Rating Rationale
January 27, 2023 | Mumbai
Ucal Fuel Systems Limited
Rating reaffirmed at 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.35 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB+/Stable (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 rating on the long-term bank facilities of Ucal Fuel Systems Limited (Ucal).

 

Ucal registered a revenue growth of 9% in the first half of fiscal 2023 compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal on account of increased offtake by existing customers driven by pent-up demand as educational institutions and offices re-open, more people commute to office, and improvement in income levels. Carburettors, which contribute to over 70% of revenue for the company has grown by 11% in volume terms during first half of fiscal 2023. Despite a steep rise in raw material prices, higher operating leverage through volume growth across the products coupled with strict cost and working capital management has helped in containing the impact, resulting in margins moderating by just ~50 basis points (bps) to 9.3% for fiscal 2022.

 

Ucal is expected to register a revenue growth of 7-8% per annum driven by recovery in two-wheeler volumes with rebound in overall demand. Improved demand scenario would result in higher capacity utilization for two-wheeler industry, which coupled with softening input costs, is expected to result in steady margins of 9-9.5% over the medium term.

 

The ratings also factor in the stable financial risk profile of Ucal over the past few years with steady cash accrual and contained debt (Rs 210 crore as on September 30,2022 from Rs 217 crore in fiscal 2022). Debt protection metrics such as gearing and interest coverage are expected to be comfortable at 0.5 times and 4.5 times, respectively, for fiscal 2023 which is broadly in line with previous fiscal. Liquidity to remain adequate with accruals sufficient to meet debt obligations, capital expenditure (capex) and working capital requirements. Accordingly, debt will reduce gradually with scheduled repayments over the medium term.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the company’s steady business risk profile driven by established presence in the carburettor business, with long-standing relationship with major two-wheeler and four-wheeler automotive original equipment manufacturers. The strength of promoter experience, the company’s engineering capabilities and integrated manufacturing facilities further support the business.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has adopted a consolidated view for the purpose of analyzing the financial profile of Ucal. The two subsidiaries --Ucal Polymer Industries Ltd and Ucal Holdings Inc - are wholly-owned, in the same line of business and there exists complete fungibility of funds between Ucal and its subsidiaries

 

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:

Experienced promoter: Ucal was established in 1985 by Carburettors Ltd, pioneers in India in manufacturing carburettor and mechanical fuel pumps. In 1987, Ucal entered into a joint venture with Mikuni Corporation of Japan (Mikuni Corporation), an internationally renowned company for fuel management system and products. In 2008, Carburettors Ltd, the Indian promoter of Ucal, acquired the equity stake held by co-promoter, Mikuni Corporation. However, Ucal has absorbed extensive technical know-how provided by Mikuni Corporation. Mr K. Jayakar (Chairman, Managing Director), an MBA in Finance from Duke University, USA, manages the operations..

 

Established presence in carburettor business with long-standing relationship with customers: While carburettors have largely been replaced by fuel injection systems over the years, they still have a market in the affordable <125 cc bike segment. Ucal, a strong player, manufactures both Bharat Stage(BS) VI compliant electronic carburettor as well as traditional mechanical carburettor. The company has long-standing presence with coveted customers such as Bajaj Auto Ltd (Bajaj Auto; CRISIL AAA/Stable/A1+) and TVS Motor Company Ltd (TVS) and remains the sole supplier to some of their vehicle models. The company also has established relations with Maruti Suzuki Ltd (Maruti Suzuki; CRISIL AAA/Stable/A1+) for some of the products in fuel injection systems, such as fuel pumps, oil pumps, delivery pipe assembly and throttle body assembly.

 

Stable financial risk profile: Financial risk profile has been stable over the years with steady cash accruals, moderate capex and prudent working capital management. Networth was healthy at Rs 403 crore as on September 30, 2022. Gearing is expected to marginally improve to 0.54 times in fiscal 2023 from 0.60 times in the previous fiscal. With the expected accrual of over Rs 60 crore per annum, the company should be able to meet its capex and working capital requirements, as well as gradually reduce debt by making scheduled repayments.

 

Weakness:

High product and customer concentration: Ucal derives over 70% of its revenues from carburettor (electronic and mechanical) and more than 60% of revenues from Bajaj Auto and TVS. While the company has added products over the years such as air suction valve, oil pumps, vacuum pump, fuel pumps, fuel filter, throttle body assembly, and delivery pipe assembly, concentration of a single product and a few customers remains high. However, Ucal has been conducting Research and Development (R&D) for launching Fuel Injection and related ancillaries to diversify its revenue stream. Traction in the same is expected to be seen in the coming years and this remains monitorable

Liquidity: Adequate

Expected annual cash accrual of more than Rs 60 crore over the medium term should comfortably cover debt of Rs 37 crore in fiscal 2023 and Rs 38 crore in fiscal 2024. Bank limits of Rs 35 crore were utilised 60% on average over the 12 months through October 2022.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes Ucal`s performance will be in line with the automobile industry, especially two-wheeler segment. Financial risk profile is likely to be comfortable, supported by steady accrual, modest capex, and prudent working capital management.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Substantial growth in revenue including through customer and product diversity 
  • Improvement in profitability above 12%

 

Downward factors:

  • Pressure on revenue growth due to loss of share in business from key customers 
  • Operating profitability sustaining below 8%
  • Higher-than-expected gearing, led by a large debt-funded capex/acquisition or significant increase in working capital requirements,

About the Company

Ucal was incorporated in 1985 by Mr M Muthukrishnan to manufacture carburettors and fuel pumps for Maruti Suzuki. Ucal has since enhanced its product portfolio to include fuel-injection components, air-suction valves, and machined-die castings, among other products. It has manufacturing facilities in Maraimalainagar (Tamil Nadu), and Gurgaon. It has two wholly-owned subsidiariesthe US-based Ucal Holding Inc and Ucal Polymers Ltd, which manufactures specialised rubber and plastics components exclusively for Ucal.

 

For the first six months of fiscal 2023, Ucal reported profit after tax of Rs 7.2 crore on operating income of Rs 438 crore as against Rs 19.4 crore and Rs 402 crore, respectively, in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 Unit

2022

2021

Operating income

Rs crore

782

687

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

35

29

PAT margin

%

4.5

4.20

Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth

Times

0.60

0.82

Interest coverage

Times

4.48

2.80

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

level

Rating assigned

with outlook

NA

Working Capital Term Loan*

NA

NA

Jul-2024

35.0

NA

CRISIL BBB+/Stable

*Guarantee Emergency Credit Loan

Annexure – List of entities consolidated

Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation  Rationale for Consolidation 
Ucal Polymer Industries Ltd Full Subsidiaries are in same line of business and there exists complete fungibility of funds 
Ucal Holdings Inc Full Subsidiaries are in same line of business and there exists complete fungibility of funds
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 35.0 CRISIL BBB+/Stable   --   -- 08-11-21 CRISIL BBB+/Stable   -- --
Commercial Paper ST   --   --   --   --   -- Withdrawn
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Working Capital Term Loan& 6.4 Bajaj Finance Limited CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Working Capital Term Loan& 6.8 State Bank of India CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Working Capital Term Loan& 21.8 Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited CRISIL BBB+/Stable
This Annexure has been updated on 27-Jan-2023 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 08-Nov-2021 received from the rated entity
& - Guarantee emergency credit loan
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating Criteria for Auto Component Suppliers
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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