Rating Rationale
April 04, 2024 | Mumbai
Competent Automobiles Company Limited
Rating reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A-/Stable'; Rated amount enhanced for Bank Debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.355 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.282 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
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 reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A-/Stable’ rating on the long-term bank facilities of Competent Automobiles Company Ltd (CACL).

 

The rating continues to reflect the established market position of the company in the automobile (auto) dealership market in Delhi, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh; and its healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition and concentration risk associated with a principal supplier, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL; CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+’).

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established market position: The business risk profile of CACL continues to be supported by its established market position, long-term relationships of more than three decade with MSIL (Rated ‘CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+’). The company is currently operating 42 showrooms both in Arena and Nexa segment and 20 workshops in states of Delhi, Haryana, and Himachal, which has helped company witness ~10% of volumetric growth in 9M of FY24 as compared to similar period performance in previous fiscal. Company has achieved operating income of Rs 1618 crores during April-Dec in fiscal 2024, which is ~25% higher during corresponding period of previous fiscal. Growth in operating income in FY25 is expected to be ~15-20% largely supported by volumetric growth coming from launch of new showrooms in Noida and Kashmir region which are expected to be operational from H1 of FY25. Business risk profile shall continue to remain supportive of estabilished market position of the company.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile:  Capital structure has been comfortable, as reflected in gearing of 0.9 time as on September 30, 2023. In the ongoing fiscal, with no major debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) and accretion of reserves, the capital structure is expected to remain comfortable with gearing estimated at 0.4-0.5 time as of Mar 31, 2024, providing headroom to take additional debt for business requirement, if warranted. The debt protection metrics have also been healthy in the past and shall continue to remain so over the medium term as well,  interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt (NCAAD) ratios are expected at 3-4 times and 0.2-0.3 times respectively, in fiscal 2024. With no debt-funded capex proposed to be undertaken over the medium term and operating margin expected to be range-bound at 3.2-3.5%, the overall financial risk profile will continue to remain healthy.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Exposure to intense competition and concentration risk associated with the principal supplier: The exclusive dealership for vehicles manufactured by MSIL makes CACL vulnerable to decline in revenue and profitability of the principal. Furthermore, non-exclusivity in the Delhi region exposes the company to competition from other MSIL dealers, in addition to dealers of other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the auto sector. The risk of intense competition is expected to be mitigated with launch of new showrooms in Jammu and UP region, which shall help company further increase its scale of operations. Year to date operating income have been ~Rs 1600 crores till 9M of FY24 and is expected to be in range of Rs 2100-2200 crores in ongoing fiscal. The operating income in FY25 is expected to witness 15-20% of growth largely on account of increased volumetric sales from new showrooms. Sustained improvement in scale of operations amid stiff competition from OEMs of other brands further strengthening the overall market position of company would therefore remain a key rating sensitivity factor.

 

  • Declining operating Profitability: Although the operating profitability had remained stable in FY23 and in current fiscal, it has witnessed a decline to 3.2-3.5% in the afore said period from 4-4.5% in FY22 and FY21 largely on account of no extra sales incentives offered by MSIL in FY23 and in current fiscal and higher discounts offered during said period, with an aim to further strengthen the market share. Sustenance of operating margins in range of 3-3.5% amid sustained improvement in scale of operations would therefore remain a key rating sensitivity factor. 

Liquidity: Strong

CACL is expected to generate net cash accrual of Rs 40-50 crore, which will be sufficient to meet up with business exigencies, as there exists NIL repayment obligations over medium term. Cash and cash equivalent have been ~Rs 9 crore as of September 2023, which is expected to be Rs 15-20 crore over the medium term. CACL also has access to fund-based working limits, which has been utilised at 61% on average during the 12 months through February 2024.  CRISIL Ratings expects internal accrual, cash and cash equivalent, and unutilized bank lines to be sufficient to meet the debt obligation as well as incremental working capital requirement.

Outlook: Stable

CACL will continue to benefit from its established market position in the auto dealership business in Delhi, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and its healthy relationship with MSIL.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained improvement in operating income with a CAGR growth of 20-25% aided by volumetric growth along with sustained improvement in operating margins leading to higher than expected net cash accruals.
  • Sustained efficient management of the working capital cycle leading to lower reliance on bank debt, further strengthening the financial risk profile

 

Downward factors:

  • Decline in operating income by more than 10% or operating margin falling below 3% on consistent basis, leading to lower-than-expected net cash accrual.
  • Any stretch in the working capital cycle or large, debt-funded capex weakening the financial risk profile.

About the Company

CACL was incorporated in 1985 by Mr Raj Chopra. The company raised funds through a public issue in 1996. It is an authorised dealer for MSIL in Delhi, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators

Particulars

Unit

9M FY24

2023

2022

Revenue

Rs.Crore

1618

1731

1245

Profit After Tax (PAT)

Rs.Crore

17.8

25

19

PAT Margin

%

1.1

1.4

1.6

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.9*

0.54

0.45

Interest coverage

Times

3.1

4.2

7.2

* As on September 30, 2023

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 Inventory funding facility NA NA NA 315 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 40 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
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 LT 355.0 CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 24-04-23 CRISIL A-/Stable 04-05-22 CRISIL A-/Stable 03-06-21 CRISIL BBB+/Positive CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST   --   --   --   -- 03-06-21 CRISIL A2 CRISIL A2
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 8 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 32 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Inventory Funding Facility 65 Bank of Baroda CRISIL A-/Stable
Inventory Funding Facility 250 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/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 Retailing Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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