Rating Rationale
June 04, 2020 | Mumbai
Shri Gangajali Education Society
Ratings downgraded to 'CRISIL BBB/Negative/CRISIL A3+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.131.58 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Negative (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A2')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Shri Gangajali Education Society (SGES) to 'CRISIL BBB/Negative/CRISIL A3+' from 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'.
 
The rating downgrade reflects deterioration in the business risk profile of the society because of lower than expected operating efficiency. The Return on Capital Employed (RoCE) has remained average on account of incremental capex, rising fixed costs and lower than expected occupancy. RoCE which remained between 9%-10% over fiscals 2016-2018 is expected to deteriorate and remain below 5% over the medium term. EBITDA margin which stood between 34%-36% over the fiscals 2016 to 2018 is expected to remain under pressure owing to higher fixed costs. The society recorded a loss at earnings before interest tax and depreciation (EBITDA) level in fiscal 2019 owing to loss of fee income from incremental enrollments from its MBBS course, higher fixed costs and write-off of advances. The society generated an EBITDA of Rs 19.1 crore till Q3FY20.
 
The ratings continues to reflect society's established regional position in the educational segment backed by experienced management, diversity in course offerings and moderate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by average operating efficiency, exposure to intense competition and to changes in government regulations.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established regional presence backed by wide portfolio of courses and experienced management
Institutions under SGES run schools and colleges and offer diverse courses such as degree in engineering, MBBS, pharma, nursing, commerce, arts, sciences and computer applications. It also runs various postgraduate programs like MBA, ME etc. All its institutions are approved by the concerned regulatory authorities. The society had set-up a 150 seat medical college in academic year 2017 and a 750-bed hospital (which commenced operations from fiscal 2020). The admissions in medical college were stopped by Medical Council of India (MCI) in fiscal 2018-19. However, the society had received approval and had admitted 150 students in fiscal 2020 in the MBBS course. The society also benefits from its over 2 decades presence and reputation in Bhilai-Raipur region, healthy relationships with academicians and faculty and experienced management team.
 
* Moderate financial risk profile
The society's networth is healthy estimated at Rs 245 crore and gearing is estimated low at 0.42 times on March 31, 2020 (Rs. 229 crore and 0.42 times as on March 31, 2019 respectively). Infusion of fresh funds from promoters had led to strong growth in networth. Lower than expected occupancy and higher fixed costs had dented the financial risk profile in fiscal 2019. CRISIL expects financial risk profile to remain moderate. Adjusted Debt Service Coverage Ratio (ADSCR) is expected to remain between 1.2-1.5 times in fiscal 2021 and 2022.
 
Weakness
* Average operating efficiency
The society had carried out significant CAPEX in the last four financial years ending fiscal 2020 to the tune of around Rs 150 crore. However, the benefit of the said CAPEX is yet to fully accrue to the society. The fee income/revenue which stood at Rs 89.5 crore in fiscal 2017 is expected to be around Rs 124 crore in fiscal 2020. The society has more than 15000 students enrolled in its institutes. Average occupancy of the society stood at around 65%. While occupancy in school and MBBS courses (excluding 1 year ban in fiscal 2019) is almost 100%, occupancy is below average in engineering courses which is a major contributor to the fee income. The RoCE of the society has remained average in the past four financial year ending fiscal 2020 and is expected to continue to remain average over the medium term. Improvement in occupancy of the educational institutions and hospital and profitability shall remain key rating sensitivity factor.
 
* Exposure to intense competition in the education industry
All institutions belonging to SGES are located in and around Bhilai and Raipur (Chhattisgarh). Both Bhilai and Raipur are well-known for their educational institutions and have other engineering institutes, and arts and science colleges. There is intense competition among the colleges to attract students.
 
* Exposure to risks relating to changes in government regulations: The establishment and running of higher educational institutions are governed by various governmental and quasi-government agencies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), Medical Council of India (MCI), All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE), universities, and state government. Each body has detailed procedures for granting permission to set up new institutions, and approvals need to be renewed every few years. Even enhancing the number of seats requires prior approval. Agencies conduct detailed studies on aspects such as an institution's facilities, technology, faculty, and track record before granting approval.
Liquidity Adequate

SGES has adequate liquidity marked by healthy free cash and bank balances and unencumbered fixed deposits, expected healthy accruals from operations against debt repayments. SGES collects fees primarily during June-July and Jan-Feb and therefore maintains adequate liquidity throughout the financial year. As on March 31, 2020, the society had around Rs 40 crore of unencumbered cash and FD balances. The society had availed moratorium from period of March 2020-May 2020 to conserve liquidity and is likely to avail extended moratorium from June 2020- August 2020. The society had generated cash accruals of Rs 6.9 crore in fiscal 2019 (compared to Rs 34.5 crore in fiscal 2018) because of loss of fee income from MBBS course due to ban by MCI, increased fixed costs and unexpected write-off in advances extended to a contractor of Rs 6.75 crore. With commencement of admission for MBBS course in fiscal 2020, the cash accruals are expected to remain between Rs 20-25 crore against a debt repayment obligation of anywhere between Rs 5-8 crore over the medium term. 

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes that SGES's credit risk profile may remain under pressure due to stagnant revenue profile and moderation in profitability

Rating Sensitivity Factor
Upward Factor
* Improvement and sustenance of RoCE above 10% because of improvement in occupancy in the institutions and/or ramp up of hospital income
* More than expected cash accrual generation thereby improving the financial risk profile of the society

Downward Factor
* Cash accruals remaining below Rs 10 crore over the medium term
* Any  significant delay in collection of fees due to delayed start of academic year due to pandemic (COVID-19) thereby impacting liquidity.

About the Company

SGES, Bhilai, was constituted under the provision of statute 28 framed under MP Vishwavidhyalaya Adhinium 1973 and the AICTE Act. Formed by founder Mr IP Mishra, the society currently operates 13 institutes that offer engineering, computer application, nursing, pharmacy, medical, arts, commerce and science, management, and teacher training courses.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs.Crore 98.5 106.8
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore -16.07 17.01
PAT Margin % -16.3 15.9
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.42 0.28
Interest coverage Times 0.34 5.5

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.Cr) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 11.5 CRISIL A3+
NA Loan Against Property NA NA NA 25 CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 12.5 CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Mar-29 82.58 CRISIL BBB/Negative
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  120.08  CRISIL BBB/Negative      01-04-19  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  23-01-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  11.50  CRISIL A3+      01-04-19  CRISIL A2  23-01-18  CRISIL A2    --  -- 
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 11.5 CRISIL A3+ Bank Guarantee 11.5 CRISIL A2
Loan Against Property 25 CRISIL BBB/Negative Loan Against Property 25 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 12.5 CRISIL BBB/Negative Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 12.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Term Loan 82.58 CRISIL BBB/Negative Term Loan 82.58 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 131.58 -- Total 131.58 --
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
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Mohit Makhija
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
mohit.makhija@crisil.com


Dhaval Vora
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 6172 3788
Dhaval.Vora@crisil.com


Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are majority owned by S&P Global Inc., a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.
 
For more information, visit www.crisil.com 


Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as, bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible / convertible / partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address, and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL.For further information on CRISIL’s privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Report” includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the Report. The Report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This Report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Report is to be construed as CRISIL providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the Report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the Report in any way.CRISIL or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL