Rating Rationale
September 25, 2020 | Mumbai
Thejo Engineering Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.112.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A2')
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 A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive/CRISIL A2'.
 
The upgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that improvement in TEL's business risk profile will be sustained over the medium term aided by increase in scale of operations in the Australian subsidiary, steady revenue from the services and operations and maintenance (O&M) segments and healthy profitability, even as Covid-19 will moderately impact domestic revenue in fiscal 2021. The financial risk profile is likely to remain healthy given prudent working capital management and moderate capital expenditure (capex) plans.
 
TEL's revenue grew by 32% in fiscal 2020 driven by strong performance in Thejo Australia Pty Ltd (Thejo Australia), where sales rose to about Rs 90 crore from Rs 30 crore in fiscal 2019. Consolidated profitability also improved to 16.3% in fiscal 2020 from 14.0% in fiscal 2019. The pandemic will have a moderate impact on domestic revenue in fiscal 2021, particularly in the product segment. Nevertheless, the sizeable share of services and O&M in domestic operations should support the business. Besides, stable revenue from the Australian subsidiary's annual contract with M/s Bridgestone Mining Solutions Australia Pty Ltd will benefit consolidated performance. Revenue is thus expected to be Rs 290-300 crore in fiscal 2021. Operating profitability will remain stable at 14-15% over the medium term, leading to higher cash generation.
 
The financial risk profile is expected to strengthen over the medium term with healthy accrual of over Rs 30 crore, which will comfortably cover capex of Rs 3-5 crore per fiscal and working capital requirement. Gearing is thus expected to improve to less than 0.25 time, from 0.32 time as on March 31, 2020.
 
The ratings continue to reflect TEL's established position in the material handling segment, diverse revenue profile and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by modest scale of operations, susceptibility to cyclicality in end-user segments and large working capital requirement.

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, 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 - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths 
* Established position and diversified revenue
TEL 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, it has gradually diversified its revenue by expansion into sale of related products. Currently, at a consolidated level, sales from the conveyor services segment contribute 72% to total revenue, and the products segment accounts for the remaining. The revenue diversity is further supported by export, both directly and through subsidiaries.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is backed by healthy capital structure and debt protection metrics. Gearing continues to improve, and was 0.32 time as on March 31, 2020, against 0.37 time as on March 31, 2019. This is due to improvement in networth as the subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and Australia are contributing positively. Debt protection metrics are also healthy, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios at more than 10 times and over 0.9 time, respectively, in fiscal 2020. The credit metrics should improve further given the expectation of improving cash generation and moderate capex spend.
 
Weaknesses
* Moderate scale of operations and susceptibility to cyclicality in end-user segments
Although TEL is an established player in its niche product segments, its scale remains moderate, compared with larger players in the engineering segment.
 
Furthermore, end-user industries are cyclical, exposing TEL's operations to the risk of sluggish demand during an economic slowdown, particularly if clients defer capex or scale down production. Additionally, as the clients are large players, bargaining power and ability to collect receivables on time may be constrained during an uncertain economic environment.
 
* Large working capital requirement
Operations are working capital intensive, as reflected in high gross current assets of over 200 days as on March 31, 2020, driven by receivables of 122 days. Receivables are sizeable given the company's presence in the engineering industry and exposure to large clients, including government-owned entities. However, this is partly offset by healthy credit from suppliers. Nevertheless, given the inherent large working capital requirement, its prudent management will remain critical.
Liquidity Strong

TEL enjoys strong liquidity driven by expected cash accrual of more than Rs 30 crore each in fiscals 2021 and 2022 and cash and equivalent of Rs 28 crore as on March 31, 2020. Fund-based limit of Rs 46 crore was utilised around 20% on average over the 12 months through August 2020. The company has term debt obligation of around Rs 10 crore and Rs 6 crore in fiscals 2021 and 2022, respectively, with annual capex of Rs 3-5 crore. Internal accrual will comfortably cover debt obligation and capex requirement. With gearing of 0.32 time as on March 31, 2020, TEL has sufficient headroom to raise additional debt if required. Bank lines are expected to cover incremental working capital requirement.

