Rating Rationale
July 27, 2023 | Mumbai
 
HT Media Limited
Rating Withdrawn; Debt instruments reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.80 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Withdrawn)
 
Rs.100 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.500 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

 

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+’ ratings on the non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and commercial paper of HT Media Ltd (HTML). CRISIL Ratings has also withdrawn its rating on the term loan of Rs 80 crore at the company’s request and upon receipt of required documentation, as the same has been repaid. This is in line with CRISIL Ratings’ policy on withdrawal of ratings.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the strong market position of HTML's flagship English daily, Hindustan Times (HT), in the National Capital Region (NCR), and the established market position of its Hindi daily, Hindustan. The ratings also factor in HTML's healthy financial flexibility with a strong liquidity of ~Rs 1,373 crore as on March 31, 2023. These strengths are partially offset by continued weak operating profitability and susceptibility to volatility in newsprint prices and economic downturns.

 

The company, on a consolidated basis, reported operating revenue growth of 14% on-year in fiscal 2023. However, it made EBITDA losses (excluding non-operating income and non-operating expenses) of Rs. 123 crores for the fiscal 2023 (as against EBITDA profit of Rs. 33 crores in the previous fiscal) on account of high newsprint prices and investments made in the digital business segment. Advertisement (ad) revenue, which contributes about two-third to the topline of HTML has a high correlation with economic growth. While ad volumes have witnessed recovery from the previous fiscal, ad yields continue to be discounted compared to pre pandemic levels. With expectation of rise in ad spend by corporates and by the government in light of the upcoming state and general elections, ad yield and revenue are expected to grow further in this fiscal.

 

The operating margin for print business is also expected to improve in the near term as newsprint prices continue to soften as they have over past few quarters. However, any further rise in newsprint prices from current levels and higher-than-expected investments in digital business could have bearing on overall profitability and same would continue to remain key monitorables.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has combined the business and financial risk profiles of HTML and its subsidiaries. This is because the entities, collectively referred to as the HTML group, are in related businesses and have common promoters.

 

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:

  • Established market position of publications:

Hindustan Times had an average daily circulation of about 7.38 lakh copies during July-December 2022, as per circulation audit by the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC). Hindustan, HT Media’s Hindi daily had an average daily circulation of about 16.66 lakh copies for the same period.

 

HT Media has been able to maintain its market position in key markets which are: for English print – Delhi, Mumbai, and Chandigarh and for Hindi print – Delhi NCR, Patna, Ranchi, and Kanpur. Hindustan's leading position in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, and its strong market position in the NCR region should continue to support HTML’s overall business risk profile.

 

  • Strong financial flexibility: Capital structure of the company draws support from the sizeable gross liquidity of ~Rs 1,373 crore as on March 31, 2023, which comfortably exceeds the total gross debt of ~Rs 707 crore. Gearing is estimated to be ~ 0.37 time as on March 31, 2023, and should remain stable over the medium term. While Interest coverage ratio has been impacted due to the operating loss in the previous fiscal, same should improve this fiscal. Nevertheless, the financial risk profile should sustain, aided by strong financial flexibility. While capex requirements have largely been moderate so far, it has stepped up in last fiscal, as the company invested for refurbishing some plants and machineries. Companys operating expense have also increased in last fiscal due to higher investments in digital business. Same is expected to continue even in this fiscal. Higher-than-expected investments in the digital business having a bearing on the overall financial flexibility, will remain a key monitorable.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Continued weak operating profitability: On a consolidated basis, the company reported operating revenue growth of 14% on-year in fiscal 2023. Despite recovery in revenue, the company made EBITDA losses of Rs. 123 crores compared to EBITDA of Rs. 33 crores in fiscal 2022. This was due to elevated newsprint prices and business development expenses incurred in the digital business in fiscal 2023. The operating margin of the radio business too remain subdued, though has considerably improved in last one year, due to high statutory costs of operating in multiple frequencies in metro cities, despite continued rebound in revenues over last two fiscals.

 

With the expectation of softening of newsprint prices, operating profitability of the print business should recover in this fiscal year. That said, continued investments in digital business and modest operating margin of the radio business is expected to continue to have bearing on overall profitability of the company in the near term.

