Rating Rationale
May 07, 2020 | Mumbai
Herald Publications Private Limited
Long-term rating downgraded to 'CRISIL BB-/Stable' ; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.20.1 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.18.25 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB-/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BB/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd (HPPL) to 'CRISIL BB-/Stable' from 'CRISIL BB/Stable', while reaffirming the short-term rating at 'CRISIL A4+'.
 
The downgrade reflects weakening in the company's financial risk profile, especially its capital structure and stretched liquidity. During fiscal 2019, the company's networth weakened because of impairment of assets, mainly tools, fixtures, and obsolete machineries, damaged inventory, and accounts receivables. Networth eroded to Rs 6.75 crore in fiscal 2019, from Rs 16.47 crore in the previous year. The total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio also increased from 1.83 times in fiscal 2018, to 4.39 times in fiscal 2019. Nonetheless, the damage to assets is a one-time occurrence as it is not expected to happen again over the medium term.
 
Furthermore, the company's business is currently constrained because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in limited circulation and subdued advertising revenue. The liquidity also remains stretched, as reflected in almost full utilisation of the bank limit.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters in the newspaper publishing industry, along with moderate debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by modest, but improving, scale of operations, risk of geographical concentration in revenue, large working capital requirement, and average capital structure.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths: 
* Extensive experience of the promoters
The promoters have experience of over 3 decades in the newspaper publishing industry, which has helped them to have a strong understanding of local market dynamics and preferences, and develop healthy relationships with customers and suppliers, which should continue to support the business. Besides the newspaper division, the company also has a printing and packaging division that prints labels, cartons, and cardboard boxes, and manufactures corrugated boxes, which partly provide diversity to revenue.
 
* Moderate debt protection metrics
Interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios are estimated at 3.29 times and 0.29 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020.
 
Weaknesses:
* Stagnant and average scale of operations and risk of geographical concentration in revenue
Revenue remained stagnant at Rs 52-54 crore during the 3 fiscals through 2020. Also, as the entire revenue from the newspaper and advertisement segment (cumulatively 57% of the total revenue) is generated solely from Goa, risks of geographical concentration in revenue will continue to constrain the business.
 
* Modest networth and average capital structure
The networth has eroded in fiscal 2019, because of damaged assets, to Rs 6.75 crore from Rs 16.4 crore in previous years. The TOLTNW ratio also increased from 1.83 times in fiscal 2018, to 4.39 times in fiscal 2019. The networth is expected to build up, over the next few years, with steady accretion to reserves. However, it will continue to remain modest over the medium term.
 
* Large working capital requirement
Operations are likely to remain working capital intensive. Gross current assets were estimated at 151 days as on March 31, 2020, driven by substantial receivables of 87 days and moderate inventory of 50 days. Also, creditors stood at 90 days.
Liquidity Stretched

Cash accrual, projected at Rs 4.00-5.00 crore per annum over the medium term, should comfortably meet the yearly maturing debt of Rs 1.62 crore. Bank limit utilisation was high and averaged 91% during the 12 months through March 2020, because of large working capital requirement.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that HPPL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of the promoters.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained growth in revenue of more than 20-25% with steady margin, leading to healthy accrual
* Improvement in the working capital cycle and capital structure
 
Downward factors
* Higher-than-expected capital expenditure (capex), leading to pressure on overall liquidity
* Pressure on revenue or decline in margin of more than 300 basis points
About the Company

HPPL, incorporated in 1989, publishes an English daily newspaper, Herald, in Goa. The company is based in Panaji, Goa, and also publishes a Marathi weekly newspaper, Dainik Herald, and a Konkani weekly newspaper, Amcho Avaz. HPPL also prints labels, cartons, and cardboard boxes. Mr Raul Fernandes and his brother, Mr Oswald Fernandes, are the promoters.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 52.36 53.06
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore -9.71 1.49
PAT margin % -18.5% 2.8%
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 2.63 1.13
Interest coverage Times 3.20 3.73

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 crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 12.5 CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2024 7.05 CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 0.5 CRISIL A4+
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.05 CRISIL A4+
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  19.55  CRISIL BB-/Stable      31-07-19  CRISIL BB/Stable  31-05-18  CRISIL BB/Stable  07-07-17  CRISIL BB/Stable  CRISIL B+/Stable 
                    13-06-17  CRISIL BB/Stable   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  0.55  CRISIL A4+      31-07-19  CRISIL A4+  31-05-18  CRISIL A4+  07-07-17  CRISIL A4+  CRISIL A4 
                    13-06-17  CRISIL A4+   
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
Bank Guarantee .05 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee .05 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit 12.5 CRISIL BB-/Stable Cash Credit 10 CRISIL BB/Stable
Letter of Credit .5 CRISIL A4+ Letter of Credit .5 CRISIL A4+
Term Loan 7.05 CRISIL BB-/Stable Term Loan 7.7 CRISIL BB/Stable
Total 20.1 -- Total 18.25 --
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
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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