Rating Rationale
July 17, 2019 | Mumbai
Mahindra Retail Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.27 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Mahindra Retail Limited (Mahindra Retail) at 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'.

The ratings continue to reflect strong financial support that Mahindra Retail receives from its ultimate parent, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M; rated 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') and other M&M group companies, and healthy business prospects for the organised retail sector, particularly for the mother and child (M&C) retail segment. These rating strengths are partially offset by Mahindra Retail's modest scale of operations, and its weak financial risk profile, marked by continued losses.

Analytical Approach

The ratings of Mahindra Retail Ltd factor in support expected from its ultimate parent M&M. CRISIL believes that Mahindra Retail  will, in case of exigencies, receive distress support from its parent for timely repayment of debt obligations, considering 100% ownership of M&M group, operational, managerial support from M&M group and track record of continued support from M&M through group entities. 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong financial support from ultimate parent and other group companies
M&M, the parent company, has been funding Mahindra Retail's growth plans and had infused equity of around Rs 900 crore in Mahindra Retail till fiscal 2019, to fund the capex for opening stores and setting up back-end infrastructure, and to fund the losses incurred. CRISIL believes Mahindra Retail will continue to receive requisite support from the parent due to strategic investment in Brainbees Solutions Private Limited (Firstcry).
 
* Benefits expected from healthy business prospects for domestic organised retail sector
CRISIL estimates organised retail's share in the retail industry at around 8%. While under-penetration of the mother and child (M&C) speciality segment provides ample headroom for growth, the presence of relatively less-price-sensitive customers provides scope for better profitability compared to other retail segments. Also, the omni-channel presence should help the growth of company going forward.
 
Weaknesses
* Modest scale of operations
Mahindra Retail has modest scale of operations due to limited scaling up of revenue in stores. Growth is expected through the existing stores as new stores will be opened directly by the Principal, FirstCry. Expectation of moderate like to like growth of existing stores and closure of loss making stores is expected to improve store maturity profile leading to store level breakeven.
 
* Weak financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is weak owing to loss at operating level. Operating level loss has resulted in weak interest coverage and internal accruals. Mahindra retail is expected to continue to receive support from the parent to fund the cash losses going further. The financial risk profile is however supported by nil debt as on March 31, 2019. Further, M&M group has converted the outstanding inter-company deposits (ICD) of Rs 85 Cr to equity in fiscal 2019.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate. The liquidity is in form of cash and equivalents of Rs 2.5 crore as on March 31, 2019 and majorly unutilised bank lines of Rs 37 crore. The bank lines had average utilisation of 10.6% over 12 months ended Mar-19. The liquidity is also supported by need based funding support from parent. The company does not have any significant capital expenditure plans or outstanding term debt.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Mahindra Retail's rating will continue to be supported by need-based financial support from its ultimate parent, M&M for debt servicing and funding cash losses over the medium term.

The rating outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if Mahindra Retail achieves cash break-even, mainly due to strong performance of its stores. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if the company reports higher-than-expected losses coupled with lower-than-expected equity infusion due to slower-than-expected ramp up of operations, or a change in the parent's stance of support to Mahindra Retail.

About the Company

Mahindra Retail, incorporated in 2007, marks the entry of the Mahindra group into the organised retail segment. The company operated in the niche M&C segment with its Mom & Me and Beanstalk branded stores. In 2015, Mahindra Retail acquired the Babyoye's ecommerce operation, including the brand, and rebranded its existing 'Mom & Me' stores as 'Babyoye'. Post completion of the transaction with Firstcry in October 2016, Mahindra Retail currently operates its 70 stores as master franchisee of Firstcry with brand name of Firstcry.com - A Firstcry Mahindra Venture.

M&M, through its step-down subsidiaries, (Mahindra Engineering & Chemical Products Ltd and Retail Initiatives Holding Ltd) held 100% equity stake in the company as on March 31, 2019.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 173 135
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore -23 -39
PAT margin % -13.2 -29.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 0 0.32
Interest coverage Times -8.77 -1.69

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 Overdraft NA NA NA 25.0 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 2.0 CRISIL A2
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  25.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      23-04-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  31-01-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  28-10-16  CRISIL BBB+/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A2/Watch Developing  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2 
                    29-03-16  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2.00  CRISIL A2      23-04-18  CRISIL A2  31-01-17  CRISIL A2  28-10-16  CRISIL A2/Watch Developing  CRISIL A2 
                    29-03-16  CRISIL A2   
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 2 CRISIL A2 Bank Guarantee 2 CRISIL A2
Overdraft 25 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Overdraft 25 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 27 -- Total 27 --
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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