Rating Rationale
April 30, 2019 | Mumbai
HT Media Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed 
 
Rating Action
Rs.100 Crore Non Convertible Debentures (Reduced from Rs.250 Crore) CRISIL AA+/Negative (Reaffirmed) 
Rs.1000 Crore Commercial Paper (Reduced from Rs.1500 Crore) CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed) 
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA+/Negative' rating on the non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of HT Media Limited (HTML). The short-term rating on the commercial paper programme has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.

CRISIL has withdrawn its ratings on the non-convertible debenture of Rs.150 crore following no utilisation of the facility and commercial paper of Rs. 500 crore on confirmation from Issuing and Paying Agent (IPA) (See Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn). The rating is withdrawn in line with CRISIL's policy.
 
On November 2, 2018, CRISIL had revised the outlook to 'Negative' from 'Stable', considering the weaker operating performance in the first half of fiscal 2019. The operating performance has continued to remain weak during third quarter of fiscal 2019 with operating revenue at Rs 1644 crore during the first 9 months of fiscal 2019, lower by 5.4% over the same period in last year.  
 
CRISIL believes HTML's credit profile may weaken if recovery in operating performance takes longer than expected. Improvement in operating performance, reflected in higher revenue, led by the general elections and increase in DAVP rates, as well as improvement in profitability, due to softened newsprint prices, will be closely monitored.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the strong market position of the company'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 healthy growth in the radio business and HTML's strong financial risk profile, because of adequate liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by increasing susceptibility of operating margin to volatility in newsprint prices and economic downturns, the investment phase of the company's digital and education businesses.

 

Analytical Approach

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

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position of publications: HT is the third largest English daily in India, with a circulation of 10 lakh copies during January-June 2018, as per circulation audit by Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC). Hindustan is also the third-largest circulated Hindi daily, with circulation of 26.2 lakh copies for the same period, as per ABC data. According to the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2017, Hindustan is the second most read newspaper among Hindi dailies, while HT is the second most read English daily. HT's strong market position in NCR and Hindustan's leadership position in Bihar and Jharkhand, should continue to support overall business risk profile.
 
* Healthy growth in the radio business: Revenue from the radio segment stood at Rs 176 crore during fiscal 2018, and recorded a compound annual growth rate of 17.7% over the four fiscals through March 2018. During the first nine months of fiscal 2019, revenue from the radio segment stood at Rs 147 crore, up 12.2% over the same period, previous fiscal. HTML has strengthened its position in the radio business, by launching Radio Nasha in existing markets of Delhi and Mumbai. Acquisition of Next Radio Ltd, which operates under the brand, Radio One, in major metros, will further strengthen its market position and diversify its offerings.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: Gearing was comfortable at 0.43 time as on March 31, 2018 and is estimated in a similar range as on March 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics for fiscal 2019, may, however, be affected by decline in profitability. Interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios may weaken to 2.5 times and 0.1 time, estimated for fiscal 2019, as against 7.8 times and 0.4 time, respectively, in the previous fiscal. Improvement in operating performance will thus, remain a key rating sensitivity factor.
 
Capital structure draws support from the sizeable liquid surplus of Rs 2,556 crore as on December 31, 2018, which comfortably exceeded total debt of Rs 1,439 crore. Financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy over the medium term, backed by sufficient liquidity and absence of any large capital expenditure/investment plans.
 
Weaknesses
* Investment phase for the digital business: Despite an established market position and revenue diversity, some of the company's business segments, primarily the digital segment, continued to be in the investment phase, thereby moderating overall operating profit and return on capital employed. Looking at the limited synergies with the existing business, the company decided to demerge various segments of its entertainment and digital innovation business, into an independently listed entity. The company will, therefore, retain shine.com as the primary offering from its digital business, which should help curb losses from the digital business.
 
* Susceptibility to volatility in newsprint prices and economic downturns: Business and financial risk profiles remain susceptible to sharp increase in newsprint prices and economic downturns. Newsprint, the key raw material, accounts for 40-50% of overall operating expenses. Prices have been volatile, and rose sharply during the first half of fiscal 2019, thus leading to a decline in profitability. However, newsprint prices have now softened and are expected to remain stable in the short term. Hence, operating margin is likely to improve from the first quarter of fiscal 2020 following the decline of their key raw material prices.
 
During the nine months ended December 31, 2018, ad revenue was impacted by slow growth in key advertising sectors such as automobile and retail, and floating of government tenders. Impact of economic downturn is particularly high in the case of English dailies such as HT and business dailies such as Mint, which depend more on national advertisers.
Liquidity

Liquidity is strong, with healthy cash & equivalents of Rs 2,556 crore as on December 31, 2018. Net cash accrual for the first nine months of fiscal 2019, stood at Rs 94 crore, compared to Rs 366 crore in the corresponding part of pervious fiscal. Acquisition of Next Radio, for a consideration of Rs 250-280 crore, will not have a significant impact on liquidity.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes HTML's business risk profile may weaken if recovery in operating performance takes longer than expected, while the financial risk profile is likely to remain comfortable over the medium term.
 .
Upside scenario
* Recovery in revenue growth, coupled with higher margin,  aided by a correction in newsprint prices
* Significant scale up of operations with improved profitability, amidst sustained financial risk profile
 
Downside scenario
* Lower-than-expected recovery in cash accrual
* Large debt-funded capex/acquisition or diversification into unrelated businesses, weakening the liquidity profile
* Weaker market position of publications, due to intense competition

About the Company

Hindustan Times Ltd (HTL), a KK Birla group company, held 69.5% stake in HTML as on March 31, 2018. HTL 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; a women's Hindi magazine, Kadambini; and a children's magazine, Nandan. HTML has presence in the FM radio space through Fever 104 FM and Radio Nasha; and has internet portals such as shine.com.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2018, HTML reported net profit of Rs 13 crore on operating income of Rs 1,644 crore, against Rs 272 crore and Rs 1,738 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 2,346 2,452
Profit after tax Rs crore 352 219
PAT margin % 15.0 8.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.43 0.46
Interest coverage Times 7.84 5.21
These are CRISIL-adjusted numbers and do not match directly with the numbers reported by the company

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 Debentures* NA NA NA 100 CRISIL AA+/Negative
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 1000 CRISIL A1+
* Not yet placed by the company

Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size
(Rs cr)
Rating assigned with outlook
NA Debentures* NA NA NA 150 Withdrawn
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 500 Withdrawn
* 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 Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Digital Media Holdings Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Music and Entertainment Company Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Education Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Learning Centers Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Digital Information Pvt Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Global Education Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
Topmovies Entertainment Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
Firefly-e-Ventures Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Mobile Solutions Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
HT Overseas Pte. Ltd Fully Consolidated Related business and common promoters
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
Commercial Paper  ST  1000.00  CRISIL A1+      02-11-18  CRISIL A1+  21-12-17  CRISIL A1+    --  -- 
            05-07-18  CRISIL A1+           
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  0.00
29-04-19 
CRISIL AA+/Negative      02-11-18  CRISIL AA+/Negative  21-12-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable  26-09-16  CRISIL AA+/Stable  CRISIL AA+/Stable 
            05-07-18  CRISIL AA+/Stable  28-09-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable       
Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper)  ST              28-09-17  CRISIL A1+  26-09-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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