Rating Rationale
July 27, 2020 | Mumbai
Vedant Fashions Private Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.120 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.10 Crore Commercial Paper Programme CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of Vedant Fashions Private Limited (VFPL).
 
Operating performance has been impacted from March 2020 onwards due to measures taken by the central and state governments to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, which included temporary closure of non-critical establishments, interstate transportation, and areas of mass gatherings. However, most of VFPL's stores opened on May 18, 2020, after the lockdown was relaxed in some places. It is expected to resume operations at the remaining stores in the near term. However, recovery in sales is expected to be gradual due to the relatively discretionary demand for apparel products and the impact of the lockdown on consumers' income levels. The ability of the business and time taken to revert to operational stability will be key monitorables.
 
Revenue and profit are likely to decline significantly in the first half of fiscal 2021 and will recover gradually in the second half of the fiscal.
 
The ratings continue to reflect VFPL's established presence in men's ethnic clothing segment, and healthy financial risk profile and liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to intense competition and large working capital requirement.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position: The business risk profile is underpinned by the strong brand positioning of Manyavaar in the ethnic wear segment and large retail footprint, through more than 600 stores across the country. Operating margin was healthy estimated at around 35% over the three fiscals through 2020. Performance is likely to remain stable in the medium term, driven by the company's leading market position in the men's ethnic wear segment.
 
* Robust financial risk profile and liquidity: The financial risk profile is supported by strong networth, estimated at Rs 975 crore as on March 31, 2020. High cash accrual should limit dependence on debt to fund capital expenditure (capex) and working capital requirement. Absence of gearing and healthy profitability led to strong debt protection metrics, with interest coverage estimated at around 78 times in fiscal 2020.
 
Weaknesses
* Susceptibility to intense competition: Changes in fashion trends and exposure to intense competition continue to constrain the business risk profile, limiting scalability. Players such as VFPL need to constantly innovate and adapt to changing client preferences while maintaining their brand identity and product quality. Economic downturns also affect consumer spending on lifestyle items such as clothing.
 
* Large working capital requirement: Gross current assets increased to an estimated 261 days as on March 31, 2020, from 206 days as on March 31, 2019. The increase was on account of transformation of the store format to franchisee-owned and franchisee-operated (FOFO) model during fiscals 2017 and 2018, from the earlier mix of stores, which included FOFO, company-owned and company-operated, and company-owned and franchisee-operated models. Change in the store format along with the nationwide lockdown led to higher receivables. Bank limit utilisation, however, was limited as working capital requirement was funded through internal accrual.
Liquidity Strong

Liquidity is adequate, backed by healthy accrual against nil maturing debt and absence of capex. Cash credit limit remained unutilised over the 12 months through March 2020, thus providing additional financial flexibility. Also, the company maintains surplus liquidity in the company at any given point of time.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes VFPL will continue to benefit from its healthy brand recognition, pan-India presence, established market position, and strong financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
* Sustained and significant growth in revenue and stable profitability at around 30%
* Sustenance of healthy financial risk profile, with minimal reliance on debt

Downward Factors
* Stretch in working capital cycle by more than 300 days
* Large, debt-funded capex or inorganic expansion.

About the Company

Set up as a proprietorship firm by the Kolkata-based Modi family, VFPL was reconstituted as a private limited company in 2002. The company manufactures and retails men's and ladies ethnic wear. It markets clothing through exclusive brand and multibrand outlets under the Manyavar and Mohey brands.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs.Crore 794.91 760.58
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 182.27 148.27
PAT Margin % 22.9 19.5
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times NA NA
Interest coverage Times 67.26 40.77

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon
rate (%)
Maturity date Issue size (Rs.Crore) Complexity Level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Line of Credit NA NA NA 30 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 80 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 10 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 10 Simple CRISIL A1+
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
Commercial Paper  ST  10.00  CRISIL A1+      11-07-19  CRISIL A1+  17-04-18  CRISIL A1+  06-12-17  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing  -- 
            27-04-19  CRISIL A1+  06-03-18  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing  16-11-17  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing   
                    18-08-17  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing   
                    11-05-17  CRISIL A1+   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  120.00  CRISIL AA-/Stable      11-07-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable  17-04-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable  06-12-17  CRISIL A+/Watch Developing  CRISIL A/Stable 
            27-04-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable  06-03-18  CRISIL A+/Watch Developing  16-11-17  CRISIL A+/Watch Developing   
                    18-08-17  CRISIL A+/Watch Developing   
                    11-05-17  CRISIL A+/Stable   
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
Line of Credit 30 CRISIL AA-/Stable Line of Credit 30 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Overdraft 80 CRISIL AA-/Stable Overdraft 80 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 10 CRISIL AA-/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan 10 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Total 120 -- Total 120 --
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 Bank Loan Ratings

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