Rating Rationale
October 25, 2019 | Mumbai
Mahatma Education Society
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.200 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+' ratings on the bank facilities of Mahatma Education Society (MES).
 
The rating continues to reflect a strong track record of around 5 decades and an established position of MES trust in the education sector. The rating also factors in a comfortable financial risk profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by muted revenue growth and exposure to risks related to changes in regulatory policies for educational institutions.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established position in the education sector with a strong track record: Set up in 1970 by Dr K M Vasudevan Pillai, MES is an established education society in India and has created a strong position and brand for itself in the education sector. MES was a pioneer in starting several unaided colleges across various disciplines in Maharashtra. The society currently has about 23000 students across its three campuses in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Benefits derived from the established brand position and trustee's experience should continue to support operations.

* Healthy financial risk profile: Networth is healthy, estimated at Rs 406 crore along with stable gearing at 0.47 time, as on March 31, 2019, driven by steady accretion to reserves. The debt protection metrics were comfortable: the interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios are estimated at 2.44 times and 0.12 times, respectively, for fiscal 2019.
 
Weakness:
* Muted revenue growth: The revenue growth continues to remain muted; Revenue (Rs 158.5 crore in fiscal 2019) reported a 5% compound annual growth rate over the three fiscals through 2019. Further revenue growth is expected to remain muted with limited new course introduction and limited student intake.

* Exposure to regulatory risks inherent to educational institutions: Courses have to comply with specific operational and infrastructure norms set by regulatory bodies, such as the All India Council for Technical Education, and other state authorities. Thus, MES has to regularly invest in workforce and infrastructure.
 
Liquidity: Adequate
Liquidity is adequate. MES generated cash accrual of Rs 24 crore against debt repayment obligation of Rs 18.8 crore in fiscal 2019. The cash accruals are expected to remain between Rs 30-37 crore while repayments are expected to remain around Rs 19 crore over the medium term. Further no major debt funded CAPEX provides comfort to liquidity. The cash and bank balance stood at Rs 61 crore as on March 31, 2019 out of which Rs 26 crore was unencumbered. The bank limit of Rs 82.21 crore is utilized moderately at 74%. Current ratio has remained less than 0.6 time for last three years ending fiscal 2019. The current ratio stood at 0.48 time as on March 31, 2019. The low current ratio is on account of large debt repayments and higher reliance on working capital loans at the year end.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes MES will maintain its strong financial risk profile and continue to achieve moderate operating income growth over the medium term, supported by an established reputation and healthy brand recognition. 
 
Rating Sensitivity Factor
Upward factor
* Addition in new courses resulting in improvement of revenue and higher cash accruals
* Improvement in RoCE to more than 12% over the medium term
 
Downward factor
* Decline in DSCR to less than 1.1 time over next few years
* Reduction in liquidity due to lower cash accruals or more than expected debt funded CAPEX.

About the Trust

MES was founded in 1970 with the establishment of the Chembur English High School by Dr K M Vasudevan Pillai, who is the society's principal secretary. It operates schools, and graduate, postgraduate, and professional colleges under the Mahatma and Dr Pillai's brands in Maharashtra. The schools are recognized by the state government, Central Board of Secondary Education, and Indian Certificate of Secondary Education. Its colleges offer courses in science, business management, engineering, polytechnic, teacher's training, and architecture.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 158.50 153.88
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 11.25 9.79
PAT margins % 7.1 6.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.47 0.54
Interest coverage Times 2.44 2.22

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 Overdraft NA NA NA 38.64 CRISIL A3+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 8.42 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2023 152.94 CRISIL BBB/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  200.00  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+      11-10-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  25-07-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  23-09-16  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+ 
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
Overdraft 38.64 CRISIL A3+ Overdraft 38.64 CRISIL A3+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 8.42 CRISIL BBB/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 8.42 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Term Loan 152.94 CRISIL BBB/Stable Term Loan 152.94 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Total 200 -- Total 200 --
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 rating Education institutions
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
The Rating Process

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