Rating Rationale
July 12, 2019 | Mumbai
Metro Cash and Carry India Private Limited
Long-term rating placed on 'Watch Negative' ; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.844 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A (Placed on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications') 
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has placed its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Metro Cash and Carry India Private Limited (MCCI) on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'. Rating on the short-term bank facility has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.

Metro AG (rated 'BBB'/Watch Negative/ A-3' by S&P Global Ratings) has received a bid from EP Global Commerce (EPGC) to purchase all its outstanding shares for a cash payment that values its equity at about 'Ã'¬5.8 billion ('Ã'¬13.80 per share). Given the size of the offer, the transaction could be funded via substantial amount of additional debt, which could weaken the capital structure. S&P has placed its outlook on Metro AG on 'Watch Negative'.

MCCI is a 100% subsidiary of Metro AG; hence, any change in the parent's capital structure could have a bearing on the subsidiary. CRISIL will resolve the watch after completion of the potential acquisition or when substantial clarity is received on the transaction.

CRISIL's ratings on MCCI continue to reflect the strong financial and operational support received from the parent, Metro AG, Germany. The ratings also reflects improving business profile of MCCI with continued improvement in profitability. These strengths are partly offset by a weak albeit improving financial risk profile.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Continued strong operational and financial support from parent, Metro AG
MCCI benefits immensely from the strong operational, managerial and financial support from Metro AG, the world's largest cash and carry retailer, which operates through the METRO and MAKRO brands worldwide. While the cash losses of the company has been decreasing and company is expected to report profits at net levels over medium term, MCCI will continue to receive strong parent support in case of exigencies
 
* Improving business profile of MCCI
MCCI's continues to enjoy first-mover advantage in Tier I cities; 15 out of its 27 stores as on July 2019 are in Tier I cities. CRISIL believes MCCI's first-mover advantage in Tier I cites will enable it to withstand intensifying competition over the medium term. Further, the company is expected to improve its operating profitability supported by strong scale up in operation. Revenues have grown at nearly 13% compounded annual rate over last 5 fiscals ended March 31, 2018. Furthermore, MCCI is pursuing a well-planned growth strategy focused on deepening of their existing geographical clusters, which shall be achieved by expanding the stores serviced through their existing distribution centres, leading to better utilization of supply chain infrastructure. Improving scale, store productivity and benefits of GST implementation are likely to result in operating margin improving in the medium term.
 
Weakness
* Weak albeit improving financial risk profile
The financial risk profile remains subdued because of an estimated accumulated loss of over Rs 1700 crore as of fiscal 2018 and with weak debt protection metrics. Debt metrics such as interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) ratio are weak at about 0.64 times and -0.04 times respectively for fiscal 2018 compared to 0.15 times and -0.22 times in fiscal 2017 respectively and are expected to improve gradually with sustained improvement in operating profitability. MCCI has a moderate capital expenditure (capex) plan of around ~Rs 75 crore annually over the medium term. This capex is aimed at both growing the existing markets as well as venturing into newer markets. The same is expected to be funded by prudent mix of debt and internal cash accruals. MCCI is also likely to sell non-core assets and cash flows are likely to be used for future store addition. Furthermore, improving profitability is expected to result in increase in cash generation to support incremental funding requirement of the company.
Liquidity

MCCI liquidity profile is adequate with cash balances of Rs 284 cr as of March 31st 2018. Further, liquidity is supported by support from parent.

About the Company

MCCI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metro Cash & Carry International GmbH, Germany, which is wholly-owned by Metro AG. MCCI was established in 2001, and commenced commercial operations in 2003. The registered office and headquarters are in Bengaluru. Its cash-and-carry business is based on the business-to-business (B2B) model that meets the needs of customers such as hotels, restaurants, caterers, traders, and institutions. It caters to both food and non-food segments, including general grocery, dairy products, media products, home electrics, household items, and garments for women, men, and children.

MCCI operates 27 cash-and-carry distribution centres (DCs) in India. There are six DCs in Bengaluru, four in Hyderabad and two each in Mumbai and New Delhi. Other DCs are located in Kolkata, Jalandhar, Jaipur, Indore, Amritsar, Vijayawada, Surat, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Zirakpur (Punjab).

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 2018 2017
Operating Income Rs crore 5807 5632
Adjusted profit after tax Rs crore -71 -139
PAT margin % -1.2 -2.5
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.97 0.63
Interest coverage Times 0.64 0.15

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 Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 400.0 CRISIL A1
NA Long-term Loan NA NA 17-Jun-21 50.0 CRISIL A/Watch Negative
NA Long-term Loan NA NA 30-Jun-21 120.0 CRISIL A/Watch Negative
NA Long-term Loan NA NA 31-Aug-18 75.0 CRISIL A/Watch Negative
NA Long-term Loan NA NA 15-May-22 100 CRISIL A/Watch Negative
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 99 CRISIL A/Watch Negative
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  844.00  CRISIL A/Watch Negative/ CRISIL A1/Watch Negative      31-07-18  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  28-04-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1      CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1 
                26-04-17  CRISIL A/Stable       
                01-02-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ 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
Long Term Loan 345 CRISIL A/Watch Negative Long Term Loan 345 CRISIL A/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 99 CRISIL A/Watch Negative Proposed Working Capital Facility 99 CRISIL A/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 400 CRISIL A1 Working Capital Demand Loan 400 CRISIL A1
Total 844 -- Total 844 --
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 rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
Mapping global scale ratings onto CRISIL scale

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