Rating Rationale
April 22, 2020 | Mumbai
Sundram Fasteners Limited
Rating Reaffirmed 
 
Rating Action
Rs.100 Crore Short Term Debt CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
Rs.25 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its rating on the short-term debt and commercial paper programme of Sundram Fasteners Limited (SFL) at 'CRISIL A1+'.

SFL's performance was subdued in fiscal 2020 in line with the significant slowdown in the demand from automobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across vehicle segments, both in domestic and overseas markets. OEMs (domestic and overseas) contribute more than 70% of SFL's overall turnover. SFL's revenues are estimated to decline by over 20% in fiscal 2020, while its operating profitability is estimated to decline to ~15-16% in fiscal 2020 compared to ~18% in previous two years, primarily due to lower demand and also to a lesser extent due to the slower than expected ramp up in new capacities which were established in fiscal 2019-20.
 
SFL's performance is expected to remain subdued in fiscal 2021 as well considering the weak demand outlook for automobiles in fiscal 2021, including due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, given the company's strong market position and diverse presence across geographies and vehicle segments, its performance is likely to improve over the medium term, in line with gradual recovery of the automobile industry.
 
SFL has adequate cushion in its balance sheet to absorb the anticipated slowdown in demand in the near term. Furthermore, capex is also expected to be moderate at around Rs 200 crore over the next two fiscals (as compared to ~Rs 860 crore over fiscals 2019 and 2020), and will be largely funded through internal accruals. Hence, SFL's leverage should remain comfortable at less than 0.5 times over the medium term along with adequate debt protection metrics.
 
However, longer than expected time frame for revival in operating performance will intensify the adverse impact on the company's credit metrics and will be a key monitorable.
 
The ratings continue to reflect SFL's leading market position in the fasteners industry, revenue diversity, healthy operating efficiency, and strong financial risk profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations, and moderate, albeit improving profitability of overseas subsidiaries.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of SFL and its subsidiaries.

Overseas subsidiaries Domestic subsidiaries
  • Cramlington Precision Forge Ltd, Northumberland, United Kingdom
  • Sundram Fasteners (Zhejiang) Ltd, Zhejiang Peoples Republic of China
  • Sundram International Inc, USA
  • TVS Infotech Inc. (subsidiary of TVS Next Ltd)
  • Sundram International Ltd, United Kingdom
  • Sundram Fasteners Investments Ltd, Chennai
  • TVS Upasana Ltd, Chennai
  • Sundram Non-Conventional Energy Systems Ltd, Chennai
  • TVS Next Ltd
  • TVS Engineering Limited

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
* Leading market position in the fasteners segment, diverse product portfolio, and wide geographical reach: SFL dominates the domestic fasteners market accounting for a sizeable market share. Revenue mix is healthy, with domestic sales (including OEMs and aftermarket) accounting for ~55% in fiscal 2019, and exports bringing in ~35% (including subsidiary operations) and the remaining ~10% from services and other operating income. Product portfolio comprises fasteners, metal forms, radiator caps, and automotive pumps and assemblies. Established relationship across commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, and two-wheeler original equipment manufacturers (OEM) lends stability to revenues.
 
* Healthy operating efficiency: SFL has maintained strong focus on processes, quality improvement, and cost reduction, apart from continuously improving productivity. Having manufacturing units abroad, and established supply chain logistics enables the company to cater to customers on 'just-in-time' basis. Additionally, the shift in product mix towards more profitable products like hubs and shafts, compared with traditional fasteners, is expected to support profitability.

* Strong financial risk profile: Financial risk profile has strengthened over time, supported by healthy cash accrual, prudent funding of capex and notwithstanding high working capital intensity.

Despite capex of Rs 562 crore in fiscal 2019 and ~ Rs 300 crore in fiscal 2020, gearing remained comfortable at 0.5 time as on March 31, 2019 and is estimated at almost similar levels at March 31, 2020. Credit metrics should remain comfortable over the medium term as well, aided by moderate capex of around Rs 200 crore, annual cash generation of over Rs 350 crore and progressive debt repayment. Liquidity remains adequately supported by healthy cash accruals and moderate utilisation of bank limits.

Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations: Due to the large number and different sizes of products manufactured, inventory levels are higher, relative to its peers in the automotive component space. Besides, raw material import and increasing export (longer lead time) also contribute to high working capital needs. Consequently, gross current assets were 134 days as on March 31, 2019, and are expected to have risen moderately in fiscal 2020, due to higher inventory levels, due to delay in transportation of shipments to customers.
 
* Modest, albeit improving, performance of subsidiaries: Even as SFL's standalone performance has been continuously improving over the past 5-6 years till fiscal 2019, its overall performance is partially tempered by modest contribution of its subsidiaries, especially those overseas. In fiscal 2018, for example, the UK subsidiary's performance witnessed some headwinds due to volatile demand conditions in its home markets. SFL's initiatives have helped improve performance of its Chinese subsidiary and domestically based TVS Upasana, especially since fiscal 2019. These efforts are bearing fruit - as against a net loss of Rs 13.55 crore in fiscal 2013, SFL's subsidiaries registered a net profit of Rs 21 crore in fiscal 2019. Yet, contribution of subsidiaries to overall profit remains modest, and material improvement is expected to be only gradual.
Liquidity Strong

SFL has strong liquidity despite moderation in cash accruals in fiscals 2020 and 2021. The company adequate bank limits of around Rs 1400 crore (including commercial paper for Rs 100 crore), utilized to the tune of ~38% on an average over the 12 months ended February 2020. The company has low term loan repayment obligations of about Rs 50 crore in fiscal 2021 and about Rs 85 crore in fiscal 2022. CRISIL believes the company's accruals will be comfortable to meet its repayment obligations, moderate capex as well as investment requirements in subsidiaries.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Downward Factors
*Steep decline in revenues by over 15-20% on a sustained basis along with deterioration in profitability to less than 12%
*Large debt-funded capex/acquisition leading to a marked deterioration in the financial risk profile; gearing deteriorating to over 1 time.

About the Company

SFL, part of the TVS group (led by Mr Suresh Krishna), is a leading automotive component supplier with seven manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, one in Puducherry, one at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh and one each at Medak in Telangana and Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. The company has two operating subsidiaries in India, and one each, in China and the UK.
 
On consolidated basis, SFL reported net profit of Rs 271 crore for the nine months period ended December 31, 2019 (Rs 345 crore in the corresponding period of previous fiscal) on revenues of Rs 2892 crore (Rs 3416 crore).

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit  2019 2018
Revenue Rs.Crore 4558 3838
PAT Rs.Crore 459 388
PAT margin % 10.1 10.1
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.54 0.47
Interest coverage Times 16.7 18.4

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 Short Term Debt NA NA 7-365 days 100 CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 25 CRISIL A1+
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Name of entity Extent of consolidation Reasons
Sundram Fasteners Investments Ltd, Chennai Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
TVS Upasana Ltd, Chennai Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
Sundram Non-Conventional Energy Systems Ltd, Chennai Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
TVS Next Ltd Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
TVS Engineering Limited Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
Cramlington Precision Forge Ltd, Northumberland, United Kingdom Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
Sundram Fasteners (Zhejiang) Ltd, Zhejiang Peoples Republic of China Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
Sundram International Inc, USA Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
TVS Infotech Inc. (subsidiary of TVS Next Ltd) Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
Sundram International Ltd, United Kingdom Full Subsidiary; business linkages and common management
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  25.00  CRISIL A1+      02-04-19  CRISIL A1+  05-09-18  CRISIL A1+  15-12-17  CRISIL A1+  -- 
                28-06-18  CRISIL A1+       
                12-02-18  CRISIL A1+       
Short Term Debt  ST  100.00  CRISIL A1+      02-04-19  CRISIL A1+  05-09-18  CRISIL A1+  15-12-17  CRISIL A1+  -- 
                28-06-18  CRISIL A1+       
                12-02-18  CRISIL A1+       
Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper)  ST                  20-07-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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