Rating Rationale
October 06, 2020 | Mumbai
INOX Leisure Limited
Ratings removed from 'Watch Negative'; Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.319.68 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Negative (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has removed its ratings on the bank facilities of INOX Leisure Limited (ILL) from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications' while reaffirming the ratings at 'CRISIL AA-/CRISIL A1+' and assigning a 'Negative' outlook.
 
The rating action follows the issuance of guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 30, 2020 for Unlock 5.0 wherein cinemas are allowed to resume operations from October 15, 2020 with a cap of 50% occupancy outside containment zones. However, multiplex operators would need permission from State/ Union Territory governments to open cinemas in their respective regions, which would continue to be a monitorable.
 
On March 23, 2020, CRISIL had placed ILL's ratings on negative watch following the closure of cinemas across the country by orders of state governments to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
The reaffirmation of ratings factors in ILL's strong liquidity profile, supported by the sale of treasury shares and also the company's ability to curtail operating costs while its operations were shut.
 
At the same time, the negative outlook reflects CRISIL's expectation of potential weakening of the company's credit profile over the next 3-4 months if local restrictions at various states hinder opening of operations on a pan-India basis or occupancies remain muted despite resumption of operations. Lower-than-expected ramp up in occupancies, resulting in continued higher cash losses, would remain a key rating sensitivity factor.
 
ILL has been taking proactive steps to reduce its cost and augment liquidity. Lease is a major fixed cost and ILL has invoked the force majeure clause for lease agreements with mall developers. It has not paid leases since the closure and is in active discussions with mall developers for waiving off rentals for the entire period of closure of operations. ILL is also looking to conserve cash by reducing workforce and deferring maintenance and capital expenditure (capex).
 
Furthermore, on August 11, 2020, ILL sold treasury shares for Rs 101.36 crore which has augmented liquidity. Consequently, the company's net debt improved to around Rs 79 crore as of August 2020 from around Rs 112 crore as of March 2020. ILL had liquidity (cash and bank balance, undrawn committed bank lines and other liquid investments) of around Rs 118 crore as on August 31, 2020, which should sufficiently cover its curtailed operating cost and debt obligation for the next few months. ILL is looking to further augment its liquidity.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the company's established market position in the film exhibition business, healthy operating efficiency, strong financial risk profile and high financial flexibility as part of the Inox group. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks inherent in the film exhibition business.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ILL and its subsidiary. This is because the companies, together referred to as ILL, are in related businesses, have common promoters and have operational and financial linkages.

Please refer to 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
With 626 screens across 147 multiplexes in 68 cities, ILL is the second-largest multiplex operator. Its strong market position is also reflected in its ability to maintain ticket prices (average ticket price was Rs 200 in fiscal 2020, against Rs 197 in fiscal 2019). Plans to add screens have been put on hold. Addition of new screens is expected to remain muted for some time now and would depend on ramp up of occupancy once operations resume.
 
* Healthy operating efficiency
Operating margin of ILL remained healthy at around 18% in fiscal 2020 compared with around 19% in fiscal 2019, despite operations being shut down in the latter half of March 2020. Besides box-office collection, revenue from other segments continued to improve. For instance, the revenue share of the advertisement segment rose to 9.3% in fiscal 2020 from 6.5% in fiscal 2014, while the food and beverages segment rose to around 26% in fiscal 2020 from 21.3% in fiscal 2014. The company's operating performance will be impacted in fiscal 2021, and its ability to sustain growth in occupancy leading to healthy profitability, after operations are restored, will remain a key monitorable.
 
* Strong financial risk profile
Gearing and net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) ratio remained healthy at 0.14 time and 0.3 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2020, while interest coverage ratio remained strong above 30 times in fiscal 2020.
 
Despite the impact of the pandemic in fiscal 2021, gearing should remain below 0.35 time because of liquidity from the sale of treasury shares. Furthermore, ILL enjoys healthy financial flexibility as part of the Inox group.
 
However, if occupancies continue to remain at sub-optimal level for a prolonged period, there could be an impact on the debt profile, with decline in cash accrual weakening the financial risk profile. Any sustained impact on the operations and, subsequently, ILL's financial risk profile will remain a key monitorable.
 