 

  • Exposure to volatility in newsprint prices and economic downturns: A substantial share of operating income is derived from ad revenue, which has a strong linkage to economic activity and is affected by economic cycles. Recessionary cycles and uncertain market conditions lead to a slowdown in spending, constraining the ad revenue for print as well as radio media.

 

In addition to linkages with overall economic activity and corporate spending, the operating cost of the company also depends on movement in newsprint prices. As newsprint accounts for approx. 30-35% of the operating cost, operating margin is susceptible to volatile newsprint prices and foreign exchange rates. After steep rise in the last fiscal, newsprint prices have now started to soften over last few quarters which should support improvement in profitability of print business in the near term. Movement of the newsprint prices, and their impact on the company’s operating profitability will however continue to remain a key monitorable.

Liquidity: Strong

HTML’s strong liquidity is driven by cash and equivalent of ~Rs 1,373 crore as on March 31, 2023, and estimated net cash accrual of Rs 150-250 crore per fiscal over the medium term. Available liquidity and accruals should suffice to cover debt repayment obligations and capex outlays over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes HTML will continue to benefit from its established market position, while the financial risk profile should remain supported by strong liquidity.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sustained revenue growth leading to improvement in consolidated operating margins sustaining over 10-12%
  • Significant and sustained growth in revenue of radio and digital businesses along with improvement in their operating profitability leading to improved overall net cash accruals.

 

Downward factors

  • Weakening of market position of publications due to intense competition
  • Sustained decline in operating performance leading to lower-than-expected net cash accruals
  • Large, debt-funded capex or acquisition or diversification leading to net cash sustaining below Rs 600 crore.

About the Company

Hindustan Times Ltd (HTL), a KK Birla group company, which holds 69.51% stake in HTML as on June 30, 2022, demerged its print media business into HTML in July 2003. HT, the leading English daily in Delhi that was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1924, is HTML's flagship product. Other publications include Hindustan and Mint. HTML has presence in the FM radio space through Fever 104 FM, Radio Nasha and Radio One; and has internet portals such as shine.com.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)

As on / for the period ended March 31 Unit 2023 2022
Total Revenue Rs crore 1,862 1,678
Profit after tax (PAT)  Rs crore -254 21
PAT margin % -13.6 1.3
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.37 0.35
Adjusted interest coverage Times -0.91 1.4

Financial numbers mentioned in this report are CRISIL Ratings adjusted numbers and may not be directly comparable with company financials

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 and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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 crore)
Complexity 
levels
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Debentures* NA NA NA 4 Simple CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 Days 500 Simple CRISIL A1+
NA Term loan 26-Mar-21 NA 26-Mar-24 80 NA Withdrawn
INE501G07013 Debentures 31-Dec-21 5.70% 31-Dec-24 96 Complex CRISIL AA-/Stable

*Not yet placed by the company

Annexure – List of entities consolidated^

Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation  Rationale for Consolidation 
Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd Full Related business and common promoters
HT Music and Entertainment Company Ltd Full Related business and common promoters
HT Mobile Solutions Ltd Full Related business and common promoters
HT Overseas Pte. Ltd Full Related business and common promoters
HT Noida (Company) Ltd Full Related business and common promoters
Next Mediaworks Ltd Full Related business and common promoters
Next Radio Ltd Full Related business and common promoters
Mosaic Media Ventures Private Limited  Full Related business and common promoters
HT Content Studio LLP Joint Venture Joint Venture

^List of consolidated entities as per last filed results

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 80.0 Withdrawn   -- 30-08-22 CRISIL AA-/Stable 31-08-21 CRISIL AA/Negative   -- --
Commercial Paper ST 500.0 CRISIL A1+   -- 30-08-22 CRISIL A1+ 31-08-21 CRISIL A1+ 31-07-20 CRISIL A1+ CRISIL A1+
      --   --   -- 28-04-21 CRISIL A1+   -- --
Non Convertible Debentures LT 100.0 CRISIL AA-/Stable   -- 30-08-22 CRISIL AA-/Stable 31-08-21 CRISIL AA/Negative 31-07-20 CRISIL AA/Stable CRISIL AA/Stable
      --   --   -- 28-04-21 CRISIL AA/Stable   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Term Loan 80 Axis Bank Limited Withdrawn
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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