Rating Rationale
September 26, 2024 | Mumbai
 
QVC Exports Limited
'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+' assigned to Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.80 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Assigned)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Assigned)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

 

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has assigned its CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+ ratings to the bank loan facilities of QVC Exports Limited (QEL; part of QVC group).

 

The ratings reflect the extensive industry experience of the promoters and moderate debt protection metrics of the group. These strengths are partially offset by its modest capital structure, modest operating margins due to the trading nature of the business and exposure to intense competition.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL Ratings has combined the business and financial risk profiles of QVC Export Limited (QEL), QVC International Private Limited (QIPL) and Matashree Mercantile Private Limited (MMPL) as all these entities, together referred as the QVC group, as they are under the similar management and operate in the same industry.

 

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:

  • Extensive industry experience of the promoters: The promoters have experience of over a decade in trading metal and minerals in both domestic and international markets. This has helped them understand the dynamics of the market and develop established relationships with key suppliers and customers. The extensive experience of the promoters should continue to support the business risk profile over the medium term.

 

  • Moderate debt protection metrics: The debt protection metrics of the company have been moderate with interest cover and a NCAAD of 2.78 times and 0.12 times for FY24. The sustenance of protection metrics will remain a key monitorable with improvement in profitability going forward.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Modest capital structure: The group’s capital structure is modest owing to networth of Rs 46 crore as of March 31, 2024 yielding a gearing and total outside liabilities to adj tangible networth (TOL/ANW) of 1.37 times and 2.17 times as of March 31, 2024. The capital structure is expected to improve going forward in the absence of any major debt funded capex plans.

 

  • Modest operating margins due to trading nature of the business: The small initial investment and the low complexity of operations have resulted in existence of innumerable entities, much smaller in size, leading to significant fragmentation and modest operation margins. With the higher contribution to the group revenue from trading business, the operating margin remained modest, at around 1.7% for FY24 and is expected to remain around 1.5-2% going forward.

 

  • Exposure to intense competition: Though the group has a diversified product portfolio with moderate scale of operations moderate indicated by turnover of Rs 642 crores in fiscal 2024. The metals and minerals trading are dominated by a large number of unorganised players catering to local and overseas demand, resulting in intense competition and pressure on profitability.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilisation was modest at around 53% on average for the 12 months through June 2024. Cash accruals are expected to be over Rs 7 crore, which is sufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 1-5 crore over the medium term and will cushion the liquidity.

 

The current ratio was healthy at 1.5 times on March 31, 2024.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes the QVC group will continue to benefit from its longstanding relationships with principal suppliers and the experience of the management will help mitigate the inherent risks in the trading business.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained revenue growth with operating profitability improving over 3%, resulting in higher-than-expected net cash accrual
  • Improvement in the financial risk profile, with no major debt funded capex

 

Downward factors:

  • Stagnation of scale owing to weak demand or decline in profitability resulting in lower-than-expected net cash accrual
  • Weakening of financial risk profile with interest coverage below 2 times

About the Group

QEL was incorporated in 2005 as QVC Exports Pvt Ltd and was reconstituted as a public limited company with the current name in 2022. QEL trades in a variety of metals and minerals such as iron, steel, ferroalloys, copper, nickel, aluminium, manganese ore, coal, and coke.

 

QIPL was incorporated in 2007 as Shine Tieup Pvt Ltd and got its present name in 2011. QIPL imports and exports ferroalloys, ferro manganese, ferro silicon, ferro chrome, silico manganese, and other such products.

 

MMPL was incorporated in 2006. MMPL manufactures, markets, sells and distributes ferroalloys.

 

Based in Kolkata, the group is promoted by Mr Nilesh Kumar Sharma (managing director).

Key Financial Indicators

Consolidated

 

 

 

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

263.47

157.34

Reported PAT

Rs crore

2.70

1.37

PAT margin

%

1.0

0.87

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

1.24

0.83

Interest coverage

Times

3.70

3.85

 

QEL

 

 

 

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

213.85

124.80

Reported PAT

Rs crore

1.71

0.74

PAT margin

%

0.8

0.6

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

1.29

1.14

Interest coverage

Times

3.7

1.1

 

QIPL

 

 

 

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

38.09

29.77

Reported PAT

Rs crore

0.50

0.26

PAT margin

%

1.3

0.9

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.55

0.00

Interest coverage

Times

3.3

4.1

 

MMPL

 

 

 

As on / for the period ended March 31

Unit

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

77.54

4.48

Reported PAT

Rs crore

0.49

0.37

PAT margin

%

0.9

0.6

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

1.04

0.21

Interest coverage

Times

2.4

15.7

Status of non cooperation with previous CRA:

QEL has not cooperated with Acuite Ratings and Research Limited, which has classified the company as non-cooperative vide release dated July 19, 2024. The reason provided by Acuite Ratings and Research Limited is non-furnishing of information for monitoring the ratings.

