Rating Rationale
February 28, 2020 | Mumbai
Mirza International Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.544.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Negative' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Mirza International Limited (MIL) to 'Stable' from 'Negative', while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL A-'. The short term rating and commercial paper has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A2+'.
 
The revision in outlook reflects expectation of an improvement in the company's business risk profile, with substantial moderation in working capital requirement on the back of reduction in inventory, and improvement in operating profitability. The finished goods inventory level reduced to Rs 290 crore as on December 31, 2019 from Rs 350 crore a year ago with the company taking corrective measures including liquidating stock at discounted prices over Q3 FY19 to Q1 FY20.
 
Further, operating margins improved to 14.8% and 14.7% during Q3 and Q2 FY20, respectively against 11.0% reported in Q1 FY20 as the company discontinued discounted sales in the domestic market and export sales increased. Consequently, the financial risk profile also improved supported by moderation in working capital debt levels, with total outstanding debt (including bill discounted) reducing to Rs 423 crore as on December 31, 2019, as against Rs 484 crore a year ago. Liquidity improved on the back of healthy cash accruals and enhancement in bank limits by Rs 170 crore, which were utilised on average 68% over the 9 months through December 2019.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the company's established market position backed by the experience of the promoters and management in the leather footwear industry, integrated business operations, and healthy revenue growth in the domestic retail business segment led by expanding retail network and product portfolio over the last two years. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition, and susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and economic cycles.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of MIL and its subsidiaries, Mirza (HK) Ltd and Mirza Bangla Ltd, as the entities are in the same business and have common promoters. The discounted bills of Rs 87 crore as on March 31, 2019, have been treated as debt.
 
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: 
* Experience of the promoters, established market position, and integrated operations: The promoters' experience of around 40 years in the leather industry. The company has established position in the domestic leather footwear market backed by diversified presence across multiple channels including own chain of retail stores, various other retail stores, and ecommerce websites should continue to support the business. MIL sells footwear, apparel, and accessories majorly under the Red Tape, Mode, and Bond Street brands in the domestic market; whereas operates mainly under make to order business for various reputed clients' brands in the overseas market.
 
Further, the company's operations are backward integrated with in-house tannery for conversion of raw hide into finished hide. MIL's market position is expected to remain healthy over the medium term, backed by strong growth in the domestic retail business and expected growth in export revenue.
 
* Moderation in working capital requirement leading to improved financial risk profile: MIL has been expanding its domestic retail presence, which has resulted in the company stocking significant inventory. Finished goods inventory increased to Rs 350 crore as on December 31, 2018, from Rs 240 crore a year ago. However, driven by the company taking corrective steps and providing significant discounts from Q3 FY19 to Q1 FY20, the finished goods inventory reduced to Rs 290 crore as on December 31, 2019. The operating margin also improved to 14.8% and 14.7% during Q3 and Q2 FY20, respectively, as against 11.0% reported during Q1 FY20, due to reduction in heavy discounts during last two quarters of the current fiscal.
 
Increased profitability and reduced working capital requirement has strengthened the debt protection metrics, as reflected in interest coverage of 5.12 times for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, against 3.36 times for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 and 4.17 times for fiscal 2019. The total outstanding debt (including bill discounted) of the company stood at Rs 423 crore as on December 31, 2019, as against Rs 484 crore a year ago. Prudent working capital management along with healthy margins should continue to support the financial risk profile.
 
* Healthy revenue growth: MIL reported a 17% increase in operating income to touch Rs 1013 crore during 9M FY20 from Rs 865 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year, led by an increase in domestic retail business as well as expansion in exports sales. The strong revenue growth in the domestic market was supported by an increase in retail stores from 206 as on March 31, 2019, to 227 as on December 31, 2019. The revenue from the apparel segment for the first 9 months of fiscal 2020 grew by about 55% to Rs 221 crore from Rs 143 crore registered during 9M FY19. MIL's established brands aided by increasing retail presence should help sustain healthy revenue growth in the domestic business over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses:
* Declining revenue share from overseas markets: Sales in overseas markets declined to Rs 502 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 526 crore the previous year on account of tepid demand from the company's primary market, UK. Though the overall sales in export market augmented by 11% to Rs 435 crore in the first 9 months of fiscal 2020 compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal due to improved environment in UK from Q3 FY20, the overall export share remains substantially lower than overseas revenue of Rs 691 crore registered during fiscal 2016.
 
