Rating Rationale
September 30, 2020 | Mumbai
Bharat Gears Limited
Long-term rating downgraded to 'CRISIL BB-'; Ratings placed on 'Watch Negative'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.325 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB- (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable'; Placed on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Placed on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications')
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 Bharat Gears Limited (BGL) to 'CRISIL BB-' from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable'. The ratings have been placed on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'.
 
The rating action reflects deterioration in BGL's overall credit risk profile, especially its liquidity profile amid Covid-19-induced disruptions and muted demand. The company has large debt repayment obligation in fiscal 2021, against which it is expected to barely breakeven at cash profit level.
 
BGL's management has confirmed applying for restructuring of its term loans availed from  KKR India Financial Services Ltd (KKR), under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines issued on August 06, 2020-'Resolution Framework for COVID-19-related Stress', during the first week of September 2020. As confirmed by KKR, the proposal is being evaluated. The company has not opted for restructuring of its working capital limit and term loan with other lenders and continues to service them timely.
 
Under the aforementioned conditions, BGL management is not likely to honour its quarterly debt repayment, towards KKR's term loans, falling due on September 30, 2020. The said term loan is a part of the restructuring plan under consideration.
 
Since the application for restructuring was made before the due date of the debt repayment, about to be missed, and the concerned lender has not cited any reservation to accepting the application, CRISIL is not treating the missed debt repayments as default. The rating action is in line with the CRISIL's approach to default recognition for entities applying for restructuring under the RBI resolution framework published in the criteria alert titled 'CRISIL's approach to Covid-19-related restructuring'**
 
CRISIL will continue to monitor the developments on the formal sanctioning of the restructuring by KKR and resolve the watch once the formal approval is received by the company. 
 
The company posted revenue of Rs 49.8 crore during the first quarter of fiscal 2021, a decline of 57% year-on-year. Since July 2020, demand improved significantly and currently the company's capacity utilisation is in line with pre-Covid-19 levels, and is expected to further improve during the second half of the year.
 
The ratings continue to reflect BGL's established market position in the automotive component industry with strong client profile in the tractor segment, albeit high concentration of revenue from few clients and strong manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure. These strengths are partially offset by high leverage levels, weak debt protection metrics and exposure to cyclicality in end-user industries.

**https://www.crisil.com/content/dam/crisil/criteria_methodology/basics-of-ratings/crisils-approach-to-covid-19-related-restructuring.pdf.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in the automotive component industry and strong client profile, albeit high customer concentration in revenue
BGL is a leading player in the Indian tractor gear market. By virtue of its established relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and high quality, its products enjoy strong brand recognition. A major part of the company's revenue is derived from large OEMs such as the John Deere group, which constitutes around 35% of the turnover. While there is client concentration, these customers have been dealing with BGL for over two decades and the components supplied are critical to the end product, partially mitigating this risk.
 
* Strong manufacturing infrastructure
The company has, over the years, developed strong capabilities in gear manufacturing, enabling it to be a quality and reliable supplier to reputed OEMs in the domestic as well as international markets. Facilities in Mumbra, Satara (Maharashtra), and Faridabad (Haryana) are fitted with modern equipment and certified as per International Organization for Standardization. BGL also has capable research and development facilities to support development of new product variants and evolvement of existing products to meet customer needs.
 
Weaknesses
* Leveraged capital structure despite moderate networth
Networth remains moderate at Rs 78 crore as on March 31, 2020 (Rs 88.5 crore a year ago). Total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio remained high at 3.6 times largely due to debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) carried out in the past. Capital structure is expected to further weaken over the medium term due to networth erosion and sustained debt levels. There is no large, debt-funded capex planned for the medium term. Due to decline in profitability and high leverage, debt protection metrics is expected weaken in fiscal 2021 and likely to remain subdued over the medium term.
 
