Rating Rationale
June 30, 2020 | Mumbai
ABB India Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed; NCD Withdrawn 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.8500 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.600 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AAA/Stable (Withdrawn)
Rs.100 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 ratings on the commercial paper and bank facilities of ABB India Limited (ABB India) at 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'.
 
The operating performance of the company will be hit in the first half of 2020 due to decrease in demand and disruptions in operations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Profitability is expected to be affected by high fixed cost. However, nil debt obligation and liquid buffer of around Rs 1,600 crore as on December 31, 2019, provide adequate cushion to tide over uncertain times.
 
The power grid business, which contributed around 40% to revenue and 35% to earnings before interest and taxes, has been demerged into a separate legal entity with effect from December 1, 2019. The business profile remains healthy post the demerger, supported by presence in diverse business segments with strong growth prospects as reflected in a healthy order book of Rs 6,970 crore as on March 31, 2020. The company's profitability is expected to improve as the power grid segment had lower profitability.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the company's established market position, strong support from its ultimate holding company, ABB Ltd (rated 'A/Negative/A-1' by S&P Global Ratings), and robust capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by the susceptibility of operating margin to intense competition and exposure to cyclical industries.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has notched up ABB India's ratings for the distress support available from its parent ABB Ltd.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position in the power and automation technology segments
ABB India is the market leader in electrification and automation products. The company's strong market position is supported by access to the latest technology from ABB Ltd, diverse product portfolio, cost-competitive operations, wide geographical reach, and strong market penetration through channel partners.
 
* Strong operational, technological and management support from ABB Ltd
The research and development operations of the ABB group are centralised, and ABB India pays royalty to ABB Ltd for the same. ABB Ltd also provides management support through delegates on the board of ABB India. ABB Ltd views emerging markets as a key growth opportunity and plans to expand its manufacturing footprint in India, China, Brazil and the Middle East. CRISIL believes ABB Ltd will continue to support ABB India over the long term.
 
* Strong financial risk profile
The financial risk profile is supported by a robust capital structure and low debt. Networth was strong at around Rs 3,500 crore as on December 31, 2019. The company repaid all its external debt in fiscal 2018 and has been debt-free since then. It may undertake annual capital expenditure of Rs 100-150 crore over the medium term, which will be funded comfortably through internal accrual.
 
Weakness:
* Susceptibility of profitability to intense competition
ABB India operates in an increasingly competitive market scenario which has several domestic as well as international players. Most of the orders are procured through competitive bidding, which along with the macroeconomic slowdown, has resulted in heightened competition and pressure on profitability. To counter this, the company has been focusing on cost optimisation. It has increased indigenisation in many products. Although its continued focus on cost efficiency will help arrest the decline in operating margin to some extent, it will remain susceptible to intense competition over the medium term.
Liquidity Superior

ABB India has ample liquidity driven by expected cash accrual of more than Rs 300 crore per annum over the medium term and cash and equivalent of around Rs 1,600 crore as on December 31, 2019. ABB India also has access to fund-based limits of Rs 150 crore which were unutilised in 2020. The company is debt-free and plans capex of Rs 100-150 crore per annum. CRISIL believes the company has sufficient accrual and cash and equivalent to fund capex. Its unutilised bank lines are more than adequate to meet incremental working capital needs over the next year.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes ABB India will maintain its strong market position over the medium term, supported by its technological superiority. The company will also maintain its robust financial risk profile given its strong capital structure, prudent funding of capex, and support from ABB Ltd.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Downward factors:
* Order inflow is adversely affected, or operating margin falls below 5% on a sustained basis
* Downgrade in the rating on ABB Ltd
* Change in stance or support philosophy of ABB Ltd
About the Company

ABB India is one of India's largest integrated power equipment manufacturers and has been operational for more than seven decades. It has plants in Bengaluru and Mysuru in Karnataka, Faridabad in Haryana, Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Mumbai and Nashik in Maharashtra, and Savli and Vadodara in Gujarat. The company has four divisions: Electrification (EL), Robotics and Discrete Automation (RA), Motion (MO), and Industrial Automation (IA). The EL division provides products, digital solutions and services in the power industry from substation to socket, enabling safe, smart and sustainable electrification. The automation business, which includes RA, MO and IA, provides turnkey process automation, optimisation solutions, and complete electrical solutions to sectors such as cement, metals, minerals and mining, pulp, paper, chemicals, petrochemicals, and marine.
 
The ABB Group holds 75% in ABB India through its subsidiary ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, Zurich.
 
For the three months ended March 2020, the company had a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 65 crore and operating income of Rs 1,522 crore, against a PAT of Rs 116 crore and operating income of Rs 1,850 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended Dec 31 2019* 2018
Revenue Rs crore 7,315 10,862
Profit after tax Rs crore 303 511
PAT margin % 4.2 4.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.00
Interest coverage Times 29.28 13.34
*Provisional on the basis of quarterly financial report. 2018 figures include financials of power grid segment and are thus not strictly comparable with 2019 figures.

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 Cr) Complexity
level
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 100 Simple CRISIL A1+
NA Fund-Based Facilities NA NA NA 550 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Non-Fund Based Limit NA NA NA 6530 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 950 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Proposed Non Fund based limits NA NA NA 470 NA CRISIL A1+
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  100.00  CRISIL A1+      07-11-19  CRISIL A1+  26-12-18  CRISIL A1+  28-09-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
            25-06-19  CRISIL A1+  19-03-18  CRISIL A1+  30-08-17  CRISIL A1+   
                    31-03-17  CRISIL A1+   
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  0.00
30-06-20 
Withdrawn      07-11-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  26-12-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  28-09-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
            25-06-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  19-03-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  30-08-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable   
                    31-03-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1500.00  CRISIL AAA/Stable      07-11-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  26-12-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  28-09-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
            25-06-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  19-03-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  30-08-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable   
                    31-03-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  7000.00  CRISIL A1+      07-11-19  CRISIL A1+  26-12-18  CRISIL A1+  28-09-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
            25-06-19  CRISIL A1+  19-03-18  CRISIL A1+  30-08-17  CRISIL A1+   
                    31-03-17  CRISIL A1+   
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
Fund-Based Facilities 550 CRISIL AAA/Stable Fund-Based Facilities 550 CRISIL AAA/Stable
Non-Fund Based Limit 6530 CRISIL A1+ Non-Fund Based Limit 6530 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 950 CRISIL AAA/Stable Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 950 CRISIL AAA/Stable
Proposed Non Fund based limits 470 CRISIL A1+ Proposed Non Fund based limits 470 CRISIL A1+
Total 8500 -- Total 8500 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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