Acuite Ratings and Research logo
 
 
 
 
 
Product Quantum (Rs. Cr) (SEBI) Quantum (Rs. Cr) (Other FSR) Long Term Rating Short Term Rating Regulated By
Bank Loan Ratings 0.00 54.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable | Reaffirmed - RBI
Bank Loan Ratings 0.00 106.00 - ACUITE A2 | Reaffirmed RBI
Total Outstanding 0.00 160.00 - - -
Total Withdrawn 0.00 0.00 - - -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

­Acuité ­has reaffirmed its long-term rating of 'ACUITE BBB' (read as ACUITE triple B) on the Rs.54.00 Cr. bank facilities and its short term rating of 'ACUITE A2' (read as ACUITE A two) on the Rs.106.00 Cr. bank facilities of Spectrum Ethers Private Limited (SEPL). The outlook is ‘Stable’.

Rationale for rating reaffirmation
The rating reaffirmation factors in SEPL’s improved operating performance, supported by higher export contribution, geographical diversification and an established product portfolio in the agrochemical segment. The rating also draws strength from the company’s healthy financial risk profile, long track record of operations and the extensive experience of its promoters in the agrochemical industry. However, these strengths are partially offset by the working capital intensive nature of operations, exposure to raw material price volatility, supply chain disruptions and agro-climatic risks inherent in the industry.


About the Company
­­Incorporated in 1993, Spectrum Ethers Private Limited is engaged in manufacturing of agrochemicals and is based out of Nashik, Maharashtra. The key products of the company are Profenofous Tech, Propiconazole Tech,Turbofous Tech and others. The directors of the company are Dr. Milind Shankarrao Kolhe, Shri. Jugalkishore Ganpatlalji Agrawal, Shri. Arun Gangadhar Daware and Shri. Chandrashekhar Vitthalrao Joshi.
 
Unsupported Rating
­Not Applicable
 
Analytical Approach
­­Acuité has considered the standalone business and financial risk profile of SEPL to arrive at this rating.
 
Key Rating Drivers

Strengths

Established track record, experienced management and diversified product portfolio
SEPL has a long operational track record of over three decades in the agrochemical industry, supported by the extensive experience of its promoters and management team. The company has established manufacturing capabilities across technical-grade insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, formulations and plant growth regulators (PGRs), resulting in a diversified product portfolio. Further, the company's presence across multiple product categories and end markets supports business stability and enables it to cater to a broad customer base.

Improving operating performance supported by diversified geographical presence and planned capacity expansion
The company's operating performance improved in FY2026, with revenue increasing to Rs.373.37 crore from Rs.349.50 crore in FY2025, driven by higher export contribution and geographical diversification across the US, Brazil, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa. The 5MFY2027 revenue stood at Rs.222.37 Cr (Prov.). The company has also demonstrated growth in key products such as Profenofos Technical and Propiconazole Technical during FY2026. Despite a challenging operating environment marked by raw material price volatility and supply chain disruptions, the company maintained its operating profitability with EBITDA margin improving to 5.17 per cent in FY2026 from 4.54 per cent in FY2025. 

The company has also undertaken capacity expansion initiatives, having incurred capex of around Rs.15 Cr. in FY2026 and envisaging a further capex of around Rs.25 Cr. in FY27 & FY28 towards capacity augmentation and commercialization of new molecules, which is expected to support its export growth strategy and strengthen its manufacturing capabilities over the medium term.

Acuité believes that the company's diversified geographical presence and expansion plans will continue to support its business risk profile.

Healthy financial risk profile
SEPL’s financial risk profile remained healthy, marked by healthy net worth, moderate leverage levels and comfortable debt protection metrics. The net worth improved to Rs.167.56 Cr. as on 31st March 2026 as compared to Rs.158.42 Cr. as on 31st March 2025. The improvement is primarily on account of accretion of profits to reserves.

Further the debt-equity stood below unity at 0.33 times as on March 31, 2026, from 0.21 times as on March 31, 2025, owing to increase in the debt levels. TOL/TNW stood at 1.01 times as on March 31, 2026, against 0.97 times as on March 31, 2025. Debt protection metrics stood comfortable; interest coverage ratio at 9.58 times in FY2026 and debt service coverage ratio at 2.38 times during the same period. Further, Debt/EBITDA increased to 2.52 times as against 1.65 times over the same period owing to higher debt levels. Nevertheless, the financial risk profile continues to remain healthy supported by comfortable net worth, moderate gearing and healthy debt servicing ability.

Acuité believes that the financial risk profile of SEPL is expected to remain healthy over the medium term, despite the planned debt-funded capex, supported by healthy cash accruals and improving operational performance.


Weaknesses

Working capital intensive operations
SEPL’s working capital operations remained intensive and witnessed further elongation in FY2026, marked by GCA days of 242 days against 220 days in FY2025. The increase in working capital intensity was primarily driven by higher inventory holding levels during the year, resulting in a lengthening of the inventory cycle. The company maintained higher inventory levels to ensure uninterrupted availability of key raw materials amid continued volatility in raw material prices and supply chains.

