Rating Rationale
October 29, 2019 | Mumbai
R.S.Trust
Rating downgraded to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.18 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BBB/Stable')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded the long-term rating of R.S.Trust (RST) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable' from 'CRISIL BBB/Stable'.

The rating downgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that RST's business risk profile shall remain weak over the medium term, due to decline in the trust's operating profitability resulting in lower than expected cash accrual. Operating profitability had declined to 1.5 percent in fiscal 2019 from around 20 percent in fiscal 2018 due to decline in revenue following drop in occupancy and high operating costs. Consequently, cash accrual was low and liquidity stretched during the year 2019.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strength
* Established track record of the Vel group of institutions in the education sector: The Vel group, which also comprises Vel Trust 1997 and Vel Shree Rangarajan Dr Sakunthala Rangarajan Educational Trust, has more than 12,000 students across its three trusts. The two engineering colleges of RST, Vel High Tech and Vel Tech, are affiliated to Anna University, a premier educational university in Tamil Nadu. Both engineering colleges benefit from healthy demand for engineering courses in the state. CRISIL believes RST will continue to benefit from the established track record of the Vel group of institutions in the education sector.

Weakness
* Geographic concentration in revenue 
RST derives most of its revenue from engineering colleges, and all its institutions are in and around Chennai. Though it has a few tie-ups with overseas universities or educational institutions, it derives negligible benefits from these. Most of its students are from Chennai. The geographical concentration risk, however, is partially offset by the Vel group's reputation in and around Chennai.

* Average financial risk profile:
Though capital structure remains comfortable, with decline in operating profitability, debt protection metrics deteriorated marked by interest coverage of less than 1 time in fiscal 2019 vis-a-vis 6.7 times in fiscal 2018.
 
Liquidity: Stretched
Liquidity is stretched. Though accruals were low in fiscal 2019, with improvement in occupancy in the current academic year, accruals are estimated to be in the range of 2.5 to 3 crores over the medium term against repayment obligation of about 1 crores. Bank limit of Rs 13 crores were utilised at an average of about 85% during the last 12 months ended August - 2019.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes RST will continue to benefit from the established brand of Vel Tech and promoters extensive experience.
 
Rating sensitivity factor
Upward factor
* Accruals of over 5 crores
* Sustenance of increase in scale of operations and operating profitability of over 15%
 
Downward factor
* Decline in scale of operations and sustenance of weak operating profitability.
* Accruals of less than 1 crores

About the Trust

RST, established in 1998 in Chennai, is a private trust registered under the Indian Trust Act, 1882. It manages five educational institutes offering under-graduate and post-graduate courses in physiotherapy, nursing, management, and engineering. It also operates an international school in Chennai.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs. Cr. 37.85 43.34
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. (6.67) 2.28
PAT Margin % (17.6) 5.3
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.54 0.37
Interest coverage Times 0.45 6.81

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 Overdraft NA NA NA 13 CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2021 5 CRISIL BB+/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  18.00  CRISIL BB+/Stable      30-11-18  CRISIL BBB/Stable  27-11-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable  08-08-16  CRISIL BBB/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Negative 
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
Overdraft 13 CRISIL BB+/Stable Overdraft 9 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Term Loan 5 CRISIL BB+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 2.05 CRISIL BBB/Stable
-- 0 -- Term Loan 6.95 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Total 18 -- Total 18 --
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 Education institutions

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