Rating Rationale
June 18, 2020 | Mumbai
Gabriel India Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.100 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.5 Crore Fixed Deposits FAA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA/FAA+/Stable' ratings on the bank facilities and fixed deposits of Gabriel India Limited (GIL).
 
The rating takes into account expected impact of measures taken by the state and central governments to contain spread of Covid-19, and the subsequent economic slowdown, on GIL's business risk profile. The measures include a nationwide lockdown imposed from March 25, 2020 until May 31, 2020, temporary closure of non-critical establishments and interstate transportation, and advisory against visiting areas of mass gatherings. However, easing of lockdown measures from June 8, 2020 should limit the impact with performance expected to recover in the second half of fiscal 2021.
 
Revenue is likely to decline during fiscal 2021 by 22% year-on-year owing to low demand ; two-wheeler sales is likely to reduce by 25%, while the passenger and commercial vehicles segments may report a revenue drop of 25% and 27%, respectively. While presence in aftermarkets and exports provide diversity, both these segments will also see moderations. However, contribution from new orders should partly offset the impact. Thus, operating margin is expected to remain below 6%. Given the strong market position in key product segments along with revenue and customer diversity, performance is expected to recover from the second half of fiscal 2021 as demand gradually recovers.
 
Financial risk profile remains strong, with cash surplus and minimal external debt. Capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 30-40 crore funded through cash accrual will result in sustenance of healthy debt protection metrics.
 
Although the Indian auto component industry reported an overall decline of 16% in fiscal 2020, GIL's revenue dropped by a comparatively lower 9% due to addition of new business and strong client diversity. However, the operating margin reduced by 90 basis points to 7.6% owing to change in product mix and lower demand. GIL has received new orders from clients across various segments, thereby assuring steady revenue flow throughout fiscal 2021. 
 
The ratings continue to reflect GIL's healthy market position in the suspension component segment, supported by diverse customer and segment base, improving operating efficiencies, robust technical capabilities, and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the susceptibility to pricing pressure from peers and automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Healthy market position and diversified customer and segment base
GIL is one of the largest players in the automobile suspension component segment in India, with presence across OEMs, and aftermarket and export segments, through 12,000 retailers in 19 locations. Furthermore, a diverse clientele, spread across segments, provides revenue stability: sales from the top five customers contributed about 50% to the revenue in fiscal 2020 and contribution of the two-wheeler, passenger car, and commercial vehicle segments was 68%, 20%, and 12%, respectively. Additionally, strong presence in the aftermarket segment (13% of sales in fiscal 2020), and improving exports enhance revenue diversity. New orders from OEMs such as TVS, Bajaj Auto, and Maruti Suzuki should also start contributing from fiscal 2021, thereby partly mitigating the impact of weak domestic demand.
 
* Stable operating efficiencies
Return on capital employed (RoCE) has been healthy at above 15% over the five fiscals through 2020, driven by astute cost control, efficient asset management, and moderate profitability. However, moderation of the margin in fiscal 2021 will impact RoCE, which is expected at 10% (net of cash). GIL has a lean cost structure and will recover to healthy levels once demand recovers. Also, working capital management is efficient: receivables were around 46 days (expressed as the number of days of gross revenue), and inventory at 33 days (expressed as the number of days of cost of sales) as on March 31, 2020. Longstanding technical tie-ups with global players, such as Yamaha Motor Hydraulic System Co Ltd, KYB Spain, and Kayaba Industry Co, enhance product development capabilities.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile
Financial risk profile has continued to strengthen in fiscal 2020, with adjusted debt (in the form of lease liability) dropping significantly to Rs 7.8 crore as on March 31, 2020, from over Rs 100 crore as on March 31, 2013. Debt protection metrics were robust, with adjusted interest coverage and debt/earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ratios at 41.21 times and 0.10 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2020. Cash accrual is projected at Rs 70-100 crore per annum, sufficient to meet capex requirement of Rs 30-40 crore over the medium term. In the absence of any large, debt-funded capex, financial risk profile is expected to remain steady. Furthermore, exposure to group companies is likely to remain minimal.
 
Weakness
* Susceptibility to pricing pressure from OEMs and peers
Profitability remains susceptible to increasing competition in the auto component segment, and pricing pressures from auto OEMs. The company has moderate flexibility to increase product prices through negotiation with end users during any increase in raw material prices.
Liquidity Strong

Liquidity is strong, with absence of any long-term repayment obligation. Cash accrual is expected at Rs 60-70 crore per annum over the medium term, sufficient to meet the incremental capex and working capital requirements. Bank lines of Rs 65 crore remain unutilised for the past 12 months through April 2020. Cash and cash equivalents were around Rs 133 crore as on March 31, 2020.

Outlook: Stable

Despite the economic slowdown that resulted owing to the nationwide lockdown imposed by the Government of India to contain the spread of Covid-19, GIL will continue to benefit from its established market position and healthy financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
* Substantial increase in scale of operations supported by improvement in product diversity, leading to larger-than-expected cash accrual of more than Rs 200 crore
* Sustenance of strong financial risk profile

Downward Factors
* Deterioration in market share leading to lower cash accrual
* Sizeable, debt-funded capex or acquisition, or large financial support to group companies, resulting in gearing of over 1 time.

About the Company

GIL, established by Mr D C Anand in 1961, manufactures ride-control products at its facilities in Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), Khandsa (Haryana), Hosur (Tamil Nadu), Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh), Sanand (Gujarat), Nashik, and Pune. Clientele includes leading auto OEMs such as Tata Motors Ltd ('CRISIL AA-/Negative/CRISIL A1+'), Ashok Leyland Ltd, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd ('CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), TVS Motor Co Ltd, Hyundai Motor India Ltd ('CRISIL A1+'), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd ('CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), and Bajaj Auto Ltd ('CRISIL AAA/FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+').

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020* 2019
Revenue Rs crore 1880 2072
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 85 95
PAT Margin % 4.5 4.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.01 0.01
Interest coverage Times 41.21 62.40
*Provisional; CRISIL Adjusted numbers

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 date Issue size (Rs.Cr) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit* NA NA NA 65 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Facility NA NA NA 35 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Fixed deposit NA NA NA 5 FAA+/Stable
*Fully interchangeable with non-fund based limits
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    --    --    --    --  27-07-17  Withdrawal  CRISIL A1+ 
Fixed Deposits  FD  5.00  FAA+/Stable      30-07-19  FAA+/Stable  30-07-18  FAA+/Stable  06-10-17  FAA/Positive  FAA/Stable 
                    27-07-17  FAA/Positive   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  100.00  CRISIL AA/Stable      30-07-19  CRISIL AA/Stable  30-07-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  06-10-17  CRISIL AA-/Positive  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
                    27-07-17  CRISIL AA-/Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --    --    --    --  27-07-17  CRISIL AA-/Positive  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
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* 65 CRISIL AA/Stable Cash Credit* 100 CRISIL AA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 35 CRISIL AA/Stable -- 0 --
Total 100 -- Total 100 --
*Fully interchangeable with non-fund based limits
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

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