Rating Rationale
December 30, 2019 | Mumbai
Oban Fashions Private Limited
'CRISIL BBB+/Stable' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.30 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable' ratings to the long term bank facilities of Oban Fashions Private Limited (OFPL).
 
The rating reflect OFPL's strong support the company receives from its parent company i.e. Rupa & Company Limited (Rupa; CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+). The rating also factors in strong business risk profile of parent company reflected from its established position in the domestic hosiery industry over the past three decades. These strength are partially offset by OFPL's weak operating efficiencies, average financial profile on standalone basis and exposure to intensifying competition in the innerwear industry.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has notched up the standalone rating based on the expectation of strong support from the ultimate parent, Rupa as it has given corporate guarantee for OFPL's debt exposure. OFPL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rupa. This is in line with CRISIL's criteria for notching up standalone ratings of companies based on parent support.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths: 
* Strong support from parent: The company benefits financially, operationally, and in form of managerial support from the parent i.e. Rupa. Rupa has in the past demonstrated track record of financially supporting the operations of OFPL by infusion funds. As on date, Rupa has invested around Rs 60 crores in OFPL. Furthermore, OFPL is expected to get continuous financial support from Rupa over the medium term.

* Strong business risk profile of parent: Rupa group has established a leadership position in the domestic hosiery industry for over three decades. The industry, particularly the economy segment, is intensely competitive. But the group benefits from its strong brand recall in the premium and economy segments. It has over 10 sub-brands and caters to all segments'economy, medium, premium, and super-premium. Furthermore, acquisition of license rights for certain products of French Connection Group PLC (FCUK brand) and Fruit of the Loom, INC. (Fruit of the Loom brand) should continue to enhance the business. Also, a significant portion of the revenue is derived from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, thereby exposing the business to geographical concentration. The group plans to increase its presence in untapped markets, especially West and South India. Successful penetration of such untapped market while maintaining profitability will be a key rating driver.

Weaknesses:
* Exposure to intensifying competition in the innerwear industry: India's innerwear market is dominated by the unorganised sector, despite the robust market potential for branded innerwear, leading to intense competition. Competition could also increase with the advent of other established foreign brands through the franchisee route, strong domestic readymade garment manufacturers venturing into innerwear segments, and other large players spending heavily on brand-building and product-positioning. Intensifying competition could hence result in market challenges for players in the industry, including Rupa.

* Weak operating efficiencies: OFPL's operating efficiency on standalone basis is weak. Owing to modest scale of operation and high expenses towards marketing, distribution, promotion, etc purpose, the company has incurred operating losses over the last three fiscals through fiscal 2019. Furthermore, OFPL's with significantly higher debtor outstanding and inventory holding, gross current assets remained high at around 470 days as on March 31, 2019.
Liquidity Adequate

OFPL's adequate liquidity profile is driven by the expectation of ongoing and need-based support from its parent, Rupa. The company's bank limits have remained utilized at an average of around 95% over the last 6 months through Sep, 2019. The company has no long-term debt obligation.  Parent's financial support is expected in case of any requirement over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes OFPL will continue to benefit from the strong support it receives from Rupa.

Rating Sensitivity Factors:
Upward factors:
* Improvement in business profile of the company driven by higher revenue and profitability.
* Improvement in working capital cycle management.
* Upward revision in the parent's credit profile by atleast one notch 

Downward factors:
* Any downward revision in the credit profile of Rupa by atleast one notch.
* Change in the support philosophy of Rupa towards OFPL.
* Lower than expected revenue and profitability.

About the Company

OFPL was incorporated in December 2015 and has acquired the exclusive license from French Connection Group PLC (FCUK) to develop, manufacture, market and sell the products with brand name of FCUK in India effective March 30, 2016. Rupa pays 5% royalty on net sales to FCUK for the same.

Rupa, incorporated in 1985, is promoted by the Kolkata-based Agarwala brothers. The company manufactures knitted innerwear, casual wear, and thermal wear for men, women, and children. The Agarwala family has been in this business since 1968 through proprietorship and partnership firms. After incorporation, Rupa took over the business of Binod Hosiery, a partnership firm of the Agarwala brothers.

Key Financial Indicators (Standalone)
As on / for the period ended March 31  Units 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 45.75 31.11
Reported profit after tax Rs crore -19.61 -10.73
PAT margins % -42.9 -28.7
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times -2.56 -3.67
Interest coverage Times -3.64 -5.21
 
Key Financial Indicators of parent (consolidated)
Particulars Units 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 1108.3 1201.2
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 93.2 94.1
PAT margin % 8.4 7.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.31 0.22
Interest coverage Times 10.16 21.09
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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 30 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  30.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable    --    --    --    --  -- 
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
Cash Credit 30 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 30 -- Total 0 --
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 short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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