Rating Rationale
December 26, 2018 | Mumbai
Thejo Engineering Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.100 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A3+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Thejo Engineering Limited (TEL) to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' from 'CRISIL BBB/Positive/CRISIL A3+'.
 
The upgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that TEL will sustain the improvement in credit risk profile driven by steady revenue growth and sustenance of improved margins, and strengthening of financial risk profile given the higher cash generation and moderate capital expenditure (capex) plans.
 
TEL's revenues are expected to register a 6-8% compound annual growth rate over the medium term, while operating profitability will remain healthy at 12-13%. The company's large presence in the operations and maintenance (O&M) segment, and scaling up of orders in the manufacturing division should ensure steady revenue visibility. Besides, measures to improve share from higher margin products and service offerings, and stabilisation in subsidiaries may help sustain the improvement in profitability, which increased to 13.5% in the first six months of fiscal 2019, compared with 11.3% in the corresponding period the previous year.
 
The company has planned moderate capex of Rs 4-5 crore per annum over the medium term. Expected annual cash accrual of more than Rs 20 crore expected over the medium term should be adequate to meet moderate capital expenditure (capex) and modest debt obligations, and support incremental working capital requirements. Gearing is likely to improve to less than 0.30 time from 0.48 time as on March 31, 2018. Debt protection metrics are also expected to improve further.
 
The ratings continue to reflect TEL's established position in the material handling segment, diverse revenue profile, and adequate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by modest scale of operations, susceptibility to risks related to cyclical demand in end-user segments, and working-capital-intensive operations.

Analytical Approach

To arrive at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of TEL and its subsidiaries: Thejo Hatcon Industrial Services Company, Saudi Arabia (Thejo Hatcon), Thejo Australia Pty Ltd (Thejo Australia), Thejo Brasil Comercio E Servicos Ltda, Brazil (Thejo Brazil) and Thejo Engineering Latinoamerica SpA, Chile (Thejo Chile). This is because the entities, collectively referred to as the Thejo group, have strong operational linkages and fungible cash flows.

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 position and diversified revenue profile
The company is among a handful of recognised players in the organised services segment in India, and has a leading market position in the domestic conveyor services market. Furthermore, having started as a services company, TEL has gradually diversified its revenue profile by expanding into selling of related products. Currently, sales from the conveyor services segment contributes around 51% to total revenue, and the products segment accounts for the remaining 49%. Diversity is further supported by the export presence, both directly and through subsidiaries.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is marked by healthy capital structure and adequate debt protection metrics. Gearing improved to 0.48 time as on March 31, 2018, from 0.73 time as on March 31, 2017, due to improvement in networth as the subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and Australia are contributing positively. Debt protection metrics are also adequate, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of more than 5 times and over 0.5 time, respectively, in fiscal 2018. Credit metrics are expected to improve further given the expectation of improving cash generation and moderate capex spend.
 
Weakness
* Moderate scale of operations and cyclicality in end user segments
Although TEL is an established player in its niche product segments, it is still a moderate player, compared with larger players in the overall engineering segment, including McNally Bharat Engineering Company Ltd and Elecon Engineering Company, which offer a broader range of services.
 
Furthermore, the end users are present in cyclical industries, thereby exposing operations to the risk of sluggish demand during an economic slowdown, particularly if the clients defer capex or scale down production. Additionally, since the clients are large players, bargaining power and ability to collect receivables on time may be constrained in times of uncertain economic environment.
 
* Working-capital-intensive operations
Working capital requirements are large, with high gross current assets of around 190 days as on March 31, 2018, primarily driven by debtors of around 110 days. Debtors are high given the company's presence in the engineering industry and exposure to large clients, including government-owned entities. However this is partly offset by availability of healthy credit from suppliers. Nevertheless, given then inherent working capital intensity, prudent management will remain critical.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes TEL will benefit over the medium term from its healthy market position, steady revenue visibility, and increasing contributions from subsidiaries, leading to improved cash generation. Financial risk profile should strengthen in the absence of any significant debt-funded capex. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if a sustained and significant improvement in revenue, and stable operating margin strengthen key credit metrics. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a steep decline in revenue and profitability, because of demand pressures, any significant debt-funded capex or acquisition, or stretch in working capital cycle weakens financial risk profile.
 