Outlook: Stable

TEL will continue to benefit from healthy orders, steady operating margin and healthy financial risk profile over the medium term.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Increase in revenue while maintaining healthy profitability, leading to sustained annual accrual in excess of Rs 40 crore
* Sustenance of healthy financial risk profile
 
Downward factors
* Decline in revenue or operating profitability, impacting cash generation
* Large, debt-funded capex or significant stretch in the working capital cycle, leading to increase in gearing above 1.2 times
About the Company

Incorporated in 1986 and based in Chennai, TEL provides installation and O&M services for conveyor belt systems. It 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 near Chennai), 11 branch offices and 36 site offices in 10 states. TEL has a DSIR registered in-house R&D centre at Chennai.
 
Outside India, TEL operates in Saudi Arabia (Thejo Hatcon Industrial Services Company), Australia (Thejo Australia Pty Ltd), Brazil (Thejo Brasil Comercio E Servicos Ltda) and Chile (Thejo Engineering Latinoamerica SpA) through its subsidiaries. TEL holds 51% equity stake in Thejo Hatcon, with 49% being held by Bahrain-based Hatcon Industrial Services Company. TEL holds 74% equity stake in Thejo Australia, while Japan-based Bridgestone Corporation (a global tyre and rubber company), through its subsidiary (Bridgestone Mining Solution Australia Pty Ltd, Australia), holds the remaining 26%. In Thejo Brazil and Thejo Chile, TEL holds 99.99% and 99.80% stake, respectively. 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. TEL is the first company to be listed on EMERGE - SME Exchange of the NSE.  It has a diversified Board with a majority of Independent Directors. Since 2008, overall management is being led Mr V A George, managing director, who has experience of more than three decades in corporate and banking sectors.

Key Financial Indicators (Consolidated)
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs.Crore 304 229
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Crore 30 15
PAT Margin % 10.0 6.5
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.32 0.37
Interest coverage Times 10.7 7.20

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs.Crore) Complexity Level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee* NA NA NA 17.5 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 45.75 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit* NA NA NA 12.5 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Standby Letter of Credit NA NA NA 13.0 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Long Term Loan NA NA 31-Oct-21 0.7 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA 30-Nov-21 0.02 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 3.0 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility# NA NA NA 16.0 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 4.03 NA CRISIL A2+
*Two-way interchangeability between LC & BG
#Proposed Standby Letter of Credit
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of entities consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Thejo Hatcon Industrial Services Company, Saudi Arabia
Full Subsidiary and business linkages
Thejo Australia Pty Ltd, Australia
Full Subsidiary and business linkages
Thejo Brasil Comercio E Servicos Ltda, Brazil
Full Subsidiary and business linkages
Thejo Engineering Latinoamerica SpA, Chile
Full Subsidiary and business linkages
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  69.50  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  08-01-20  CRISIL BBB+/Positive/ CRISIL A2      26-12-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2  10-08-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Negative 
                06-03-18  CRISIL BBB/Positive/ CRISIL A3+       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  43.00  CRISIL A2+  08-01-20  CRISIL A2      26-12-18  CRISIL A2  10-08-17  CRISIL A3+  CRISIL A3+ 
                06-03-18  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 A2
Cash Credit 45.75 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 47.75 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Letter of Credit* 12.5 CRISIL A2+ Letter of Credit* 12.5 CRISIL A2
Long Term Loan .72 CRISIL A-/Stable Long Term Loan 1.83 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 3 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 3 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility# 16 CRISIL A2+ Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility# 10 CRISIL A2
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 4.03 CRISIL A2+ Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 6.92 CRISIL A2
Standby Letter of Credit 13 CRISIL A2+ Standby Letter of Credit 13 CRISIL A2
Total 112.5 -- Total 112.5 --
*Two-way interchangeability between LC & BG
#Proposed Standby Letter of Credit
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

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Anuj Sethi
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 44 6656 3100
anuj.sethi@crisil.com


Sameer Charania
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4097 8025
sameer.charania@crisil.com


Ashik Joy
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
Ashik.Joy@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. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are 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

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets 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 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
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 forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). 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 the jurisdiction of India only. 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 providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. 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 or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party 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.

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’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL