Rating Rationale
April 26, 2019 | Mumbai
Elgi Equipments Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed ; CP Withdrawn
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.525 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Withdrawn)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Elgi Equipments Limited (EEL; part of the Elgi group) at 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'. The rating on the Rs 50 crore commercial paper programme has been withdrawn at the client's request. The withdrawal was in line with CRISIL's policy on withdrawal of ratings.
 
Supported by healthy demand across segments, revenue grew at a healthy 17% in the first nine months of fiscal 2019 compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Revenue growth in overseas subsidiaries also remained healthy supported by robust growth in the US and Europe, albeit on a lower base. Profitability, however, was constrained by additional one-time expenses during the year.

Over the medium term, revenue is likely to grow 12-13%, driven by expectation of increase in sales to the industrial segment and higher focus on the after-market segment. Performance of overseas subsidiaries should also remain steady. Operating margin is expected to sustain at a healthy 11-11.5%, backed by ramp up in operations.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the Elgi group's established market position and strong brand presence in the Indian air compressor industry, improving operating efficiencies, and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competitive pressure, modest, albeit improving, performance of overseas subsidiaries, and cyclical demand from end-user industries.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of EEL and its wholly owned subsidiaries: ATS Elgi Ltd, Adisons Precision Instruments Mfg Co Ltd, Elgi Equipments (Zhejiang) Ltd, Elgi Gulf (FZE), Elgi Compressors Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, Elgi Compressors Do Brasil Imp E Exp Ltda, Elgi Australia Pty Ltd, Elgi Compressors Europe Srl, Rotair S.p.A (Rotair), Elgi Compressors USA, Pattons Inc, USA (Pattons), Patton's Medical LLC, and PT Elgi Equipments Indonesia. EEL's joint ventures with JP Sauer & Sohn, Kiel, Germany, Elgi Sauer Compressors Ltd has also been proportionately consolidated (to the extent of 26%). All these entities are collectively referred to as the Elgi group.
 
CRISIL has entirely amortised goodwill of Rs 135 crore upon acquisition of Rotair and Pattons by fiscal 2017.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position and strong brand: With a market share of around 22%, EEL is one of the largest manufacturers of compressors in India. Product profile includes reciprocating, screw, and centrifugal compressors sold under the Elgi brand through an entrenched channel, comprising dealers, direct sales, portable segment, and spare parts/after-sales segments. The group has more than 100 exclusive dealerships across India and overseas, and also enjoys a dominant market presence in the water well and railway compressor segments. Geographic presence is strengthened through subsidiaries in Italy, the US, China, Brazil, the UAE, Australia, and Indonesia.
 
* Improving operating efficiencies: Operating efficiencies are marked by efficient assembly lines and focus on core competence. Furthermore, the group outsources manufacturing of around 70% of its components. Critical parts, such as air-end and top-block, are manufactured in house. This allows the group to benefit from an asset-light model and ensure product quality. Operations also benefit from in-house research and development (R&D) capabilities.
 
* Healthy and improving financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is healthy. Growth in cash accrual is expected to remain steady on the back of pickup in domestic demand and gradually declining losses at overseas subsidiaries. This, coupled with modest capital expenditure, timely repayment of loans, and prudent working capital management, should strengthen financial risk profile. Gearing is likely to improve to 0.29 time as on March 31, 2020, from the estimated 0.43 time as on March 31, 2019, and should be at less than 0.15 time over the medium term. Interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios are also expected to improve to above 27 times and 0.70 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020 from the estimated 20 times and 0.46 time in fiscal 2019.
 
Weaknesses
* Modest, albeit improving, returns from overseas subsidiaries: Profitability and return on capital employed had moderated to about 7.0% and 4.2%, respectively, in fiscal 2015, from over 11.5% and 30.6%, respectively, in fiscal 2012 on account of weak economic scenario. This led to recurrent losses in overseas subsidiaries and subdued domestic demand. However, restructuring of operations in China, converting most of foreign currency debt into local currency in Brazil, and admitting the French subsidiary, SAS Belair, to legal redress have helped curb losses. While these units are likely to be profitable over the medium term, their revenue contribution should remain modest.
 
* Exposure to risks relating to fluctuations in demand: The group mainly caters to capital-intensive industries such as infrastructure, automotive, and heavy engineering, and hence, depends on the overall economic performance of the country. Slowdown in industrial activity led to stagnation in standalone revenue between fiscals 2012 and 2015.
 
* High competitive intensity: While capital cost for setting up a compressor manufacturing unit is not high due to the assembly nature of operations, technology plays a major role and acts as an entry barrier. Most large domestic players are subsidiaries of established international companies or have technical collaborations with global players. While the Elgi group, with its indigenous technology, has been able to retain a comfortable market share in the screw compressor segment, it faces stiff competition in the centrifugal segment, which is dominated by multi-national corporations.
Liquidity

Liquidity is adequate. Cash accrual is estimated at Rs 123 crore in fiscal 2019 and should improve to over Rs 150 crore over the medium term, supported by steady performance of EEL and turnaround in loss-making overseas subsidiaries. The company has long-term debt obligations of around Rs 40 crore each in fiscals 2019 and 2020 and no major capex plans. Accrual, cash and cash equivalents, and unutilised bank lines should be sufficient to meet debt obligations and incremental working capital requirements.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Elgi group will benefit over the medium term from its established market position in the air compressor segment, gradually improving business conditions, and healthy financial risk profile.
 