* Vulnerability to fluctuations in foreign exchange (forex) rates: The business operation of MIL involves importing of raw materials such as cow hide that are not available in India, and other hides during temporary interruptions in its tannery (for example during the Kumbh Mela). Further, exports account for 40-45% of revenue, which exposes the company to volatility in forex rates. Although MIL has a policy of entering into forward contracts to cover 100% export, imports are left open.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity remains adequate driven by cash balance and liquid investments of about Rs 27 crore as on December 31, 2019. The company enhanced its cash credit facility to Rs 170 crore, with average monthly utilisation of total working capital limits being about 68% over the 9 months through December 2019. Long-term debt availed by the company remains low as MIL largely uses fund-based limits to meet working capital requirement. The expected yearly cash accruals of Rs 100-120 crore during fiscal 2021 along with available cash equivalents is expected to be sufficient to meet the moderate capex plan and debt obligations of Rs 16 crore scheduled over the next 12 months.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes MIL's financial risk profile is expected to remain comfortable over the medium term, supported by improved operational performance and liquidity position, and moderate capex plans during fiscals 2020 and 2021.
 
Rating sensitivity factors:
Upward factors
* Healthy revenue growth along with operating margin sustaining above 18% leading to higher cash accruals
* Improvement in financial risk profile with increased cash accruals while sustaining a prudent working capital cycle
 
Downward factors
* Decline in operating margin by 200 basis points or more resulting in cash accruals
* Large working capital requirement or significant debt-funded capex weakening the financial risk profile

About the Company

Incorporated in 1979 by Mr Irshad Mirza (Chairman) as a private limited company, MIL manufactures footwear and apparels. The company was reconstituted as a public limited company in fiscal 1994 following a public issuance of shares. The company has an established position in the domestic footwear market and sells footwear and apparels under its Red Tape, Mode, Bond Street, and Oaktrak brands. The company also has presence in overseas market and earns 40-45% of its revenue from exports, wherein 90% of sales of footwear is under customers' brands and 10% is under the company's Redtape footwear brand. MIL's primary export market is the UK.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, the company reported operating income of Rs 1013 crore and profit after tax of Rs 41 crore, against Rs 865 crore and Rs 42 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31  Unit 2019 2018
Operating revenue Rs crore 1,152 973
Adjusted profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 48 78
Adjusted PAT margin % 4.1 8.0
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.73 0.70
Adjusted interest coverage Times 4.17 7.02
These are CRISIL adjusted numbers and do not match directly with the numbers reported by the company
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 Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 50.00 CRISIL A2+
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 100.00 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Packing credit NA NA NA 120.00 CRISIL A2+
NA Bill discounting NA NA NA 190.00 CRISIL A2+
NA Letter of credit NA NA NA 50.00 CRISIL A2+
NA Term loan NA 8.75-9% 30-Jun-2020 6.47 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Term loan NA 8.75-9% 30-Sep-2021 9.66 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 0.50 CRISIL A2+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 67.85 CRISIL A-/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Name of entities consolidated  Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Mirza (HK) Ltd Full Wholly owned subsidiary
Mirza Bangla Ltd Full Wholly owned subsidiary
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
Commercial Paper  ST  50.00  CRISIL A2+      26-02-19  CRISIL A2+  06-08-18  CRISIL A1    --  -- 
                12-06-18  CRISIL A1       
                16-04-18  CRISIL A1       
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  494.00  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+      26-02-19  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A2+  06-08-18  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  27-09-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1 
                12-06-18  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1       
                16-04-18  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  50.50  CRISIL A2+      26-02-19  CRISIL A2+  06-08-18  CRISIL A1  27-09-17  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
                12-06-18  CRISIL A1       
                16-04-18  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
Bank Guarantee .5 CRISIL A2+ Bank Guarantee .5 CRISIL A2+
Bill Discounting 190 CRISIL A2+ Bill Discounting 190 CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 100 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 100 CRISIL A-/Negative
Letter of Credit 50 CRISIL A2+ Letter of Credit 50 CRISIL A2+
Packing Credit 120 CRISIL A2+ Packing Credit 120 CRISIL A2+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 67.85 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 56.96 CRISIL A-/Negative
Term Loan 16.15 CRISIL A-/Stable Term Loan 27.04 CRISIL A-/Negative
Total 544.5 -- Total 544.5 --
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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