Liquidity
TEL enjoys healthy liquidity driven by expected cash accrual of over Rs 20 crore per annum in fiscals 2019 and 2020. TEL also has access to fund-based limits of Rs 42 crore, utilised at an average of 60% over the 10 months. The company has long-term repayment obligation of around Rs 6 crore and Rs 2 crore in fiscals 2019 and 2020, respectively, with capex of around Rs 4-5 annually. The company can completely fulfill its repayment obligation and capex requirements through internal accrual. Bank lines are expected to meet the incremental working capital requirement, which are assessed to be moderate.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1986, Chennai-based TEL provides installation and O&M services for conveyor belt systems and also designs, manufactures, and supplies a wide variety of rubber and polyurethane products for belt cleaning, spillage control, enhanced flow of material, impact and abrasion protection, screening, and rubber and polyurethane linings. In India, TEL has five manufacturing units (all located near Chennai), 11 branch offices, and 36 site offices located across 14 states.
 
Outside India, TEL operates in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Brazil, and Chile through its subsidiaries. TEL holds 51% equity stake in Thejo Hatcon; with the balance 49% being held by Bahrain-based Hatcon Industrial Services Company. TEL holds 74% equity stake in Thejo Australia with Japan-based Bridgestone Corporation (a global tyre and rubber company), through its subsidiary (Bridgestone Earth Movers Tyres Pty Ltd, Australia), holding the balance 26% equity stake. Thejo Brazil and Thejo Chile, in which TEL holds 99.99% and 99.73% stake, respectively, were set up in September 2014 and November 2014 and began operations in fiscal 2016. Thejo Brazil and Thejo Chile primarily sell bulk material handling products.
 
TEL is promoted by Mr K J Joseph and Mr Thomas John, who started the company to provide servicing operations to conveyor belt systems. The promoters' sons hold board and key management positions in the company. Since 2008, overall management is being led by a professional managing director, Mr V A George, who has experience of over 30 years in corporate and banking sectors.

For the first six months of fiscal 2019, on a consolidated basis, TEL reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs. 7.7 Cr on operating income of Rs. 117 Cr, as against a PAT of Rs. 6.3 Cr on operating income of Rs. 102 Cr during the previous corresponding period.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore 220 178
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 13 6
PAT margin % 6 3.5
Adjusted debt/ adjusted networth Times 0.48 0.73
Interest coverage Times 5.02 3.55

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 crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee* NA NA NA 17.5 CRISIL A2
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 47.75 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Letter of Credit* NA NA NA 12.5 CRISIL A2
NA Standby Letter of Credit NA NA NA 13.0 CRISIL A2
NA Long term loan NA NA 31-Oct-2021 2.07 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Long term loan NA NA 30-Nov-2021 1.4 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Long-Term Bank
Loan Facility
NA NA NA 3.0 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Short Term Bank
Loan Facility
NA NA NA 2.78 CRISIL A2
* Two-way Interchangeability between LC & BG
 
Annexure - Details of Consolidation with MEIPL
Fully consolidated entities:    
Thejo Hatcon Industrial Services Company, Saudi Arabia
Thejo Australia Pty Ltd, Australia
Thejo Brasil Comercio E Servicos Ltda, Brazil
Thejo Engineering Latinoamerica SpA, Chile
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  57.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2  06-03-18  CRISIL BBB/Positive/ CRISIL A3+  10-08-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable  05-05-16  CRISIL BBB/Negative  30-03-15  CRISIL BBB/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  43.00  CRISIL A2  06-03-18  CRISIL A3+  10-08-17  CRISIL A3+  05-05-16  CRISIL A3+  30-03-15  CRISIL A3+  CRISIL A3+ 
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
Bank Guarantee** 17.5 CRISIL A2 Bank Guarantee* 17.5 CRISIL A3+
Cash Credit 47.75 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 45.75 CRISIL BBB/Positive
Letter of Credit** 12.5 CRISIL A2 Foreign Currency Term Loan 3.8 CRISIL BBB/Positive
Long Term Loan 3.47 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Letter of Credit 12.5 CRISIL A3+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 3 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Long Term Loan 5.08 CRISIL BBB/Positive
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 2.78 CRISIL A2 Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 2.37 CRISIL A3+
Standby Letter of Credit 13 CRISIL A2 Standby Letter of Credit 13 CRISIL A3+
Total 100 -- Total 100 --
* Interchangeable with letter of credit
** Two-way Interchangeability between LC & BG
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 Engineering Sector
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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