The inventory days stood at 89 days in FY2026 against 65 days in FY2025. The debtor days stood at 123 days in FY2026 against 130 days in FY2025. The creditors days stood at 118 days in FY2026 against 139 days in FY2025. The average utilization of fund based limits stood moderate at ~43.75% for the last 06 months ended August 2026.

Acuité believes that SEPL's working capital operations are likely to remain intensive over the medium term on account of the nature of operations and inventory requirements associated with its product portfolio.

Exposure to agro-climatic and industry-related risks
SEPL remains exposed to risks inherent in the agrochemical industry, with demand for its products being dependent on agricultural activity, cropping patterns and prevailing agro-climatic conditions. Any adverse weather events or weak monsoon conditions could impact agrochemical consumption and, consequently, the company's operating performance.

Rating Sensitivities

Potential triggers (individual or collective) for an upward rating action:
  • Increase in operating performance with revenues reaching above ~Rs.650 Crs along with improvement in the profitability margins.
  • Improvement in the capital structure.
Potential triggers (individual or collective) for a downward rating action:
  • Deterioration in operating performance with revenues falling below ~Rs.300 Crs or decline in profitability margins.
  • Elongation in working capital cycle or increased reliance on working capital borrowings, leading to deterioration in the financial risk profile.
Liquidity Position
Adequate

SEPL’s liquidity position is adequate, marked by sufficient net cash accruals of Rs.14.30 Cr in FY2026 against repayment obligations of Rs.4.67 Cr during the same period. Going forward, the company is expected to generate sufficient net cash accruals in the range of ~Rs.16-19 Cr in FY27 & FY28 against repayment obligation in the range of ~Rs.7-8 Cr during the same period. The reliance on working capital limits stood moderate, with fund-based utilisation at around 43.75% for the past six months ending August 2026. The current ratio stood moderate at 1.61 times, and cash balance stood at Rs.16.18 Cr as on 31st March 2026.

 
Outlook: Stable
­
 
Other Factors affecting Rating
­None
 

Particulars Unit FY 26 (Actual) FY 25 (Actual)
Operating Income Rs. Cr. 373.37 349.50
PAT Rs. Cr. 9.13 10.60
PAT Margin (%) 2.45 3.03
Total Debt/Tangible Net Worth Times 0.33 0.21
PBDIT/Interest Times 9.58 10.32
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
• Manufacturing Entities: https://www.acuite.in/view-rating-criteria-59.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
04 Jul 2025 Letter of Credit Short Term 22.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 44.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 40.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 8.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Term Loan Long Term 13.81 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Term Loan Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Proposed Long Term Loan Long Term 6.19 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 6.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Reaffirmed)
05 Apr 2024 Letter of Credit Short Term 40.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 22.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Letter of Credit Short Term 44.00 ACUITE A2 (Reaffirmed)
Cash Credit Long Term 6.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Downgraded from ACUITE BBB+ | Stable)
Cash Credit Long Term 8.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Downgraded from ACUITE BBB+ | Stable)
Cash Credit Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Downgraded from ACUITE BBB+ | Stable)
Term Loan Long Term 13.81 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Downgraded from ACUITE BBB+ | Stable)
Term Loan Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Downgraded from ACUITE BBB+ | Stable)
Proposed Long Term Loan Long Term 6.19 ACUITE BBB | Stable (Downgraded from ACUITE BBB+ | Stable)
11 Jan 2023 Letter of Credit Short Term 40.00 ACUITE A2 (Assigned)
Letter of Credit Short Term 22.00 ACUITE A2 (Assigned)
Letter of Credit Short Term 44.00 ACUITE A2 (Assigned)
Cash Credit Long Term 6.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Assigned)
Cash Credit Long Term 8.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Assigned)
Cash Credit Long Term 10.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Assigned)
Term Loan Long Term 20.00 ACUITE BBB+ | Stable (Assigned)
Term Loan Long Term 10.00 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
DBS BANK INDIA LIMITED (ERSTWHILE DBS BANK LIMITED) Not avl. / Not appl. Cash Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 6.00 Simple ACUITE BBB | Stable | Reaffirmed
CITI Bank Not avl. / Not appl. Cash Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 8.00 Simple ACUITE BBB | Stable | Reaffirmed
YES BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Cash Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 10.00 Simple ACUITE BBB | Stable | Reaffirmed
CITI Bank Not avl. / Not appl. Letter of Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 22.00 Simple ACUITE A2 | Reaffirmed
DBS BANK INDIA LIMITED (ERSTWHILE DBS BANK LIMITED) Not avl. / Not appl. Letter of Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 44.00 Simple ACUITE A2 | Reaffirmed
YES BANK LIMITED Not avl. / Not appl. Letter of Credit Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 40.00 Simple ACUITE A2 | Reaffirmed
Not Applicable Not avl. / Not appl. Proposed Long Term Loan Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 6.19 Simple ACUITE BBB | Stable | Reaffirmed
CITI Bank Not avl. / Not appl. Term Loan Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 31 Mar 2030 13.81 Simple ACUITE BBB | Stable | Reaffirmed
CITI Bank Not avl. / Not appl. Term Loan Unlisted RBI Not avl. / Not appl. Not avl. / Not appl. 31 Mar 2030 10.00 Simple ACUITE BBB | 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
Acuite Ratings and Research logo