Rating Rationale
April 29, 2020 | Mumbai
Navneet Education Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.2 Crore
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.300 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the short-term bank facility and commercial paper programme of Navneet Education Limited (Navneet).
 
The rating continues to reflect the company's established market position in the educational books segment in Gujarat and Maharashtra, healthy growth prospects in the stationery segment, and sound operating efficiency. The rating also factors in healthy financial risk profile, driven by low gearing and robust debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by limited geographical diversity in revenue, intense competition in the stationery segment, and availability of second-hand books.
 
Growth in the publishing segment is expected to remain flattish while there will be a shift in revenue to the second quarter from the earlier peak seen in the first quarter. The stationery segment is also expected to be remain flattish as the company expects no cancellation of orders because of the impact of Covid-19. Given the company's established market position in educational books and growth of the stationery segment, its performance is likely to remain strong over the medium term.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Navneet and its four subsidiaries: eSense Learning Pvt Ltd, Indiannica Learning Pvt Ltd, Navneet (HK) Ltd, and Navneet Learning LLP. The subsidiaries are strategically important to, and have high operational integration with, Navneet.

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 and healthy growth prospects
Navneet has a large market share of 70% and 85% in the supplementary books segment in Maharashtra and Gujarat, respectively. Strong brand equity, extensive distribution network, and superior content creation capability backed by a team of experienced authors, support performance. Changes in school curriculum and initiatives to expand into new geographies will continue to support the company's scale of operations in the educational books segment over the medium term.
 
The company has been witnessing healthy growth in the stationery segment driven by export. Stationery sales grew 27% in the 9 months through December 2019 compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. While sales may remain flattish temporarily due to Covid-19 in fiscal 2021, the growth is expected to remain healthy over the medium term. 
 
* Sound operating efficiency
Operating margin and return on capital employed (RoCE) were healthy over 19% and 25%, respectively, over the 3 fiscals through 2020. The company has a prudent raw material procurement policy keeping in mind the macro environment. For example, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, it had built significant raw material inventory which helped it maintain healthy operating margin during fiscal 2020. Established market position and good revenue visibility over the medium term should help sustain the strong operating margin and RoCE.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is supported by low gearing and robust debt protection metrics. Gearing and interest coverage were healthy, estimated at 0.24 time and 26.4 times in fiscal 2020, respectively, and should remain robust over the medium term. The financial risk profile should remain healthy over the medium term, supported by healthy accrual, nil long-term debt, and strong liquidity (including unutilised bank lines).
 
Weaknesses
* Limited geographical diversity in revenue
The mainstay publishing business, which contributed 53% to revenue and 64% to profit in the 9 months through December 2019, is concentrated in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The geographical concentration constrains the business risk profile.
 
* Intense competition in the stationery segment and availability of second-hand books
Intense competition from large companies such as ITC Ltd ('CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') as well as from unorganised players limits pricing flexibility in the stationery business. In the publishing business, second-hand books have a prominent market share, and constrain sales when there is no change in syllabus.
Liquidity Superior

The liquidity will remain supported by expected cash accrual of over Rs 120 crore each in fiscals 2021 and 2022 and sufficient cash and bank balance as on March 31, 2020. Navneet also has access to fund-based limit of Rs 690 crore, utilised 19% on average (including commercial paper) over the 12 months through March 2020. The company has no long-term debt obligation and capital expenditure (capex) is expected to remain moderate at Rs 20-40 crore per annum in fiscals 2021 and 2022. The company has sufficient accrual and cash and equivalent to fund capex and investment in subsidiaries. With gearing estimated at 0.24 time as on March 31, 2020, there is headroom to raise debt for capex if required. Sufficient cash and bank balance and unutilised bank lines should help tide over any short-term liquidity requirement because of Covid-19.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
*Sustained increase in revenue by 20% per fiscal, with stable operating margin
*Improvement in the working capital cycle
 
Downward factors
*Sustained decline in revenue along with operating margin remaining below 15%
*Substantial increase in working capital requirement, weakening the financial risk profile and liquidity.

About the Company

Incorporated as Bookwing Publication (India) Ltd in 1959 by the Gala family, the company was renamed Navneet Publications (India) Ltd in 1992 and Navneet Education Ltd in August 2013. Publications are sold under the Navneet, Vikas, and Gala brands. The product portfolio also includes paper-based and non-paper-based stationery. The company also provides e-learning services in Gujarat and Maharashtra, through its wholly owned subsidiary, eSense Learning Pvt Ltd.
 
The company has collaborated with around 1,900 schools to provide digital teaching solutions in classrooms. Products such as e-Learning tablets, cloud-based interactive exams, and application-based audio visuals have been identified as key growth areas. The company is also focusing on business-to-business products such as top class, which are primarily targeted at educational institutions. Navneet has a minority stake in K12 Techno Services Pvt Ltd, which manages around 25 schools, under the Orchid Schools brand.
 
On a standalone basis, for the 9 months ended December 31, 2019, Navneet had a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 203 crore and revenue of Rs 1,235 crore, against a PAT of Rs 163 crore and revenue of Rs 1,115 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs.Crore 1,442 1,203
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 152 127
PAT Margin % 10.6 10.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted Networth Times 0.48 0.37
Interest coverage Times 18 29

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 2.00 CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 300.00 CRISIL A1+
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Entity consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
eSense Learning Pvt Ltd Full Same business and strong operational linkages
Indiannica Learning Pvt. Ltd Full Same business and strong operational linkages
Navneet (HK) Ltd Full Same business and strong operational linkages
Navneet Learning LLP Full Same business and strong operational 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
Commercial Paper  ST  300.00  CRISIL A1+      01-04-19  CRISIL A1+  12-01-18  CRISIL A1+    --  -- 
            15-01-19  CRISIL A1+           
Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper)  ST                  29-03-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2.00  CRISIL A1+      01-04-19  CRISIL A1+  12-01-18  CRISIL A1+  29-03-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
            15-01-19  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 2 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee 2 CRISIL A1+
Total 2 -- Total 2 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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