Upside Scenario:
* Better-than-expected growth in revenue, driven by increasing market share in the domestic air compressor segment and improved contribution from overseas subsidiaries
* Steady improvement in operating profitability, to over 12%, leading to annual cash generation of over Rs 250 crore
* Better-than-anticipated improvement in credit metrics, with debt/earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of less than 0.80 time and gearing of less than 0.30 time.
 
Downside Scenario:
* Material decline in revenue growth, and moderation in operating margin, to below 9.0%, adversely impacting cash generation
* Sizeable debt-funded capital expenditure or acquisition and stretched working capital cycle leading to higher-than-anticipated debt, with debt/EBITDA of over 2.0 times and gearing of over 1.0 time

About the Group

EEL, based in Coimbatore, was set up in 1960 and is one of India's prominent air compressor manufacturers. On a standalone basis, EEL derives around 60% of revenue from the domestic market and the rest from exports. The company manufactures a range of reciprocating compressors, screw compressors, and centrifugal compressors, and garage equipment for the automotive segment through its subsidiary, ATS Elgi Ltd.
 
The group has trading and marketing arms in China, the Gulf, Brazil, Indonesia and Australia. On August 30, 2012, it acquired the entire stake in Caraglio-based Rotair, which designs, manufactures, and distributes a variety of compressors and allied products to the construction and industrial sectors. On November 28, 2012, the group acquired the entire stake in Charlotte (US)-based Pattons, which distributes and assembles industrial compressors and air products. In October 2014, the group settled the lawsuit by Pattons against Quincy Compressors LLC, and recorded an exceptional income of Rs 22 crore. It also has a captive foundry that commenced operations in 2013. In August 2018, the group acquired 100% stake in Sydney-headquartered F R Pulford and Son Pty Ltd which is engaged in distribution of industrial compressors.
 
On a consolidated basis, net profit was Rs 67 crore in the nine months ended December 31, 2018, on revenue of Rs 1,335 crore, as against Rs 68 crore and Rs 1,143 crore, respectively, in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 1608 1370
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 95 44
PAT margin % 5.9 3.2
Adjusted debt / adjusted networth Times 0.48 0.53
Interest coverage Times 25.95 16.56

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 sate Issue size (Rs crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash credit NA NA NA 33.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Packing credit NA NA NA 150.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Short-term bank facility@ NA NA NA 20.5 CRISIL A1+
NA Short-term bank facility# NA NA NA 20.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Short-term bank facility NA NA NA 107.5 CRISIL A1+
NA Letter of credit and bank guarantee## NA NA NA 30.0 CRISIL A1+
NA Standby letter of credit NA NA NA 127.0 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Proposed working capital facility NA NA NA 37 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 50.0 Withdrawn
@ Interchangeable between letter of credit and bank guarantee
#Interchangeable between PCFC and non-fund-based working capital facilities
##Interchangeable with bill discounting
 

Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
ATS Elgi Ltd Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Adisons Precision Instruments Mfg Co Ltd Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Equipments (Zhejiang) Ltd Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Gulf (FZE) Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Compressors Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Compressors Do Brasil Imp E Exp Ltda Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Australia Pty Ltd Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Compressors Europe Srl Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Rotair S.p.A (Rotair) Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Compressors USA Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Pattons Inc, USA Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Patton's Medical LLC Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
PT Elgi Equipments Indonesia Full common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Elgi Sauer Compressors Ltd Proportionate (26%) common management, business synergies, and common promoters
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  50.00  Withdrawn      27-04-18  CRISIL A1+  31-05-17  CRISIL A1+  24-05-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  401.50  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+      27-04-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  31-05-17  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  24-05-16  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  157.00  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+      27-04-18  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  31-05-17  CRISIL A1+  24-05-16  CRISIL A1+  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
Cash Credit 33 CRISIL AA/Stable Cash Credit 33 CRISIL AA/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee## 30 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee## 30 CRISIL A1+
Packing Credit 150 CRISIL A1+ Packing Credit 150 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Working Capital Facility 37 CRISIL AA/Stable Proposed Working Capital Facility 5.5 CRISIL AA/Stable
Short Term Bank Facility@ 20.5 CRISIL A1+ Short Term Bank Facility@ 19 CRISIL A1+
Short Term Bank Facility# 20 CRISIL A1+ Short Term Bank Facility# 20 CRISIL A1+
Short Term Bank Facility 107.5 CRISIL A1+ Short Term Bank Facility 107.5 CRISIL A1+
Standby Letter of Credit 127 CRISIL AA/Stable Standby Letter of Credit 160 CRISIL AA/Stable
Total 525 -- Total 525 --
@ Interchangeable between letter of credit and bank guarantee
#Interchangeable between PCFC and non-fund-based working capital facilities
##Interchangeable with bill discounting
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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