). The current ratio is estimated to be at 1.48 times as on March 31, 2026 (Est.). The consolidated working capital limits were moderately utilized at an average of ~51 percent over the past 12 months ending March 2026. Additionally, the group’s unencumbered cash and bank balances are estimated to be at Rs.30.18 Cr. as on March 31, 2026 and free fixed deposits of around ~Rs.160Cr. which provides additional liquidity support.

 
Outlook: Stable
­
 
Other Factors affecting Rating
­None
 

Particulars Unit FY 25 (Actual) FY 24 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr. 2713.53 2215.77
PAT Rs. Cr. 7.86 6.81
PAT Margin (%) 0.29 0.31
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 0.09 2.18
PBDIT/Interest Times 3.10 3.29
Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable)
­Not applicable
 
Any Other Information
­None
 
Applicable Criteria
• Application Of Financial Ratios And Adjustments: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-53.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
• Trading Entities: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-61.htm
Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument

Date Name of Instruments/Facilities Term Amount (Rs. Cr) Rating/Outlook
20 Feb 2026 Letter of Credit Short Term 85.00 ACUITE A4 (Reaffirmed & Issuer not co-operating*)
25 Nov 2024 Letter of Credit Short Term 85.00 ACUITE A4 (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE A4+)
01 Sep 2023 Letter of Credit Short Term 85.00 ACUITE A4+ (Assigned)
­

Lender’s Name ISIN Facilities Listing Status Regulated By Date Of Issuance Coupon Rate Maturity Date Quantum
(Rs. Cr.)
Complexity Level Rating
INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK Not avl. / Not appl. Cash Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 3.75 Simple ACUITE BBB- | Stable | Assigned
INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK Not avl. / Not appl. Letter of Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 85.00 Simple ACUITE A3 | Upgraded ( from ACUITE A4 )
Note:- For activities or ratings of instruments falling under the purview of Financial Sector Regulators other than SEBI, the grievance / dispute redressal mechanisms and investor protection mechanisms provided by SEBI shall not be available.


*Annexure 2 - List of Entities (applicable for Consolidation or Parent / Group / Govt. Support)

Sr No. Company Name
1 M.M. Nagalingam Refineries Private Limited (MMNRPL)
2 Yentop Manickam Edible Oils Private Limited (YMEOPL)
3 Manickavel Edible Oils Private Limited (MEOPL)
4 Yentop Manickavel Sons Edible Oils Private Limited (YMSEOPL)
5 M.M.N. Manickavel Coir Products Private Limited (MMNMCPPL)
6 Yentop Coirs Private Limited (YCPL).
 

Contacts

List of instruments and names of regulators of the instruments

© Acuité Ratings & Research Limited. All Rights Reserved.www.acuite.in