Rating Rationale
December 30, 2019 | Mumbai
VIP Industries Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL AA/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.180 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL AA-/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
 
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of VIP Industries Ltd (VIP) to 'CRISIL AA/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA-/Positive' while reaffirming its 'CRISIL A1+' rating on the short-term bank facility.
 
The upgrade reflects the expectation of steady improvement in VIP's business performance over the medium term, driven by healthy revenue prospects for organised players in the luggage industry following implementation of Goods and Services Tax and VIP's dominant market position in the industry, with strong brands and an extensive distribution network. Operating margin should remain steady, with improving sourcing efficiency, increase in captive capacity, cost control initiatives, and pricing flexibility. The financial risk profile and liquidity should improve over the medium term, supported by steady growth in accrual and moderate capital expenditure (capex).
 
These strengths are partially offset by dependence on Chinese imports in the soft luggage segment, intense competition in the industry, and large working capital requirement.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of VIP and its subsidiaries.

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
* Market leadership and strong brand in the domestic luggage industry: VIP is the world's fifth-largest luggage manufacturer and a leader in the Indian luggage market. Its brands cater to the lower and upper segments of the demand pyramid, with products across a wide price range. The company entered the women's handbags segment and relaunched its 'Skybags' brand, which has gained significant traction in the market. VIP has a strong distribution network across the country. The company has about 1,000 dealers and 100 distributors (reaching 1,000 retailers), with 250 exclusive brand outlets, 250 franchisees, and 1,000 modern trade outlets and total point of sales at about 11,000.

* Healthy financial risk profile: VIP's healthy financial risk profile is backed by a conservative capital structure, healthy cash accrual, and comfortable debt protection metrics. As on September 30, 2019, the debt level was modest at Rs 77 crore and networth was healthy at Rs 646 crore. The company's capex of Rs 50 crore per annum and incremental working capital requirement should be comfortably covered by internal accrual. Hence, the debt level should remain modest over the medium term. Liquidity should remain comfortable as well, supported by cash surplus of Rs 14 crore as on September 30, 2019, and average unutilised fund-based limit of Rs 40 crore.

Weaknesses
* High dependence on Chinese imports: The soft luggage segment, which accounts for a major part of VIP's revenue, is largely sourced from China, thus exposing the company to adverse foreign exchange movement. Sharp rupee depreciation significantly affects material costs. Despite being a market leader in the organised segment, VIP is able to pass on increase in material prices only partially and with a lag, mainly because of intense competition from the large, unorganised segment; hence, the ability to charge premium is restricted. Though VIP has set up its soft luggage manufacturing facility in Bangladesh, a significant portion should continue to be procured from China.

* Large working capital requirement: The luggage industry is working capital-intensive. VIP's receivables were 60-70 days as on March 31, 2019, though they increased from 35-45 days in fiscals 2017 and 2018. The company has been able to prudently align its inventory level with payables, thus limiting the incremental net working capital. Any significant economic downturn can impact the working capital requirement.
Liquidity Superior

Cash accrual is expected at Rs 120-150 crore per annum over the medium term. Bank limit of Rs 40 crore remained unutilised over the 12 months through October 2019. Cash surplus was about Rs 14 crore as on September 30, 2019. These figures should be sufficient to meet annual capex of Rs 70-75 crore, dividend payments, and incremental working capital requirement. Moreover, low gearing of 0.13 time as on September 30, 2019, provides VIP with additional headroom for raising funds.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes VIP's business risk profile will continue to be supported by its robust market position, healthy demand prospects for luggage, and improving operating efficiency. The financial risk profile should remain strong because of healthy cash accrual and low reliance on debt.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward Factors
* Sustained revenue growth of 12-15% per annum and steady profitability of 16-17% resulting in significant increase in operating cash flow
* Sustained strong financial risk profile and steady increase in liquid surplus, supported by healthy cash accrual and continued moderate capex

Downward Factors
* Revenue de-growth by  over 15% and decline in profitability to less than 12%
* Sustained increase in debt due to large debt-funded capex, sizeable acquisition, or stretched working capital cycle, leading to material weakening of the credit metrics, for instance, interest coverage of less than 5 times.

About the Company

VIP, a Dilip Piramal group company, was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Blow Plast Ltd (BPL) in January 1968. In fiscal 2007, BPL was merged with VIP following restructuring of the group. The company manufactures hard luggage and markets soft luggage imported from Bangladesh and China. VIP is the largest player in the luggage industry in India.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs Cr 1818 1443
Profit after tax Rs Cr 145 127
PAT margin % 8.0 8.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.15 0.00
Interest coverage Times 67.95 89.28
 
Year-to-date figures
Particulars Unit H1-20 H1-19
Revenue Rs Cr 976 920
Profit after tax Rs Cr 68 96
PAT margin % 7.0 10.5
Adjusted gearing Times 0.13 0.00
Interest coverage Times 16.02 2515.83

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 Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan* NA NA NA 75.00 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 54.50 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 50.50 CRISIL AA/Stable
*Interchangeable with non-fun based limits
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entities Consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale
Blow Plast Retail Limited Full Wholly owned subsidiary
V.I.P Industries Bangladesh Private Limited Full Wholly owned subsidiary
V.I.P Industries BD Manufacturing Private Limited Full Wholly owned subsidiary
V.I.P Luggage BD Private Limited Full Wholly owned subsidiary
V.I.P Accessories BD Private Limited Full Wholly owned subsidiary
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  125.50  CRISIL AA/Stable      23-10-18  CRISIL AA-/Positive  29-09-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable  05-10-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable  CRISIL A+/Positive 
                    26-09-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  54.50  CRISIL A1+      23-10-18  CRISIL A1+  29-09-17  CRISIL A1+  05-10-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1 
                    26-09-16  CRISIL A1+   
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
Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan* 75 CRISIL AA/Stable Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan* 75 CRISIL AA-/Positive
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 54.5 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 59.5 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Working Capital Facility 50.5 CRISIL AA/Stable Proposed Working Capital Facility 45.5 CRISIL AA-/Positive
Total 180 -- Total 180 --
*Interchangeable with non-fun based limits
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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