Rating Rationale
November 16, 2017 | Mumbai
Vedant Fashions Private Limited
Ratings continues on 'Watch Developing' 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.120 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+ (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications')
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper Programme CRISIL A1+ (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL's ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper programme of Vedant Fashions Private Limited (VFPL) continue to be at 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'.
 
The ratings were placed on watch on August 18, 2017 following the acquisition of ethnic wear brand, Meebaz, by VFPL from Hyderabad-based New Meena Baazar Pvt Ltd (NMBPL).
 
CRISIL is closely monitoring the outcome of the acquisition and is in discussion with the management to understand its implications on the credit risk profile. The ratings will be removed from watch once CRISIL obtains clarity about the acquisition. Impact of the acquisition on the financial risk profile, especially liquidity, will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.
   
The ratings continue to reflect VFPL's established brand in the men's ethnic clothing segment, strong operating efficiency, and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Benefits expected from strong brand, focus on retail sales, and diversification initiatives
Since fiscal 2008, VFPL has been focusing on increasing the presence of its Manyavar brand in the ethnic menswear segment, especially in garments and accessories for bridegrooms, through 400 stores (against 43 eight years ago) across more than 160 cities in India and abroad (14 stores abroad). Also, growing presence in the ethnic women's wear segment through the Mohey brand should further help ramp up sales and profitability.
 
* Strong operating efficiency: Focus on retail sales both through company and franchisee-owned outlets since fiscal 2008 should continue to help improve topline and maintain healthy profitability. Steady profitability has resulted in commensurate cash accrual and debt protection metrics, and strong return on capital employed (RoCE).
 
* Robust financial risk profile, especially liquidity
Networth is healthy at Rs 343 crore and with comfortable gearing of 0.03 time, as on March 31, 2017. High cash accrual should continue to minimise dependence on external debt to fund the capital expenditure (capex) and working capital requirement, thereby strengthening liquidity. Low gearing and healthy profitability led to strong debt protection metrics. Net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) and interest coverage ratio (ICR) was around 13.88 times and 74.23 times, respectively, in fiscal 2017 (3.82 times and 301.19 times in fiscal 2016)
 
Weakness
* Susceptibility to intense competition: Changes in fashion trends and exposure to intense competition continue to constrain business risk profile, thereby limiting scale of operations. Hence, there is a need to constantly innovate and adapt to changing client preferences and maintain 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 176 days as on March 31, 2017, from 142 and 138 days as of March 2016 and 2015, respectively. Inventory has remained at 80-100 days in the past three years and receivables at 70-80 days. Payments from franchise and store operators are received within a week of sale to end users, while inventory is larger at the start of wedding season. Bank limit utilisation, however, has reduced considerably in recent years as working capital requirement is funded through internal accrual. Credit from fabric suppliers and deposits received from franchisees also support liquidity.
About the Company

Set up as a proprietorship firm by Kolkata-based Modi family and reconstituted as a private limited company in 2002, VFPL manufactures and retails men's ethnic wear, such as sherwanis, kurtas, suits, and accessories. It markets clothing through exclusive brand and multi-brand outlets under the Manyavar brand.

Key Financial Indicators
As On /For The Period Ended March 31 Unit 2017  2016 
Revenue Rs. Cr. 609 504.5
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 111 90.2
PAT Margins % 18.2 17.9
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.03 0.09
Interest coverage Times 74.23 30.19

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 NA NA NA 120.0 CRISIL A+/Watch Developing
NA Commercial Paper Programme  Commercial Paper NA 7-365 days 50 CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper Programme ST  50  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing  18-08-17  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing    --    --    --  -- 
        11-05-17  CRISIL A1+               
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  120  CRISIL A+/Watch Developing  18-08-17  CRISIL A+/Watch Developing  22-07-16  CRISIL A/Stable    No Rating Change  03-12-14  CRISIL A-/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
        11-05-17  CRISIL A+/Stable               
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 120 CRISIL A+/Watch Developing Cash Credit 120 CRISIL A+/Placed on 'Rating Watch With Developing Implications'
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 Approach to Recognising Default

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