Any other information: Not Applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)

ISIN Name of the
instrument
Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue size
(Rs. Crore)
Complexity
Level
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA  Bill Discounting  NA  NA  NA  9 NA  CRISIL A4+ 
NA  Cash Credit  NA  NA  NA  9.5 NA  CRISIL BB+/Stable 
NA  Export Packing Credit  NA  NA  NA  27 NA  CRISIL BB+/Stable 
NA  Letter of Credit  NA  NA  NA  10 NA  CRISIL A4+ 
NA  Overdraft Facility  NA  NA  NA  5 NA  CRISIL BB+/Stable 
NA  Packing Credit  NA  NA  NA  17.5 NA  CRISIL BB+/Stable 
NA  Standby Line of Credit  NA  NA  NA  2 NA  CRISIL BB+/Stable 

Annexure – List of entities consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated

Extent of Consolidation

Rationale for Consolidation

QVC Exports Limited

100%

Same management and similar business line

QVC International Private Limited

100%

Same management and similar business line

Matashree Mercantile Private Limited

100%

Same management and similar business line

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities ST/LT 70.0 CRISIL BB+/Stable / CRISIL A4+   --   --   -- 21-09-21 Withdrawn (Issuer Not Cooperating)* CRISIL A4 / CRISIL B+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 10.0 CRISIL A4+   --   --   -- 21-09-21 Withdrawn (Issuer Not Cooperating)* CRISIL A4 (Issuer Not Cooperating)*
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bill Discounting 9 Union Bank of India CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit 2 State Bank of India CRISIL BB+/Stable
Cash Credit 7.5 Union Bank of India CRISIL BB+/Stable
Export Packing Credit 5 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL BB+/Stable
Export Packing Credit 22 State Bank of India CRISIL BB+/Stable
Letter of Credit 10 State Bank of India CRISIL A4+
Overdraft Facility 5 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL BB+/Stable
Packing Credit 17.5 Union Bank of India CRISIL BB+/Stable
Standby Line of Credit 2 State Bank of India CRISIL BB+/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for rating trading companies
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Argha Chanda
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
D:+91 33 4011 8210
argha.chanda@crisil.com


Vishnu Sinha
Team Leader
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 33 4011 8200
vishnu.sinha@crisil.com


Jagrit Sharma
Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 33 4011 8200
Jagrit.Sharma@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL Ratings. However, CRISIL Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About CRISIL Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of CRISIL Limited, an S&P Global Company)

CRISIL Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).

CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited ('CRISIL'). CRISIL Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").

For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL. For further information on CRISIL's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). For the avoidance of doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for use only within the jurisdiction of India. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as CRISIL Ratings provision or intention to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

The report is a statement of opinion as on the date it is expressed, and it is not intended to and does not constitute investment advice within meaning of any laws or regulations (including US laws and regulations). The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe to any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way.

CRISIL Ratings and its associates do not act as a fiduciary. The report is based on the information believed to be reliable as of the date it is published, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit or undertake due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on for preparation of the report. THE REPORT IS PROVIDED ON “AS IS” BASIS. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS, CRISIL RATINGS DISCLAIMS WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, ERROR-FREE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, NON-INTERRUPTION, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR INTENDED USAGE. In no event shall CRISIL Ratings, its associates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

The report is confidential information of CRISIL Ratings and CRISIL Ratings reserves all rights, titles and interest in the rating report. The report shall not be altered, disseminated, distributed, redistributed, licensed, sub-licensed, sold, assigned or published any content thereof or offer access to any third party without prior written consent of CRISIL Ratings.

CRISIL Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains or its associates. Ratings are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by CRISIL Ratings. CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors.

CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For more detail, please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its websites, www.crisilratings.com and https://www.ratingsanalytica.com (free of charge). CRISIL Ratings shall not have the obligation to update the information in the CRISIL Ratings report following its publication although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinion and/or analysis. Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee.  Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are available on the CRISIL Ratings website, www.crisilratings.com. For the latest rating information on any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

CRISIL Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on CRISIL Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisilratings.com/en/home/our-business/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html