Rating Rationale
April 23, 2024 | Mumbai
Pepe Jeans India Limited
Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.90 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Pepe Jeans India Limited  (PJIL) and has subsequently withdrawn its rating at the request of PJIL and on receipt of a no-objection certificate from the company’s bankers. The withdrawal is in line with the CRISIL Ratings policy on withdrawal of bank loan ratings

 

The rating reflects the strong market position and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially set off by volatile operating profits, working capital intensive operations and vulnerability to changes in fashion trends and competitions

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Strong market position: PJIL has an established presence in the domestic menswear segment, driven by its flagship brands, Pepe, Pepe Jeans and Pepe Jeans London and through its diversified geographical presence. The flagship brand, Pepe was launched in 1989 and is among the leading brand in men’s denim segment. It has positioned itself as an aspirational brand and by virtue of its strong international presence has been able to create a strong market position. The company has a wide presence across India through multiple sales channels and currently has 200 stores PAN India; it is further planning to open 15-20 new stores each year to increase its geographical reach. This can be reflected in the increase in revenues expected at around Rs. 620-630 crore in fiscal 2024 from Rs.562 crore in fiscal 2023. Strong market position will continue to benefit the scale of operations of the company over the medium term.

 

  • Strong financial risk profile: Financial risk profile should remain strong over the medium term, driven by steady accretion to reserve and promoter support in the form of equity infusion. Networth and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio is estimated at Rs 275-290 crore and 1-1.15 time as on March 31, 2024. Capital structure is expected to remain comfortable supported by moderate reliance on external debt and creditors to support working capital requirement coupled with steady accretion to reserves. Debt protection metrics are estimated to improve with interest coverage estimated at above 7 times in fiscal 2024 as compared to 2.7 times in fiscal 2022 owing to rising profitability and moderate leverage. Financial profile will continue to remain strong over the medium term.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Volatile operating profits: Intense competition from several domestic and international players in the branded apparel industry has strained profitability and realisations of players such as PJIL in the past few fiscals. Operating margin has fluctuated between 6% and 12% for the four fiscals through fiscal 2024 (except fiscal 2021 when the company reported operating losses). Though operating margins have remained stable in the range of 6.1-6.2% for the past two fiscals through fiscal 2023, due to significant increase in scale of operations leading to economies of scale, further expected improvement in the operating margin will remain a key monitorable over the medium term.

 

  • Working capital-intensive operations: Working capital cycle remains stretched as reflected in estimated gross current asset (GCA) days of 350-370 days driven by high debtors between 220-230 days and moderate inventory of around 100 days  days as on March 31, 2024. The receivables will remain high at above 300 days as the company follows a SOR (sale or return) business model and hence receivables are realized post-secondary sales to end customers. Also, the company has to maintain higher inventory levels due to SOR model followed. While, inventory has reduced as the company liquidated a large part of its inventory on the e-commerce platform, the same is expected to remain around 100-110 days over the medium term. Overall operations are expected to remain working capital intensive over the medium term

 

  • Vulnerability to changes in fashion trends and competition: PJIL's business is driven by fashion trends and its target segment's aspirations are significantly influenced by peers, role models, and the media. The operations also remain exposed to competition from a number of other domestic and global brands.  Thus, players such as PJIL, need to constantly innovate and adapt to the changing preferences of the target segment. Currently 80-85% revenues of PJIL comes from men's category with major contribution from jeans, jackets and shirts which is partially mitigated by the long-standing presence in the industry.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilisation was moderate  at around 54% % for the 12 months through December 2023. Cash accrual is expected at Rs 30-35 crore each for fiscals 2024 and 2025, against yearly term debt obligation of Rs 3.3 crore; the surplus cash will aid financial flexibility. Current ratio is  2.23 times, with healthy cash and bank balance of Rs  20 crore  as on March 31, 2023. Low gearing and comfortable networth should also support liquidity.

Outlook: Positive

The business risk profile of PJIL is expected to improve, with increase in scale of operations through well-diversified geographical reach while sustaining healthy operating margins.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sustained growth in revenue and steady improvement in the operating profit, leading to cash accruals of more than Rs.38 crore
  • Improvement in the working capital cycle and financial risk profile

 

Downward factors

  • Further stretch in the working capital cycle, with increase in GCA over the medium term
  • Decline in revenue or profitability, resulting in cash accrual of less than Rs.25 crore

About the Company

PJIL, incorporated in2011, manufactures readymade garments and accessories for women, men, teens, and juniors under the Pepe, Pepe Jeans London and Pepe Jeans brands. The company is headquartered in Mumbai. Pepe Jeans Europe BV holds 94% stake in PJIL. PJIL derives 80-85% of its revenue from the men's category, with major contribution from jeans, jackets and shirts.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

562.09

364.38

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

20.87

13.09

PAT margins

%

6.79

3.59

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

0.07

0.06

Interest coverage

Times

6.45

2.67

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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) Complexity levels Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 22 NA CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 27.5 NA CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Proposed working Capital  facility NA NA NA 8.8 NA CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Working capital term loan  NA NA Mar-2026 5 NA CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Working capital term loan  NA NA Mar-2028 5 NA CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
NA Working capital term loan  NA NA Mar-2026 1.7 NA CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 90.0 CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)   -- 09-06-23 CRISIL BBB/Positive 29-03-22 CRISIL BBB/Stable 12-01-21 CRISIL BBB/Negative CRISIL BBB/Negative
      --   -- 27-04-23 CRISIL BBB/Positive   -- 07-01-21 CRISIL BBB/Negative CRISIL BBB/Negative
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 22 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Cash Credit 27.5 RBL Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Cash Credit 20 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Proposed Working Capital Facility 8.8 Not Applicable CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Working Capital Term Loan 5 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Working Capital Term Loan 5 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Working Capital Term Loan 1.7 RBL Bank Limited CRISIL BBB/Positive (Rating Reaffirmed and Withdrawn)
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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