Rating Rationale
November 19, 2019 | Mumbai
Baazar Retail Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.40.3 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A-/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A2+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its ratings on bank facilities of Baazar Retail Limited (BRL) to 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' from CRISIL A-/Positive/CRISIL A2+.
 
The upgrades reflect sustained improvement in BRL's business and financial risk profile and liquidity. Revenue grew to Rs 588 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 504 crore in fiscal 2018 and the margins improved from 10.5% fiscal 2018 to 10.9% in fiscal 2019. This improvement in business risk profile is driven by increased penetration in existing geographies through sustained same store sales growth along with incremental revenue contribution from newly added stores. Continuous focus to establish itself as brand through strengthening its market position by opening new stores should help BRL to sustain its revenue growth momentum. Efficient working capital management, steady cash accrual coupled with continued debt averse philosophy despite induction of new investors holding controlling stake is expected to keep the debt levels controlled over the medium term.
 
The ratings continues to reflects promoters extensive experience in retail departmental store sector, BRL's healthy financial risk profile, strong liquidity, and prudent working capital management. The company will also benefit from healthy growth prospects for the domestic apparel industry. These rating strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition and geographic concentration in revenue.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Promoters' extensive experience in the retail departmental store sector: Presence of more than three decades in the retail departmental store segment has enabled the promoters to understand market dynamics and build well established relations with suppliers which has enabled them to improve the scale of BRL from Rs 504 crore in fiscal 2018 with margins 10.5% to Rs 588 crore in fiscal 2019 with margins of 10.9%. Further, getting new stakeholders should help BRL to improve its operating margins further through changes in its operational policies.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: Financial risk profile should remain strong, marked by a comfortable capital structure below 1 times and robust debt protection metrics with interest coverage at 26 times in fiscal 2019. Steady scale up of operation and comfortable operating margin are likely to result in adequate cash accrual of around Rs.40 crore over the medium term.
 
* Prudent working capital management: BRL maintains a strict approach towards inventory management. The company has a central warehousing facility at Kolkata. Common sourcing for various departments (segregated product-wise) ensures maximum price advantage. 60% of goods are procured from suppliers in Kolkata, and the rest, from across India. Inventory of around 60 days has been maintained over the past four years, and was around 81 days as on March 31, 2019.
 
* Geographical diversification in revenue: ver the years, BRL has increased its geographical presence beyond West Bengal and Odisha, by entering into Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The company also has stores in Tripura, through which it caters to demand from the North-East region. Having a wider geographical reach, shields the company from any adverse economic or political scenario. Nevertheless, West Bengal will remain the key contributor to revenue, going forward.
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to intense competition in the apparel retail industry: High profitability, healthy growth prospects and ease in sourcing of garments, have attracted several organised and unorganised retailers. Hence, BRL will continue to face intense competition over the medium term. Competition, along with BRL's concentration in the garments segment, will continue to constrain the revenue and profitability over the medium term.
Liquidity Strong

Bank limit utilisation was low around 42% for the 14 months ended May 31, 2019. Cash accrual is also likely to be strong at over Rs 40 crore, against no maturing debt.  Current ratio was healthy at 1.58 times, as on March 31, 2019. The promoters may also extend support via equity and unsecured loans to cover working capital expenses and the debt obligation. Low gearing and moderate networth enhance financial flexibility, and provide cushion in case of any adverse business scenario.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes BRL will maintain its strong financial risk profile over the medium term.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward Factors
* Sustained growth in revenue and sustenance of operating margin at around 10.5% leading to accruals of more than Rs.50 crore
* Efficient working capital management with gross current assets below 85 days
 
Downward Factors
* Steep decline in revenue or profitability lower than that of FY 2018-19, leading to lower cash accrual of less than Rs 40 crore
* Debt-funded capital expenditure plans, weakening liquidity and leading to gearing above 2 time.

About the Company

BRL, which was set up by Mr Manoj Khemka and Mr Sanjay Saraf, commenced operations with one store in Kolkata in August 2002. BRL had another associate company in the name of Metro Retail Pvt Ltd (MRPL), managing a chain of retail outlets under the brand M-Baazar. However, in fiscal 2017, the promoters decided to separate, resulting in transfer of 18 stores away from BRL to M-Baazar. Post demerger, BRL is managed by Mr Manoj Khemka. Further, there has been investment of around 51% in the company by investors like- Siguler Guff, o3 Alternatives and NR Group in fiscal 2019.
 
BRL currently operates 78 retail stores across West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tripura and Jharkhand. The company trades mainly in garments, but also in items such as toys, cosmetics, footwear, stationery, and household goods.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 587.58 503.60
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 30.20 34.02
PAT margin % 5.14 6.76
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.24 0.11
Interest coverage Times 25.09 18.19

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.5 CRISIL A1
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 25 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 14.8 CRISIL A/Stable
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  39.80  CRISIL A/Stable      30-10-18  CRISIL A-/Positive  04-07-17  CRISIL A-/Stable  29-09-16  CRISIL A-/Watch Negative  CRISIL A-/Stable 
                27-04-17  CRISIL A-/Watch Negative  24-06-16  CRISIL A-/Watch Negative   
                11-01-17  CRISIL A-/Watch Negative       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  0.50  CRISIL A1      30-10-18  CRISIL A2+  04-07-17  CRISIL A2+  29-09-16  CRISIL A2+/Watch Negative  CRISIL A2+ 
                27-04-17  CRISIL A2+/Watch Negative  24-06-16  CRISIL A2+/Watch Negative   
                11-01-17  CRISIL A2+/Watch Negative       
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
Bank Guarantee .5 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee .5 CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 25 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 25 CRISIL A-/Positive
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 14.8 CRISIL A/Stable Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 14.8 CRISIL A-/Positive
Total 40.3 -- Total 40.3 --
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
Rating Criteria for Retailing Industry
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default

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