Rating Rationale
July 21, 2020 | Mumbai
VIP Clothing Limited
Long-term rating downgraded to 'CRISIL BB/Negative' ; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.123.4 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BB/Negative (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BB+/Negative')
Short Term RatingCRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its rating on the long term bank facilities of VIP Clothing Limited (VIP; earlier known as Maxwell Industries Ltd) to 'CRISIL BB/Negative' from 'CRISIL BB+/Negative'. Short term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A4+'.
 
The downgrade reflects continued deterioration in business and financial risk profile on the back of lower than expected revenue and continued net losses in fiscal 2020, weakening debt protection metrics. Revenue growth and profitability is expected to remain subdued in fiscal 2021 due to pandemic related disruptions. While, the operations of the group have resumed, it is currently at considerably reduced scale. Growth in revenue and profitability shall remain a major rating sensitivity factory.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the companys longstanding presence in the innerwear segment and well-known brands supported by the extensive industry experience of its promoters. These rating strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition from regional and foreign brands, subdued profitability, leading to weak debt protection metrics and large working capital requirement.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Longstanding presence in the innerwear segment and well-known brands: VIP has a long standing presence in the mid to high priced mens innerwear segment in India for more than 2 decades. The company has created a well-known brand over the past two decades, such as VIP, Leader, VIP Frenchie, Feelings, Leader, and Eminence.
 
* Extensive industry experience of its promoters: Promoters have around 3 decades of experience during which they have developed understanding of industry dynamics and has established brand and distribution network pan India with around 330 wholesalers and distributors, while major revenue is from the Southern market in India.  
 
Weakness:
* Intense competition from regional and foreign brands: Intense competition from regional and foreign brands has not only resulted in loss in market share and decline in revenues. Revenue in fiscal 2020 declined to Rs 172.8 crore from Rs 208.6 crore in the previous fiscal, likely to remain moderate over the medium term, constrained by competition and pandemic related disruptions
 
* Subdued profitability leading to weak debt protection metrics: VIP incurred operating losses in fiscal 2020 due to large inventory write offs and lower fixed cost absorption. Operating margins were -9.1% in fiscal 2020 compared to 2.5% in fiscal 2019, weakening the debt protection metrics, with interest coverage of -1.24 times. Profitability and debt protection metrics are expected remain subdued in fiscal 2021 constrained by pandemic related disruption.  VIP has recently closedown its manufacturing operations in Gujarat to consolidate its operations at its plant in Tamilnadu. This along with other cost optimisation measures should help the company improve its performance over the medium term
 
* Large working capital requirement: Gross current assets stood at 337 days as on March 31, 2020, because of sizeable inventory of 179 days and receivables of 103 days. The high receivable days are on account of debtors more than 6 months due to certain slow moving inventory at the dealer's end. Improvement in working capital cycle to remain a key sensitivity over medium term.  
Liquidity Stretched

VIPs liquidity is stretched on account of continued cash losses and high bank limit utilization of 94% for last 12 months ended March 2020. Liquidity is supported by absence of debt funded capex plan and absence of term debt repayment obligations. The company has availed moratorium on its interest obligations and adopted cash conserving measured to maintain liquidity amidst the Covid-19 outbreak. They have also availed Rs.4.95 crore of additional limit under the Covid-19 scheme to support liquidity. Scale up in operations and improvement in working capital cycle, especially debtors, is crucial to improve liquidity situation over the medium term  

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes that the business risk profile is likely to remain constrained over the medium term on the back of moderate scale and profitability.
 
Rating sensitivity factors:
Upward factors
* Improvement in scale of operations and profitability backed by cost rationalization measures, strengthens the net cash accruals to above Rs.10 crores
* Improvement in financial risk profile with stronger capital structure and debt protection metrics with interest coverage ratio of above 2 times and stronger liquidity profile

Downward factors:
* Subdued revenue growth and profitability with operating margins below 5%, constraining the net cash accruals
* Stretch in working capital cycle or large debt funded capex weakens the financial risk profile

About the Company

VIP was incorporated in 1991, promoted by the Pathare family. The company is a leading manufacturer of innerwear in India, under the well-recognised VIP brand. It has manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, Daman and Diu, and Gujarat. The company has a wide distribution network and sells to distributors, wholesalers, and modern retail outlets.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs. Cr. 172.8 208.6
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. (15.0) (6.2)
PAT Margins % (8.7) (3.0)
Adjusted debt/adjusted net worth Times 1.6 1.3
Interest coverage Times (1.2) 0.6

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. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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)
Complexity Level Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 1.35 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 73.04 NA CRISIL BB/Negative
NA Foreign Exchange Forward NA NA NA 0.5 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 27.85 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 20.66 NA CRISIL BB/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  94.20  CRISIL BB/Negative/ CRISIL A4+      29-05-19  CRISIL BB+/Negative/ CRISIL A4+  21-11-18  CRISIL BBB-/Negative/ CRISIL A3  06-11-17  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Positive/ CRISIL A3/Watch Positive  CRISIL BBB-/Negative/ CRISIL A3 
                02-02-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ CRISIL A3  04-08-17  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Positive/ CRISIL A3/Watch Positive   
                    12-05-17  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Positive/ CRISIL A3/Watch Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  29.20  CRISIL A4+      29-05-19  CRISIL A4+  21-11-18  CRISIL A3  06-11-17  CRISIL A3/Watch Positive  CRISIL A3 
                02-02-18  CRISIL A3  04-08-17  CRISIL A3/Watch Positive   
                    12-05-17  CRISIL A3/Watch Positive   
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
 
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Name of Lender Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee State Bank of India 1.35 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit HDFC Bank Limited 9.23 CRISIL BB/Negative
Cash Credit IDBI Bank Limited 14.31 CRISIL BB/Negative
Cash Credit State Bank of India 49.5 CRISIL BB/Negative
Foreign Exchange Forward State Bank of India 0.5 CRISIL A4+
Letter of Credit IDBI Bank Limited 6 CRISIL A4+
Letter of Credit State Bank of India 21.85 CRISIL A4+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility Not Applicable 20.66 CRISIL BB/Negative

This Annexure has been updated on 8-Sep-2021 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 2-Aug-2021 received from the rated entity.

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
Rating Criteria for Cotton Textile Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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