Rating Rationale
June 11, 2019 | Mumbai
Fabindia Overseas Private Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL AA/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.90 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL AA-/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
The common independent director on CRISIL's and Fabindia Overseas Private Limited's boards did not participate in the rating committee meeting and the rating process of these instruments.
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long term bank facilities of Fabindia Overseas Private Limited (FOPL; part of the Fabindia group) to 'CRISIL AA/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA-/Positive' and reaffirmed its rating on short term bank facilities at 'CRISIL A1+'.

The upgrade reflects healthy growth expectation at compound annual growth rate of over 12-15% over medium term while maintaining operating margin around 19-20%. Operating margin has improved consistently, from around 14% in fiscal 2016 to 19% in fiscal 2019 and is expected to sustain at similar level over the medium term. New format stores i.e Fabindia Experience centres are expected to drive further growth and at higher margin. Improved diversity at the product as well as the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) level post the acquisition of majority stake in Organic India Pvt Ltd (Organic India) supports the improving business risk profile. Divestment of majority stake in weak overseas subsidiary, East Lifestyle Ltd (East Lifestyle) has also led to improvement in overall operating performance.

Further, FOPL is expected to maintain a healthy financial risk profile, marked by low gearing and healthy debt protection metrics. Fabindia had an interest cover of 11.8 times and net cash accruals to adjusted debt ratio of 0.82 time in fiscal 2019 against 11.1 times and 0.62 time in fiscal 2018. Going forward the debt levels are expected to reduce on account of sustained strong cash accruals and absence of debt funded major capex. Proceedings on the pending litigation on notice from Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) remain a key monitorable.

The ratings continue to reflect the Fabindia group's established market position in the ethnic and handicraft retail segment, and its healthy operating efficiencies, and its robust financial risk profile, marked by low gearing and strong debt protection metrics. These rating strengths are partially offset by the group's revenue concentration in the highly competitive garments segment.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of FOPL and its subsidiaries, Fabindia International Pte Ltd (FIPL); and also of the step-down subsidiaries under FIPL. CRISIL has consolidated Organic India from fiscal 2017. These entities have been consolidated and are collectively referred to as the Fabindia group, since they have operational and financial linkages. CRISIL has also amortised the goodwill of Rs. 50.64 crore, pertaining to the acquisition of Organic India, over a period of five years from fiscal 2017.

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:
* Established market position through brand, Fabindia, in the ethnic and handicraft retail segment
The Fabindia group has a strong brand positioning in the ethnic/handicraft retail segment with a product portfolio comprising garments, home products, personal care products and organic products. The group has 298 stores across India (as on March 31, 2019) and plans to gradually increase the number over the medium term, supported by a prudent expansion policy. Increasing focus on organic products by customers and tie ups with professionals working in the wellness field is expected to help growth of organic products. Increased focus on effective marketing and promotion avenues like advertisements and loyalty points are expected to drive the growth of the company over medium term.

* Healthy operating efficiencies supported by efficient supply chain management
The Fabindia group operates in a niche segment of the retail industry and sources its products from over 55000 artisans in rural areas and sells them through its stores across India and abroad. The group has a relationship of more than 25 years with almost half of its existing suppliers. The group has set up an efficient sourcing and supplier management system which fulfils its product requirements and maintains its healthy relationships with its suppliers. The efficient supply chain management supports the operating efficiency reflected by healthy operating margin of 19% in fiscal 2019 (~14% in fiscal 2016) and is expected to sustain at similar level over the medium term.Healthy operating efficiency is also reflected in Fabindia group's return on capital employed (RoCE) of over 25% over medium term. Stable working capital cycle helps the company maintain sufficient inventory at stores.

* Robust financial risk profile, marked by low gearing and strong debt protection metrics
The Fabindia group's financial risk profile is marked by low debt levels, driven by 100% cash sales and conservative financial and working capital management. The group has maintained gearing below 0.3 time even after acquisition of Organic India which had increased the gearing to around 0.30 time from less than 0.10 time earlier. Fabindia is expected to continue to maintain robust financial risk profile through sufficient internal accruals and prudent expansion policy.

Weaknesses
* Revenue concentration in the highly competitive garments segment
Fabindia group operates in the highly competitive consumer retail market deriving almost 60% of its revenue from the garments segment, where a large number of established players vie for consumer spends. The consumer retail segment is also affected by availability of suitable real estate for opening stores and high rental costs in prime locations. While the acquisition of Organic India has benefitted the diversity of the Fabindia group, the dependence on garments will continue to remain high.
Liquidity

The Fabindia group has healthy liquidity. The group is expected to have sufficient internal accruals of over Rs.150 crore in fiscal 2020 and 2021 as against repayment obligations of Rs 37 crore and Rs 19 Cr in fiscal 2020 and 2021 respectively along with capital expenditure requirement of Rs 80-100 Cr per annum. The group's fund-based bank limits of Rs.265 crore were moderately utilised with average utilization of 24% for the 12 months ended April 2019.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes, the Fabindia group shall maintain its business risk profile, aided by enhanced diversity and established market position in the ethnic and handicraft retail segment, while its financial risk profile will remain strong, supported by its conservative financial policy.

Upside Scenario:
* Significant improvement in scale and diversity with reduction in dependence on apparel
* Healthy financial risk profile, with minimal reliance on debt

Downside Scenario:
* Group's profitability and revenue growth is not sustained
* Weakening of debt-protection metrics, most likely due to higher than expected debt-funded capex / acquisitions or weakening of working capital intensity
* Pay-out, if any, from the pending litigation on notice from KVIC leading to weakening of financial risk profile of the company.

About the Group

FOPL was established by the late Mr. John Bissell in 1960 to export upholstery fabrics, durries, and rugs to the US and other western countries. The company sells ethnic garments, home products, personal care products, organic foods, and jewellery under the Fabindia brand. FOPL commenced domestic sales in 1976, when it opened its first outlet in New Delhi. The company's high-growth phase began after 2004, following which it has increased the number of domestic stores to 298 stores as on March 31, 2019, from 20 in 2004.

During fiscal 2017, FOPL divested its majority stake in its UK based subsidiary, East Lifestyle. Subsequently, East Lifestyle went into administration in January 2018.

Further, FOPL increased its stake in Organic India, a Lucknow-based, organic herbal and ayurvedic health products firm, to 53.45% in June 2016 from 40% earlier.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs. Cr. 1336 1322
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. 83 68
PAT margins % 6.2 5.1
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.30 0.27
Interest coverage Times 11.10 9.50

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.Cr)
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.1 CRISIL A1+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 89.9 CRISIL AA/Stable
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Fabindia Overseas Pvt Ltd Full operational and financial linkages
Fabindia International Pte Ltd Full operational and financial linkages
Fabcafe Foods Pvt Ltd Full operational and financial linkages
Organic India Pvt Ltd Full operational and financial linkages
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  89.90  CRISIL AA/Stable      29-05-18  CRISIL AA-/Positive  20-02-17  CRISIL AA-/Positive  28-03-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  0.10  CRISIL A1+      29-05-18  CRISIL A1+  20-02-17  CRISIL A1+  28-03-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
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 .1 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee .1 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit 89.9 CRISIL AA/Stable Cash Credit 89.9 CRISIL AA-/Positive
Total 90 -- Total 90 --
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 Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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