Rating Rationale
June 28, 2019 | Mumbai
Aamoda Broadcasting Company Private Limited
Rating upgraded to 'CRISIL BB-/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.15 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL B+/Stable')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Aamoda Broadcasting Company Private Limited (ABCPL; part of Aamoda group) to 'CRISIL BB-/Stable' from 'CRISIL B+/Stable'.
 
The upgrade reflects improvement in the Amoda group's financial risk profile, supported by healthy operating performance and continued financial support from the management. Consolidated revenue grew at a healthy compounded annual rate of 13% over the three fiscals ended 2019, to about Rs 375 crore. Though sharp hike in newsprint prices led to volatility in operating margin, it has been moderate between 11% and 20% over the past three years.
 
Large capital expenditure (capex) undertaken over fiscals 2016 to 2019, was almost entirely funded by unsecured loans extended by promoters and internal accruals. Networth has improved significantly to around Rs 69.4 crore as on March 31, 2019, from Rs 13.4 crore on March 31, 2016, driven by higher reserve accretion. Capital structure and indebtedness ratios too have improved to 0.51 time and 0.92 time, respectively, from 2.55 times and 6.86 times during the same period. Profitability and working capital management will be closely monitored.
 
The ratings also reflect the extensive experience of the group's promoters, established market position of the newspaper, Andhra Jyothi, and the comfortable financial risk profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by exposure to volatility in raw material prices, and intense competition in the media and publishing industry.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ABCPL and its parent Aamoda Publications Pvt Ltd (APPL). This because the two entities, together referred to as the Aamoda group, are in the same line of business, with common promoters and fungible cash flows.
 
Unsecured loans of Rs 135.6 crore as of March 31, 2019, extended by the promoters, were treated as neither debt nor equity, as these are non-interest bearing and expected to remain in business over the medium term. These loans were earlier treated as debt, as there was no commitment to retain them in the business. 

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation. 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Extensive experience of the promoters and established market position of the Aamoda group:
The Aamoda group has been in engaged in printing and circulation of a vernacular Telugu newspaper, Andhra Jyothi, since 2002. The newspaper is the third largest circulated daily newspaper in Telugu. The group has also entered the television broadcasting space, by launching ABN Andhra Jyothi news channel in October 2009.

* Comfortable financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is marked by a moderate networth and gearing, estimated at Rs 69 crore and 0.51 time, respectively, on March 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics are also estimated healthy, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios estimated at 6.1 times and 0.95 time, respectively, in fiscal 2019.

Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to volatile raw material prices:
Operating margin was volatile between 11% and 20%, over the past three fiscals ended 2019, and remains susceptible to volatility in newsprint prices.

* Exposure to intense competition in the media and publishing industry: The Aamoda group faces intense competition from numerous Telugu newspapers and local channels. Though Andhra Jyoti is one of the top five Telugu dailies, it has a lower share of ad revenue, as compared to English and Hindi dailies. Moreover, circulation and readership are restricted within Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Liquidity

Bank limit utilisation was high averaging about 93% over the six months ended February 2019, and may remain high in the medium term, due to the large working capital requirement. Net cash accrual should be comfortable at Rs 35-40 crore in fiscals 2020 and 2021, against negligible maturing debt (of less than Rs 1 crore). Current ratio was below 1 time until March 31, 2018, as accumulated losses eroded the networth. However, sizeable unsecured loans extended by the promoters, over the past two fiscals, along with healthy net cash accrual, has led to an improvement in the current ratio (estimated at 1.19 times on March 31, 2019). Unencumbered cash balance was about Rs 5 crore as on the same date.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Aamoda group will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters and established brand image of its newspaper, Andhra Jyoti. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if significant improvement in revenue and profitability, or sizeable equity infusion by the promoters, strengthens the financial risk profile, particularly capital structure. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a stretch in the working capital cycle, or decline in revenue or the operating margin, weakens the financial risk profile.

About the Company

Established in August 2002, and promoted by Mr V Radhakrishna and his wife, Ms K Kanaka Durga, APPL publishes and prints the Telugu daily newspaper, Andhra Jyothy, and Telugu weekly, Navya.
 
ABCPL, incorporated in 2008, is a subsidiary of APPL and operates the Telugu news channel, ABN Andhra Jyothi.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 - Consolidated  Units 2018 2017
Operating income Rs crore 341.05 311.78
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 17.19 27.76
PAT margin % 5.0 8.9
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.63 1.28
Interest coverage Times 8.7 11.3

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size
(Rs crore)
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 2 CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 13 CRISIL BB-/Stable

Annexure ' List of entities consolidated
Names of entities consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Aamoda Publications Pvt Ltd (APPL) Full consolidation Same line of business, common promoters and fungible cash flows
Aamoda Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd Full consolidation Same line of business, common promoters and 87% subsidiary of APPL
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  15.00  CRISIL BB-/Stable      29-03-18  CRISIL B+/Stable      06-10-16  CRISIL B/Stable  CRISIL B-/Stable 
            31-01-18  CRISIL B+/Stable           
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 2 CRISIL BB-/Stable Cash Credit 2 CRISIL B+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 13 CRISIL BB-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 13 CRISIL B+/Stable
Total 15 -- Total 15 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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