Rating Rationale
September 30, 2019 | Mumbai
SNL Bearings Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.14.1 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Positive' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long term bank facilities of SNL Bearings Limited (SNL) to 'Stable' from 'Positive' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL A'. The short term rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1'.

The revision in outlook is on account of revision in outlook of the parent NRB Bearings Limited to 'CRISIL AA-/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA-/Positive'. The rating reflects CRISIL's belief that SNL will sustain its business risk profile over the medium term led by steady revenue growth and healthy operating profitability with continued support from parent NRB Bearings Ltd. However, operating profitability is expected to decline as a result of slowdown in the auto sector. Financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy over the medium term, given cash surplus position, steady accretion of reserves and robust debt protection metrics and absence of large scale debt funded capex.

The ratings also reflect the business, financial, and managerial support that SNL receives from its parent, NRB Bearings Ltd (NRB Bearings; rated 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+'). Business integration has improved over time, resulting in better market position for the combined entity, in the domestic needle bearings market.

These strengths are partially offset by SNL's modest albeit improving scale, and working capital-intensive operations in the automotive components business.

Analytical Approach

The ratings of SNL factor in support expected from its parent NRB Bearings Limited. CRISIL believes that SNL Bearings Ltd will, in case of exigencies, receive support from its parent, considering parent holding of 74.39%, operational, technical and financial support in the form of offtake of about 50% sales.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong business, financial, and managerial support from parent: SNL benefits from strong business linkages with its parent, NRB Bearings. Post its acquisition in the year 2000, NRB Bearings has turned around SNL's performance, making it one of the most profitable bearing companies. SNL, along with NRB Bearings, commands about 70% share of the needle bearing market in India.

NRB Bearings has a well-entrenched dealer network which is expected to benefit SNL in expanding its reach in the aftermarket segment of auto components. Apart from this, both companies have a common management. CRISIL expects the business synergies to continue and financial support to be provided in a timely manner by NRB Bearings to SNL, should the need arise.

* Healthy operating profitability: SNL, along with NRB Bearings, is one of the leading players in the needle bearings market in India. Strong market position, limited competition, and improving operating efficiencies enable it to report healthy operating profitability (24-28%).

* Healthy financial risk profile: SNL has no debt on its books, while strong operating profitability supported its debt protection metrics. With TOL / TNW and Adjusted RoCE were robust at 0.15 times and 34.7% respectively

Weaknesses
* Modest albeit improving scale: Despite healthy revenue growth (at a CAGR of around 11% between fiscals 2014 and 2018), scale remains modest; revenue was at Rs 39 crore in fiscal 2019. The company is also exposed to the vulnerability of cyclicality in the end-user automotive bearings industry, impacting demand from the domestic market.

* Working capital-intensive operations: Like most automotive components players, and due to the extensive range of products, SNL has large working capital requirement, with gross current assets of 150-175 days between fiscals 2015 and 2019. Demand from original equipment manufacturers for just-in-time delivery of components requires high stocking levels, and necessitate rising inventories. The company had inventory of four to six months in the past five years; though it is gradually improving. Furthermore, payment terms from the automotive component manufacturers vary from two to three months.

* Vulnerability to cyclical demand in the automotive bearings segment and to pricing pressure from OEMs: High dependence of bearing manufacturers on the automobile sector exposes them to cyclicality in demand. While bearing manufacturers enjoy reasonable pricing flexibility with OEMs, backed by mutual interdependence, and capital and technology intensity of operations, price negotiations happen with a lag, leading to price adjustment delays and impact on profitability in the interim. Furthermore, if there is a prolonged slowdown and decreasing demand for automobiles, it is not always possible for OEMs to completely pass on input price increase to end users. Hence, any significant increase in prices is absorbed jointly by suppliers and OEMs. Additionally, any significant decline in demand will increase overheads, and hence, impact profitability of component suppliers.

Liquidity: Adequate
There are no debt obligations in FY20 currently. SNL Bearings is expected to generate about Rs 4.3 to Rs 5.0 cr in FY20 and FY21. The cash and marketable securities was Rs 8.25 cr as on March 31, 2019. The cash generated by business and cash surplus would be sufficient for any future capex and additional working capital requirements. The BLU is negligible as the company does not utilize its fund based facilities.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes SNL will sustain its business and financial risk profiles over the medium term backed by steady revenue growth, healthy profitability, and nil debt-funded capex. The ratings will also remain sensitive to changes in NRB Bearings' credit profile.

Rating sensitivity factors
Upward Factor
*Revenue growth of more than 50%
*Reduction in gross current asset days to less than 120 days

Downward Factor
*Revenue degrowth or fall in operating profitability below 20%
*Significant debt funded capex leading to gearing more than 0.7 time
*Further increase in gross current asset days.

About the Company

SNL, formerly known as Shriram Needle Bearing Industries Ltd, was established in 1979 by the Shriram group in Ranchi, Jharkhand. It was promoted as a joint venture of the DCM Shriram group, which has business interests in sugar, alcohol, fine chemicals, and rayon tyre cord, and INA Germany, a leading manufacturer of bearings worldwide. The company got its present name after it was acquired by NRB Bearings in June 2000.

SNL manufactures cage-guided drawn cup needle bearings, connecting-rod needle cages for piston pins and crank pins, among other needle bearings. Over half its output is sold to NRB Bearings.

About the Parent
Founded by Late Mr. Trilochan Singh Sahney in 1965, NRB manufactures needle, cylindrical, special ball and taper-roller bearings. It also makes other friction solution components such as planetary shafts, crank pins, and kingpins. The company has four subsidiaries: SNL Bearings Ltd, NRB Bearings (Thailand) Ltd, NRB Bearings Europe GmbH and NRB Bearings USA Inc. The company's manufacturing facilities  are at Thane, Aurangabad , Jalna, and Waluj (all four in Maharashtra); Hyderabad (Telangana) and Pantnagar (Uttarakhand). SNL's facilities are at Ranchi (Jharkhand); while NRB Thailand's plant is in Rayong in Thailand. The product engineering centre in Thane and process and advanced materials-based engineering centre at Waluj are government accredited.

Ms Harshbeena S Zaveri, daughter of Mr Trilochan Singh Sahney, was appointed the company's President in January 2001. Currently, she is the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of NRB Bearings and the Chairman of the Board of SNL Bearings.

Key Financial Indicators (SNL)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 39.8 38.0
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 8.1 8.3
PAT Margins % 20.0 21.4
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.01
Interest coverage Times 2261.22 1450.78
 
Year to Date Figures
Particulars Unit Q1-20 Q1-19
Revenue Rs crore 9.5 8.2
Profit after tax Rs crore 1.5 1.6
PAT margins % 15% 20%
Interest coverage Times NA NA
 
Key Financial Indicators (NRB Bearings)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 965 863
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 110 93
PAT Margins % 11.4 10.8
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.58 0.56
Interest coverage Times 13.35 12.41

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 5.0 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 3.0 CRISIL A/Stable
NA Bill Discounting NA NA NA 1.00 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 5.10 CRISIL A/Stable
*Interchangeable with letter of credit to the extent of Rs.1 crore.
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  14.10  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1      29-06-18  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1  27-09-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  21-06-16  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2 
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 1 CRISIL A1 Bill Discounting 1 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit* 5 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit* 5 CRISIL A/Positive
Cash Credit 3 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 3 CRISIL A/Positive
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 5.1 CRISIL A/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 5.1 CRISIL A/Positive
Total 14.1 -- Total 14.1 --
*Interchangeable with letter of credit of up to Rs 1 crore.
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 Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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