Rating Rationale
March 31, 2020 | Mumbai
Safari Industries India Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.150 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.90 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Positive' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Safari Industries India Limited (Safari) to 'Stable' from 'Positive' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL A-'; the rating on the short term facility has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A2+'.
 
The outlook revision follows measures taken by various central and state governments towards containment of Covid-19, which includes temporary closure of non-critical establishments and inter-state transportation, along with advisory against travel and visiting areas of mass gatherings. These measures are likely to impact the business profile of the company over the near term, and thereby revenue and operating margin are expected to be subdued and lower than CRISIL's earlier expectations. While, the measures are currently applicable till April 14, 2020, revocation of the measures will be contingent upon directive from the central government and extent of spread of Covid-19. A sustained period of closures can result in significant deterioration in the credit profile of the company. On the other hand, a faster reversal to normalcy may contain the extent of deterioration likely in the credit quality of the company. That said, the ability of the business to revert back to operational stability with improvement in operating margin and any relief measures given by the government will be a key monitorable, and CRISIL will continue monitoring these events.
 
The ratings continue to reflect an established market position in the Indian luggage industry and a strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and exposure to volatility in foreign exchange (forex) rates and input prices.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Safari and its fully owned subsidiary, Safari Lifestyles Ltd (SLL). This is because the two companies, together referred to as Safari, are in the same line of business with operational synergies, and have a common management.

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 brand in the luggage industry: The organised Indian luggage industry is oligopolistic in nature. Safari gradually improved its market share and revenue grew at a compound annual growth rate of 27% over the three fiscals through 2019. A pan India distribution network, comprising over 3,500 customer touch points, and an established product portfolio, further strengthen its market position.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: The networth was healthy at Rs 197 crore as on March 31, 2019, (Rs 168 crore as on March 31, 2018). The total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio was comfortable at 0.9 time as on March 31, 2019, and is likely to improve to 0.5 time, over the medium term. The financial risk profile is expected to remain strong over the medium term, backed by healthy cash accrual and absence of any debt-funded capital expenditure (capex).
 
Weaknesses
* Exposure to volatility in raw material prices and forex rates: Profitability is susceptible to prices of imported soft luggage and raw materials, which account for over 45% of operating cost. Any sharp fluctuation is likely to impact the operating margin. Majority of the soft luggage is imported against nil exports. While forex exposure is mitigated through forward contracts, profitability continues to be susceptible to volatility in forex rates.
 
* Working capital-intensive operations:  Gross current assets (GCAs) were high at 216 days, driven by debtors and inventory of 89 days and 130 days, respectively, as on March 31, 2019. While debtors are expected to be sustained at 80-90 days, inventory is likely to improve to around 90 days. The improvement in inventory is backed by lower import of luggage from China and higher revenue contribution from hard luggage, which is manufactured in India and has lower inventory levels. Change in the product mix and local procurement is expected to reduce reliance on China, over the medium term.
Liquidity Strong

Cash accrual was Rs 27.2 crore against debt obligation of Rs 0.6 crore, in fiscal 2019. The expected cash accrual of Rs 38-50 crore per fiscal should comfortably cover the debt obligation. The accrual, along with an unutilised portion of bank limits, would be adequate to meet incremental working capital requirement and capex, over the medium term. Average bank limit utilisation was 63% over the 12 months through December 2019. The current ratio was at 1.9 times as on March 31, 2019, and is expected to be sustained at a similar level, over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that Safari's business risk profile is expected to be benefited by a strong distribution network and robust positioning in the mid- to lower-segment of the market.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward Factors:
* Sustained growth in revenue and market share and improvement in margin to above 11%, leading to better cash accrual
* Improved working capital cycle with GCAs improving to 170-180 days, leading to lower reliance on bank lines and strengthening of the financial risk profile

Downward Factors:
* More-than-expected decline in revenue, over the medium term, and operating margin declining to below 8%, weakening net cash accrual
* Stretch in working capital cycle or large debt-funded capex or acquisition weakening the financial risk profile
About the Company

Safari was incorporated in 1980 by Mr Mehta and family. The company was taken over by Mr Sudhir Jatia in 2012. It manufactures and sells luggage under the brand, Safari. The manufacturing unit is in Halol, Gujarat. Safari is listed on both Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 578 421.8
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 27.2 21.5
PAT margin % 4.7 5.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.5 0.3
Interest coverage Times 12.0 13.6

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 Fund-Based Facilities NA NA NA 23.8 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Non-Fund Based Limit# NA NA NA 27.5 CRISIL A2+
NA Working Capital Facility# NA NA NA 98.7 CRISIL A-/Stable
#Fully fungible between fund based and non-fund based facilities
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Safari Industries India Ltd Full Consolidation Wholly owned subsidiary, in the same line of business with operational synergies, and have a common management.
Safari Lifestyles Ltd Full Consolidation Wholly owned subsidiary, in the same line of business with operational synergies, and have a common management.
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  122.50  CRISIL A-/Stable          21-12-18  CRISIL A-/Positive  14-11-17  CRISIL A-/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
                14-12-18  CRISIL A-/Positive  23-10-17  CRISIL BBB+/Positive   
                    06-01-17  CRISIL BBB/Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  27.50  CRISIL A2+          21-12-18  CRISIL A2+  14-11-17  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A3+ 
                14-12-18  CRISIL A2+  23-10-17  CRISIL A2   
                    06-01-17  CRISIL A3+   
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
Fund-Based Facilities 23.8 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 70.5 CRISIL A-/Positive
Non-Fund Based Limit# 27.5 CRISIL A2+ Letter of Credit 19.5 CRISIL A2+
Working Capital Facility# 98.7 CRISIL A-/Stable -- 0 --
Total 150 -- Total 90 --
#Fully fungible between fund based and non-fund based facilities
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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