Weakness
* Exposure to risks inherent in the film exhibition business
Fluctuations in profitability inherent in the film exhibition business will continue to affect operations, though the impact may be cushioned by large scale and increasing revenue from the non-ticketing business. Given the high fixed cost, multiplex players will remain dependent on occupancy, which is driven by the success of films. Availability of other forms of entertainment and new content distribution platforms (over-the-top [OTT] platforms) will continue to expose ILL to challenges of sustaining profitability and growth.
Liquidity Strong

ILL had liquidity of around Rs 118 crore as on August 31, 2020, including cash and bank balance, undrawn committed bank lines and other liquid investments. The liquidity should be sufficient to manage total cash outflow, including fixed costs and debt obligation, even if operations remain muted for some more months. Moreover, the company plans to enhance its undrawn committed lines. Furthermore, the company has already secured the approval of its board and shareholders for raising equity of up to Rs 250 crore, if required. Upon resumption of operations, the company's ability to curtail operating cost while maintaining healthy liquidity will be a key monitorable.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believe there could be weakening of the company's credit profile over the next 3-4 months if local restrictions at various states hinder opening of operations on a pan-India basis or occupancies remain muted despite resumption of operations.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
* Significant improvement in market position while sustaining the financial risk profile
* Sustenance of operating margin above 20%

Downward Factors
* Lower-than-expected ramp up in occupancies after resumption of operations over the next 3-4 months, resulting in higher cash losses than expected
* Weakening of the capital structure, with net debt to EBITDA ratio rising above 1.5 times.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1999, ILL operates multiplexes. The company set up its first multiplex in Pune, Maharashtra, in May 2002. It acquired a majority stake in FAME and, thus, became the second-largest multiplex operator in India. FAME was merged with ILL effective April 1, 2012. In August 2014, ILL acquired a north India-based multiplex chain, Satyam, which had 38 screens.
 
Net loss was Rs 74 crore on revenue of Rs 3 crore over the quarter ended June 30, 2020, against net profit of Rs 27 crore on revenue of Rs 496 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The losses were largely because of closure of operations during the quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Key Financial Indicators*
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs.Crore 1,897 1,663
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 141 133
PAT Margin % 7.0 8.0
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.14 0.12
Interest coverage Times 30.3 13.73
*Excludes impact of Ind-AS 116

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size
(Rs.Crore)
Complexity Level Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Overdraft* NA NA NA 25.00 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 50.85 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 20.00 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Overdraft** NA NA NA 70.0 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Term Loan NA NA 04-Mar-21 7.50 NA CRISIL AA-/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA 26-Mar-22 35.63 NA CRISIL AA-/Negative
NA Long Term Loan NA NA 02-Dec-24 75.00 NA CRISIL AA-/Negative
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 35.70 NA CRISIL AA-/Negative
*Letter of Credit of Rs 10 crore as a sub-limit.
**One-time short-term loan of Rs 70 crore and short-term line of credit, bank guarantee, and letter of credit aggregating Rs 16 crore is a sub-limit
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Name of company Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Shouri Properties Pvt Ltd Full Operational and financial linkages
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  248.83  CRISIL AA-/Negative/ CRISIL A1+  14-09-20  CRISIL AA-/Watch Negative/ CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative  14-05-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  23-11-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable  22-08-17  CRISIL A+/Positive  CRISIL A+/Positive 
        23-03-20  CRISIL AA-/Watch Negative/ CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative      28-09-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable  03-08-17  CRISIL A+/Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  70.85  CRISIL A1+  14-09-20  CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative  14-05-19  CRISIL A1+  23-11-18  CRISIL A1+  22-08-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
        23-03-20  CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative      28-09-18  CRISIL A1+  03-08-17  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 50.85 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee 50.85 CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative
Letter of Credit 20 CRISIL A1+ Letter of Credit 20 CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative
Long Term Loan 75 CRISIL AA-/Negative Long Term Loan 75 CRISIL AA-/Watch Negative
Overdraft* 25 CRISIL A1+ Overdraft* 25 CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative
Overdraft** 70 CRISIL A1+ Overdraft** 70 CRISIL A1+/Watch Negative
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 35.7 CRISIL AA-/Negative Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 35.7 CRISIL AA-/Watch Negative
Term Loan 43.13 CRISIL AA-/Negative Term Loan 43.13 CRISIL AA-/Watch Negative
Total 319.68 -- Total 319.68 --
*Letter of Credit of Rs. 10 crore as a sub-limit.
**One-time short-term loan of Rs 70 crore and short-term line of credit, bank guarantee, and letter of credit aggregating Rs 16 crore is a sub-limit
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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