Rating Rationale
May 22, 2018 | Mumbai
MT Educare Limited
 Ratings continues on 'Watch Developing'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.80 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (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 of MT Educare Ltd (MTEL; a part of the MT group) continue to be on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'.
 
The ratings were placed on 'Watch with Developing Implications' on February 22, 2018, following MTEL's announcement that Zee Learn Ltd (ZLL) will acquire 44.5% stake in the company through preferential allotment of equity shares. Although, the preferential allotment of equity shares has been approved and subscribed by ZLL, the proposed open offer as per the regulatory requirement is yet to be completed. The acquisition is subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions and the requisite statutory and regulatory approvals. CRISIL is in discussion with the MT group's management to understand the implications of this transaction on its business and financial risk profiles, and is awaiting clarity on the same. CRISIL will remove the ratings from watch and take a final rating action upon completion of aforementioned transaction and on obtaining clarity on these issues.
 
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. These strengths are partially offset by an average financial risk profile 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 Forum for Competitions Pvt Ltd (LFCPL), Lakshya Educare Pvt Ltd (LEPL), MT Education Services Pvt Ltd, and Sri Gayatri Educational Services Pvt Ltd (SGES). 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.
 
Weaknesses
* Average financial risk profile: Losses reported in fiscal 2018 have weakened the financial risk profile significantly. Networth is estimated to have eroded substantially and gearing is likely to have been at over 2.5 times as on March 31, 2018 as against 1.1 times as on September 30, 2017 and 0.99 time, as on March 31, 2017. Recovery in capital structure, because of infusion of fresh capital, remains critical.
 
* 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.
About the Group

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. 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 acquired LFCPL, which provides coaching for engineering and medicine entrance tests in North India. In 2013, MTEL started Lakshya through a new venture, LEPL, which gives engineering and medicine entrance tests in Maharashtra. 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 2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 328.4 314.5
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 17.2 32.2
PAT margin % 5.2 10.2
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.99 0.27
Interest coverage Times 4.5 20.3
 

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+/Watch Developing
 NA Term Loan NA NA 30-Sep-26 55 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 20 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing
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/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing  23-02-18  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 
            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+/Watch Developing Overdraft 5 CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing
Term Loan 55 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing Term Loan 55 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing
Working Capital Demand Loan 20 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing 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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