Rating Rationale
August 21, 2018 | Mumbai
MT Educare Limited
Ratings removed from 'Watch Developing'; Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.80 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Stable (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has removed its ratings on the bank facilities of MT Educare Limited (MTEL; a part of the MT group) from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications' and has reaffirmed the ratings at 'CRISIL BBB/CRISIL A3+' while assigning a 'Stable' outlook.

CRISIL had, on February 22, 2018, placed the ratings on watch with developing implications because of lack of clarity about the possible impact on the company's overall credit risk profile, following MTEL's announcement that Zee Learn Ltd (ZLL) will acquire 44.5% stake in the company through preferential allotment of equity shares. The watch resolution reflects completion of the transaction in the month of June 2018, where ZLL infused Rs. 200 crores in MTEL and acquired additional 15% stake through open offer.

The reaffirmation of ratings reflects CRISIL's belief the financial risk profile will strengthen backed by the large equity infusion, which will offset the losses recorded in recent quarters and enable the MTEL to liquidate a substantial portion of its debt. The funds inflow will further help the company to fund its incremental working capital requirements and brand building expenses for its online platform - Robomate. Moreover, the group is expected to benefit from the experienced management team and association with ZLL. The extent of these benefits in the form of growth in scale and improvement in profitability remains key rating sensitive factor.

The ratings continue to reflect the group's established brand and market position in the educational coaching segment, driven by various course offerings, a large student base, and geographically diverse operations and comfortable capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by an average debt protection metrics and susceptibility to any adverse impact of changes in regulations and to intense competition.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of MTEL and its subsidiaries: Chitale's Personalised Learning Pvt Ltd (CPLC), Lakshya Educare Pvt Ltd (LEPL), MT Education Services Pvt Ltd, Sri Gayatri Educational Services Pvt Ltd (SGESPL) Robomate Edutech Pvt Ltd (REPL) and Letspaper Technologies Pvt Ltd (LTPL). That's because all these entities, collectively referred to as the MT group, have strong operational and financial linkages.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established brand and market position in the educational coaching segment: The group is one of the leading players in the educational coaching industry in terms of number of centres, students, and courses offerings. Diverse course offerings in school and college (science and commerce) segments, and competitive entrance exams, and a widespread reach because of pre-university (PU) college tie-ups support the business. The group's Mahesh Tutorials brand is an established name in the Indian education sector.

* Comfortable capital structure: As on March 31, 2018, networth stood at Rs 184.6 crore while total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) was at 0.96 time (against 1.43 times a year ago). With management plans of reducing debt by about Rs. 100 crores, capital structure is expected to remain comfortable with gearing and TOLTNW at below 1 time over the medium term.

Weaknesses
* Average debt protection metrics: Losses reported in fiscal 2018 have weakened the debt protection metrics significantly. Improvement in profitability and reduction of finance costs will remain critical over the medium term.

* Susceptibility to any adverse impact of changes in regulations: Any structural change in the core education system, such as removal of board exams or alteration in competitive exam structures, can affect the industry. It has both organised and unorganised players, which leads to high fragmentation and intense competition.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that MT Group will continue to benefit from its strong brand name and established market position over the medium term. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case MT Group is able to exhibit a significant and sustainable increase in its revenues and profitability, sustained receivable cycle and reduction in debt levels, leading to better financial risk profile. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if lower-than-expected operating performance, or any further capex/investment, leading to weakening of the financial risk profile. 

About the Company

MTEL, set up as Mahesh Tutorials in 1988, was reconstituted as a private-limited company in August 2006 and again as a public-limited company in April 2012. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange. ZLL acquired 59.48% stake in MTEL in 2018.

The group provides coaching for schools, commerce and science sections in college, and also for professional courses such as chartered accountancy. It currently operates about 275 centres at over 160 locations in 12 states.

The group has integrated tie-ups with 22 PU colleges in Karnataka for providing test preparation courses on college premises. In December 2015, it launched an online education app, Robomate+, for external students and educational institutions.

In 2011, MTEL acquired CPLC, which offers coaching for various management entrance tests. It also provides coaching for engineering and medicine entrance tests in North India and Maharashtra through Lakshya. In 2015, the group entered into a strategic partnership with SGES to offer preparation courses to the latter's students.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs. Cr. 258.62 328.44
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. -131.8 17.19
PAT Margins % -51.0 5.2
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.96 0.99
Interest coverage Times -6.71 4.49

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 Overdraft NA NA NA 5 CRISIL A3+
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Mar-2022 25 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 50 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  80.00  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  22-05-18  CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing  21-12-17  CRISIL BBB+/Negative/ CRISIL A2  18-10-16  CRISIL A1  08-12-15  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A/Stable 
        23-02-18  CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing  12-09-17  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+      26-10-15  CRISIL A1   
            24-08-17  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+           
            10-01-17  CRISIL A1           
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
Overdraft 5 CRISIL A3+ Overdraft 5 CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 50 CRISIL BBB/Stable Term Loan 55 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing
Term Loan 25 CRISIL BBB/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan 20 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing
Total 80 -- Total 80 --
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 Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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