Product Quantum (Rs. Cr) (SEBI) Quantum (Rs. Cr) (Other FSR) Long Term Rating Short Term Rating Regulated By
Bank Loan Ratings 0.00 35.00 ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned - RBI
Bank Loan Ratings 0.00 95.33 ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Reaffirmed - RBI
Bank Loan Ratings 0.00 0.71 Not Applicable | Withdrawn - RBI
Total Outstanding 0.00 130.33 - - -
Total Withdrawn 0.00 0.71 - - -
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

­Acuité has reaffirmed its long-term rating of ‘ACUITE BB+’ (read as ACUITE Double B Plus) on the Rs.95.33 Cr. bank facilities of Saifco Hillcrest Hotels Private Limited (SHHPL). The outlook is ‘Stable’.
­
Acuité has also assigned its long-term rating of ‘ACUITE BB+’ (read as ACUITE Double B Plus) on the Rs.35.00 Cr. bank facilities of Saifco Hillcrest Hotels Private Limited (SHHPL). The outlook is ‘Stable’.

Acuité has also withdrawn its rating on the proposed long-term bank facilities of Rs.0.71 Cr. of Saifco Hillcrest Hotels Private Limited without assigning any rating as it is a proposed facility. The rating has been withdrawn on account of the request received from the issuer.
The rating withdrawal is in accordance with Acuité's policy on withdrawal of rating as applicable to the respective facility / instrument.

Rationale for rating:
The company has migrated from the status of ‘Issuer Not Cooperating’. The rating considers the company’s improved operating performance in FY2025, marked by growth in scale of operations supported by higher occupancy, ARR and RevPAR, resulting in healthy revenues and profitability. Although in FY26, the revenue of the company declined due to lower occupancy and realisations following the Pahalgam disturbance. Although margins remained relatively stable. The rating considers the change in financial risk profile especially the capital structure arising from repayment of unsecured loans availed from Saifco Cements Private Limited (now J.K. Cement Saifco Private Limited) through bank borrowings. This has resulted in significant increase in the gearing ratio. Also, there was an  increase in working capital requirements driven by higher debtor levels. The rating continues to factor in the company’s ongoing capacity expansion plans and its adequate liquidity position supported by internal accruals and extended repayment tenor of the loans sanctioned under “ rehabilitation Package – 2025 for borrowers hit by disturbances” by lenders. Further, the rating derives support from the promoter’s experience in the hospitality sector and the upgrade of the hotel to the ‘Taj’ brand expected to improve the operating performance.


About the Company

­Srinagar based, Saifco Hillcrest Hotels Private Limited (SHHPL) was incorporated as a private limited company in the year 2006 in Jammu & Kashmir. The company operates in hospitality segment and is running Taj brand hotel at Srinagar. The registered office is located at Kralsangri, Brene, Nishat, Srinagar, Kashmir. The company is managed by Mr. Manzoor Ahmad Guna, Mr. Altaf Ahmad Guna, Mr. Mohammad Khalil Guna, Mrs. Mumtaz Banoo, Mr. Ghulam Hassan Baba, Mr. Dawood Altaf Guna, Mr. Amir Manzoor Guna, Mrs. Parveez Ahmad Guna, Mr. Ruhail Manzoor Guna and Mr. Suhail Manzoor Guna as directors of the company.

 
Unsupported Rating
­Not Applicable
 
Analytical Approach

­Acuité has considered the standalone business and financial risk profile of Saifco Hillcrest Hotels Private Limited to arrive at this rating.

 
Key Rating Drivers

Strengths

­Experienced Management and established presence in hospitality industry
Incorporated in 2006, SHHPL operates a hotel property in Srinagar with 103 rooms along with allied hospitality facilities and has been operational since April 2011. The company is supported by promoters with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry. The property operates under franchise, marketing and management agreements with Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and was rebranded from ‘Vivanta by Taj’ to the ‘Taj’ brand in December 2024, reflecting a repositioning towards the luxury segment.
Acuite believes that SHHPL will continue to benefit from its extensive experience of promoters and its strategic location of hotel.

Prime location Enhancing Visibility and Demand
SHHPL’s hotel benefits from a prime location at Kralsangri, Nishat, overlooking the Dal Lake, enhancing its appeal among premium leisure travellers. Its proximity to prominent tourist attractions such as the Mughal Gardens, along with good connectivity to Srinagar city and the airport, supports steady occupancy levels. The serene surroundings combined with scenic views provide a differentiated hospitality experience, strengthening its positioning in the upscale segment. Further, association with the ‘Taj’ brand enhances visibility and attracts a diversified clientele across leisure, corporate, and event-based segments.

Scale of operations and profitability
The company’s scale of operations has shown steady growth, with revenue of Rs. 80.56 Cr. in FY2025 as compared to Rs. 76.16 Cr. in FY2024. The growth was driven by improvement in Average Room Rent (ARR), RevPAR and occupancy levels. In FY2026, the company reported revenue of Rs. 51.00 crore for the year ended March 2026, impacted by relatively lower occupancy and subdued tourist inflows during certain periods, followed by moderation due to the Pahalgam tragedy. Going forward, revenues are expected to increase from expected higher occupancy, increase in room rates and addition of new room inventory from December 2024. The company has an estimated revenue of around Rs. 8 crores in April 2026. The operating margin improved to 54.17 percent in FY2025 from 49.58 percent in FY2024. The improvement in operating margin is on account of decrease in other operating expenses. Consequently, the PAT margin also improved to 38.21 percent in FY2025 as against 33.30 percent in FY2024. The profitability are estimated to be at similar levels in FY26.
Acuite believes that SHHPL’s scale of operations may moderate in the near term due to fluctuations in occupancy but is expected to improve over the medium term with recovery in demand and addition of new rooms.


Weaknesses

Moderate Financial Risk Profile:
The financial risk profile of SHHPL is moderate, characterized by moderate net worth, high gearing, and comfortable debt protection metrics. The company's tangible net worth stood at Rs. 38.32 Cr. as of March 31, 2025, as against Rs. 7.54 Cr. as of March 31, 2024, due to the accumulation of profits into reserves and treatment of unsecured loans as quasi equity. The gearing (debt-equity) of the company stood at 2.55 times as on 31 March 2025 as against 13.81 times as on 31 March 2024. The total debt of the company stood at Rs. 97.80 Cr. as on March 31, 2025, as against Rs. 104.08 Cr. as on March 31, 2024. The debt profile of the company comprised of Rs. 94.04 Cr. of long-term debt, and Rs.3.76 Cr. of current portion of long-term debt. The TOL/TNW of the company stood at 2.58 times as on March 31, 2025, as against 14.01 times as on March 31,2024. However, going forward from FY26 onwards the quasi equity treatment is not available in the absence of any subordination clause to bank loans. This is expected to skew the capital structure and weaken the gearing substantially. Further, the debt protection metrics of the company stood comfortable reflected by interest coverage ratio (ICR) stood at 4.73 times for FY2025 as against 4.17 times for FY2024 and debt service coverage ratio of 3.62 times for FY2025 as against 3.18 times for FY2024. Acuite notes that the extended repayment tenor of the loans sanctioned under “rehabilitation Package – 2025 for borrowers hit by disturbances” by lenders coupled with moderate cash accruals will support the debt protection metrices. The net cash accruals to total debt (NCA/TD) stood at 0.35 times in FY2025 as compared to 0.28 times in the previous year.
Acuité believes that the company’s ability to mark sustained improvement in its financial risk profile will remain a key monitorable over the medium term.


Moderately intensive Working Capital Operations
The company’s working capital operations are moderately intensive in nature. The GCA days stood at 108 days as on March 31, 2025, as against 77 days as on March 31, 2024. The GCA days are mainly driven by higher receivable cycle and increase in other current assets during FY25. The debtor days stood at 23 days as on March 31,2025 as against 10 days as on March 31, 2024. The inventory days stood at 12 days as on March 31, 2025, as against 7 days as on March 31, 2024. The creditor days stood at 334 days as on March 31,2025 as against 156 days as on March 31, 2024.
Acuite will keep the working capital cycle a monitorable over the medium term.

­
High competitive industry
The hospitality sector is vulnerable to downturns in both the domestic and global economy. It is also sensitive to high competition and cyclicality. In a downturn, premium hotels are more negatively impacted because, despite high operating costs, their revenue per available room falls more precipitously than that of mid-sized or budget hotels. As a result, the cash flow from premium properties is more vulnerable to economic downturns. Also, the Indian hotel business is seeing fierce rivalry as a result of the expansion of domestic players and the growing presence of overseas competitors.

Rating Sensitivities

Potential triggers (individual or collective) for an upward rating action:

­• Sustained improvement in scale of operations along with stable or improving profitability margins.
• Improvement in financial risk profile with overall gearing below ~2.00x.
• Improvement in liquidity position supported by higher cash accruals.

Potential triggers (individual or collective) for a downward rating action:

­• Any further decline in revenue or pressure on profitability margins.
• Deterioration in debt protection metrics with DSCR falling below ~1.50x.
• Further elongation in working capital cycle

Liquidity Position
Adequate

The company’s liquidity position is adequate, evidenced by sufficient net cash accruals of Rs. 34.42 Cr. in FY2025 as against its maturing debt obligations of Rs.2.84 Cr. during the same period. In addition, it is expected to generate cash accrual in the range of Rs. 15.00-25.00 Cr. as against maturing repayment obligations in the range of Rs. 5.00-8.00 Cr. over the medium term. The unencumbered cash and bank balances of the company stood at Rs. 2.96 Cr. as on March 31, 2025. The current ratio of the company stood at 1.78 times as on March 31, 2025. Going ahead, the company has planned expansion with addition of 6 more rooms along with property upgradation at a cost of ~Rs.10–12 Cr, expected to be completed by FY27.
Acuite believes that the company's liquidity position will remain adequate in the near to medium term, as evidenced by its sufficient net cash accruals against maturing debt obligations albeit capex plans.

 
Outlook: Stable
­
 
Other Factors affecting Rating
­None
 

Particulars Unit FY 25 (Actual) FY 24 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr. 80.56 76.16
PAT Rs. Cr. 30.78 25.36
PAT Margin (%) 38.21 33.30
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 2.55 13.81
PBDIT/Interest Times 4.73 4.17
Status of non-cooperation with previous CRA (if applicable)
­Not Applicable
 
Any other information
­None
 
Applicable Criteria
• Default Recognition :- https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-52.htm
• Service Sector: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-50.htm
• Application Of Financial Ratios And Adjustments: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-53.htm
Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument

Date Name of Instruments/Facilities Term Amount (Rs. Cr) Rating/Outlook
09 Dec 2025 Working Capital Term Loan Long Term 4.25 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE BBB- | Stable)
Term Loan Long Term 52.02 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE BBB- | Stable)
Funded Interest Term Loan Long Term 37.08 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE BBB- | Stable)
Proposed Long Term Bank Facility Long Term 2.69 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE BBB- | Stable)
19 Sep 2024 Term Loan Long Term 52.02 ACUITE BBB- | Stable (Upgraded from ACUITE BB+)
Working Capital Term Loan Long Term 4.25 ACUITE BBB- | Stable (Upgraded from ACUITE BB+)
Funded Interest Term Loan Long Term 37.08 ACUITE BBB- | Stable (Upgraded from ACUITE BB+)
Proposed Long Term Bank Facility Long Term 2.69 ACUITE BBB- | Stable (Upgraded from ACUITE BB+)
19 Jun 2024 Funded Interest Term Loan Long Term 37.95 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE BBB- | Stable)
Term Loan Long Term 53.69 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE BBB- | Stable)
Working Capital Term Loan Long Term 4.40 ACUITE BB+ (Downgraded & Issuer not co-operating* from ACUITE BBB- | Stable)
29 Mar 2023 Working Capital Term Loan Long Term 4.40 ACUITE BBB- | Stable (Assigned)
Term Loan Long Term 53.69 ACUITE BBB- | Stable (Assigned)
Funded Interest Term Loan Long Term 37.95 ACUITE BBB- | Stable (Assigned)
­

Lender’s Name ISIN Facilities Listing Status Regulated By Date Of Issuance Coupon Rate Maturity Date Quantum
(Rs. Cr.)
Complexity Level Rating
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Funded Interest Term Loan Unlisted RBI 20 Jul 2022 Not avl. / Not appl. 30 Nov 2036 35.78 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Reaffirmed
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Funded Interest Term Loan Unlisted RBI 03 Nov 2025 Not avl. / Not appl. 31 Mar 2029 1.77 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Reaffirmed
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Funded Interest Term Loan Unlisted RBI 03 Nov 2025 Not avl. / Not appl. 31 Mar 2029 2.49 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Reaffirmed
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Funded Interest Term Loan Unlisted RBI 03 Nov 2025 Not avl. / Not appl. 31 Mar 2029 0.19 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Reaffirmed
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Funded Interest Term Loan Unlisted RBI 20 Jul 2022 Not avl. / Not appl. 30 Nov 2036 0.99 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned
Not Applicable Not avl. / Not appl. Proposed Long Term Bank Facility Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 0.71 Simple ACUITE Not Applicable | Withdrawn
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Term Loan Unlisted RBI 20 Jul 2022 Not avl. / Not appl. 30 Nov 2036 50.97 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Reaffirmed
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Term Loan Unlisted RBI 23 Jul 2025 Not avl. / Not appl. 30 Jul 2037 24.11 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Term Loan Unlisted RBI 27 Jan 2026 Not avl. / Not appl. 31 Jan 2038 9.90 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Assigned
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Working Capital Term Loan Unlisted RBI 20 Jul 2022 Not avl. / Not appl. 30 Nov 2036 4.13 Simple ACUITE BB+ | Stable | Reaffirmed
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.

Contacts

List of instruments and names of regulators of the instruments

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