* Exposure to cyclicality in end-user industries and volatile operating margin
Since BGL generates majority of its revenue from OEMs across the tractor, construction equipment, and commercial vehicle segments, it remains susceptible to cyclicality in these industries (especially tractors). Any downturn in these industries is likely to impact the company's revenue and profitability. Any significant reduction in revenue is also expected to have a material impact on profitability given the high fixed cost structure. Exposure to cyclicality in end-user industries is expected to continue over the medium term.
Liquidity Stretched

BGL is expected to barely breakeven at cash profit level in fiscal 2021 against scheduled yearly debt obligation of Rs 21 crore. Net cash accruals are expected to improve in fiscal 2022, however, will remain tightly matched with term loan repayment of Rs 21.25 crore. Capex is expected to be modest at Rs 7-8 crore per annum over the medium term. Incremental working capital requirement is likely to remain marginal due to expected subdued revenue growth. Average bank limit utilisation was 56.11% (fund-based limit of Rs 42.8 crore) during the eight months through August 2020. Liquidity is expected to remain stretched over the medium term. The company availed moratorium on its bank loans between the period April and August 2020. Also the company has approached one of its lender ' KKR for restructuring of the term loans.

Rating Sensitivity Factors:
Upward factors
* Growth in revenue and profitability strengthens net cash accruals to above 25 crore, thus providing comfortable cushion against repayment obligations.
* Improvement in liquidity and capital structure strengthens financial risk profile.

Downward factors
* Delay in scale up in operations or lower than expected profitability leads to significant cash losses over the medium term
* Delay in implementation/rejection of restructuring plan weakens liquidity and overall financial risk profile.

About the Company

Established in 1971, BGL manufactures a range of gears for tractors, commercial vehicles, buses, and utility vehicles. Products include hypoid and spiral gears, differential gears and shafts, complete automotive transmissions, gearbox sub-assemblies, and differential assemblies.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs.Crore 467 594
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore -19.8 12.5
PAT Margin % -4.2 2.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 1.9 1.9
Interest coverage Times 1.1 2.90

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size
(Rs.Cr)
Complexity Levels Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Bill Discounting NA NA NA 30 NA CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative
NA Export Factoring NA NA NA 8 NA CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative
NA Fund-Based Facilities NA NA NA 45 NA CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative
NA Non-Fund Based Limit NA NA NA 65 NA CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 5 NA CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative
NA Proposed Non Fund based limits NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2024 110 NA CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2021 7 NA CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2027 25 NA CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative
NA Term Loan* NA NA NA 10 NA CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative
*Sanctioned but not yet availed 
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  240.00  CRISIL BB-/(Watch) Negative/ CRISIL A4+/(Watch) Negative  22-01-20  CRISIL BB+/Stable/ CRISIL A4+  10-06-19  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ CRISIL A3  29-08-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ CRISIL A3  11-07-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  CRISIL BBB-/Negative 
                20-08-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable/ CRISIL A3       
                03-08-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable       
                03-01-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  85.00  CRISIL A4+/(Watch) Negative  22-01-20  CRISIL A4+  10-06-19  CRISIL A3  29-08-18  CRISIL A3  11-07-17  CRISIL A3  CRISIL A3 
                20-08-18  CRISIL A3       
                03-08-18  CRISIL A3       
                03-01-18  CRISIL A3       
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
Bill Discounting 30 CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative Bill Discounting 30 CRISIL A4+
Export Factoring 8 CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative Export Factoring 8 CRISIL A4+
Fund-Based Facilities 45 CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative Fund-Based Facilities 45 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Non-Fund Based Limit 65 CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative Non-Fund Based Limit 65 CRISIL A4+
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 5 CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 5 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Proposed Non Fund based limits 20 CRISIL A4+/Watch Negative Proposed Non Fund based limits 20 CRISIL A4+
Term Loan 152 CRISIL BB-/Watch Negative Term Loan 152 CRISIL BB+/Stable
Total 325 -- Total 325 --
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
Rating Criteria for Auto Component Suppliers
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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