Rating Rationale
January 23, 2025 | Mumbai
Menon Bearings Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'Crisil BBB+/Stable/Crisil A2'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.20.96 Crore
Long Term RatingCrisil BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCrisil A2 (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 BBB+/Stable/Crisil A2 ratings on the bank facilities of Menon Bearings Ltd (MBL).

 

The ratings continue to reflect the established market position of the company in the bearings industry marked by strong clientele and longstanding presence, healthy operating margin and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by modest scale of operations and revenue concentration in the automotive (auto) sector.

Analytical Approach

Crisil Ratings has consolidated the business and financial risk profiles of MBL and its subsidiaries, which are strategically important to and have a significant degree of operational integration.

 

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:

  • Established market position: Presence of around three decades in the bearings industry has enabled MBL to establish its position across diverse markets and industries. The company earns revenue by catering to original equipment manufacturers and replacement market demand for domestic as well as export markets, which contributed around 25-30% of its revenue. The established market position and superior product quality allows MBL to command higher margins, reflected in operating margin of around 20% for the four fiscals through 2024.

 

  • Strong clientele: The company has built healthy relationships with key clients, including John Deere, Tata Motors Ltd (‘Crisil AA+/Stable/Crisil A1+’) and International Tractors Ltd and Brakes India Ltd, among others. MBL is either the sole supplier or a major supplier of bearings for most customers. Steady flow of repeat orders resulted in revenue increasing to Rs 212 crore in fiscal 2024, from Rs 149 crore in fiscal 2021.

 

  • Healthy financial risk profile: The capital structure has been healthy, as reflected in networth of Rs 144.8 crore, gearing of 0.23 time and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio of 0.43 time as on March 31, 2024. Debt protection metrics were strong, as indicated by interest coverage ratio of 13.8 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of 0.61 time for fiscal 2024. Despite the debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) towards capacity addition in the bi-metal and alkop divisions to be undertaken in fiscal 2025, the financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy over the medium term with gradual repayment of term loans and healthy accretion to reserve.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Modest, but increasing, scale of operations: Revenue has been modest at Rs 212 crore in fiscal 2024 and Rs 117 crore during the first half of fiscal 2025. Modest scale of operations restricts pricing power with customers and suppliers. With capacity additions in the bi-metal and alkop divisions, revenue is expected to increase yet remain modest. Scale up in operations while sustaining the operating margin will remain a key monitorable.

 

  • Revenue concentration in the auto industry: Of the total revenue, 80-90% comes from the auto sector and the remaining from the oil and gas, electrical and engineering industries. Within the auto segment, MBL derives bulk of its revenue from the commercial vehicle and tractor segments, which are inherently cyclical. Hence, any sharp reduction in demand from these segments, will adversely impact the credit risk profile of MBL.

Liquidity: Adequate

Cash accrual is expected at more than Rs 23 crore per annum, after factoring dividend payout, and will comfortably cover yearly term debt obligation of Rs 4.5-7.5 crore over the medium term. Bank limit utilisation was around 65% during the 12 months through December 2024. Cash and equivalents stood at Rs 25.07 crore as of September 2024.

Outlook: Stable

MBL will continue to benefit from its strong market position and established clientele and sustain its healthy financial risk profile. 

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Upward factors

  • Revenue growth of more than 25% and stable operating margin, leading to higher-than-expected net cash accrual
  • Sustenance of healthy financial risk profile and improvement in the working capital cycle

 

Downward factors

  • Decline in revenue or profitability, resulting in net cash accrual below Rs 15 crore
  • Sizeable stretch in the working capital cycle, or any larger-than-expected, debt-funded capex or acquisition or sizeable dividend payout.

About the company

Incorporated in 1991 as a part of the Kolhapur (Maharashtra)-based Menon group and promoted by Mr Ram Menon and his family members, MBL manufactures auto components such as bearings, bushes, thrust washers and bi-metal strips at its plant in Kolhapur. It also manufactures aluminum die-cast products. It is listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs.Crore

212.39

218.17

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs.Crore

24.36

32.60

PAT margin

%

11.47

14.94

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.23

0.11

Interest coverage

Times

13.81

18.32

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 Instrument Date Of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs.Crore) Complexity Levels Rating Outstanding with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 20.00 NA Crisil BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Letter of Credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.96 NA Crisil A2

Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated

Names of entities consolidated

Extent of consolidation

Rationale for consolidation

Menon Bearings Ltd

NA

Holding company

Menon Alkop Ltd

Full

Wholly owned subsidiary

Menon Brakes Pvt Ltd

Full

Wholly owned subsidiary

Menon Bearings New Ventures Ltd

Full

Wholly owned subsidiary

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2025 (History) 2024  2023  2022  Start of 2022
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 20.0 Crisil BBB+/Stable   --   -- 26-10-23 Crisil BBB+/Stable 02-08-22 Crisil BBB+/Positive Crisil BBB+/Stable
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 0.96 Crisil A2   --   -- 26-10-23 Crisil A2 02-08-22 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 20 HDFC Bank Limited Crisil BBB+/Stable
Proposed Letter of Credit & Bank Guarantee 0.96 Not Applicable Crisil A2
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Auto Component Suppliers
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Ramkumar Uppara
Media Relations
Crisil Limited
M: +91 98201 77907
B: +91 22 6137 3000
ramkumar.uppara@crisil.com

Sanjay Lawrence
Media Relations
Crisil Limited
M: +91 89833 21061
B: +91 22 6137 3000
sanjay.lawrence@crisil.com


Himank Sharma
Director
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
himank.sharma@crisil.com


Ankita Gupta
Associate Director
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 6137 3000
ankita.gupta@crisil.com


Vishnu Patel
Senior Rating Analyst
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 20 4018 1900
Vishnu.Patel@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