Rating Rationale
April 06, 2022 | Mumbai
Affordable Robotic and Automation Limited
Revised from 'CRISIL BB-/Negative/CRISIL A4+' to 'CRISIL D/CRISIL D' and simultaneously upgraded to ‘CRISIL B+/Stable/CRISIL A4’
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.25 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL B+/Stable (Revised from 'CRISIL BB-/Negative' to 'CRISIL D' and simultaneously upgraded to ‘CRISIL B+/Stable’)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A4 (Revised from 'CRISIL A4+' to 'CRISIL D' and simultaneously upgraded to ‘CRISIL A4’)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed rationale

CRISIL Ratings has downgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Affordable Robotic and Automation Ltd (ARAPL) to ‘CRISIL D/CRISIL D’ from ‘CRISIL BB-/Negative/CRISIL A4+’ and simultaneously upgraded the ratings to ‘CRISIL B+/Stable/CRISIL A4.

 

The downgrade to 'CRISIL D/CRISIL D' reflects past delays in meeting monthly interest obligation on loans availed of from PNB Housing Finance Ltd (PNB), leading to the account being classified as substandard by the lender which came to CRISILs notice from the auditors qualification in annual report of 2020-21. ARAPL availed of long-term loans under a subvention scheme from PNB to buy properties. As per the tripartite agreement with the lender and builder, the builder was responsible for paying the interest till the possession of the property or fixed subvention period. Nonetheless, as per agreement, in case the builder fails to make the payment, the company was liable to honour all the interest obligation and hence there is recourse to company in the event of non-payment by the builder. The builder did not pay the monthly obligation in consecutive months and so the dues were cleared by company by June 2021 with a delay.

 

Thereafter, ARAPL has been meeting the interest obligation on time. The rating upgrade to 'CRISIL B+/Stable/CRISIL A4' factors in the sufficient track record of timely debt repayment.

 

Liquidity remains stretched, as reflected in highly utilised working capital limit because of large working capital requirement.

 

The ratings reflect the susceptibility of ARAPL to cyclicality in the automotive industry and working capital-intensive operations. These weaknesses are partially offset by moderate capital structure and extensive experience of the promoter.

Key rating drivers & detailed description

Weaknesses:

Susceptibility to cyclicality in the automotive industry: Since the company primarily supplies robotics/automated welding lines and precision components to the automobile players, business risk profile will remain vulnerable to cyclicality in that industry. For instance, slowdown in the end user because of the pandemic had adversely impacted operating performance in fiscal 2021.  

 

Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets were over 500 days as on March 31, 2021, because of significantly stretched receivables and sizeable inventory. Despite improvement in the current fiscal, operations will remain working capital intensive over the medium term; its management will remain critical.

 

Strengths:

Extensive experience of the promoter: Benefits from the promoter experience of over a decade in the industrial automation business and established relationships with key customers should continue to support the business.

 

Moderate capital structure: Networth was healthy at Rs 45.49 crore and gearing strong at 0.58 time, as on March 31, 2021. The company had incurred PAT (profit after tax) loss in fiscal 2021 due to decline in revenue amid Covid-led disruptions. This led to subdued debt protection metrics, as reflected in interest coverage ratio of 0.35 time in fiscal 2021. With better revenue following revival in the overall economic scenario, the debt protection metrics are estimated to improve in fiscal 2022.

Liquidity: Stretched

Bank limit utilisation remained high at 95.5% on average for the 7 months through March 2022 due to working capital-intensive operations. Net cash accrual is expected to be Rs 3-3.5 crore per annum against debt obligation of around Rs 1 crore per annum, over the medium term. Effective working capital management, mainly receivables realisation, remains critical to cushion liquidity on a steady basis.

Outlook: Stable

ARAPL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoter.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sustained revenue growth and improved and stable operating margin leading to cash accrual above Rs 4.5 crore on a consistent basis
  • Efficient working capital management and improvement in liquidity

 

Downward factors

  • Significant drop in revenue and operating margin leading to cash accrual of less than Rs 2 crore
  • Further stretch in working capital cycle leading to deterioration in liquidity

About the company

Incorporated in 2009, Pune-based ARAPL is promoted by Mr Milind Padole. It primarily provides automation solutions for welding lines using robotics and related designing services. It also offers material handling automation services and has forayed into automated car parking systems.

Key financial indicators

Particulars

Unit

2021

2020

Revenue

Rs crore

56.12

86.92

PAT

Rs crore

(3.53)

1.85

PAT margin

%

(6.27)

2.1

Adjusted gearing

Times

0.58

0.49

Interest coverage

Times

0.35

3.61

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. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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)

Complexity levels

Rating assigned with outlook

NA

Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

5

NA

CRISIL A4

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

14

NA

CRISIL B+/Stable

NA

Proposed Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

1

NA

CRISIL B+/Stable

NA

Proposed Cash Credit Limit

NA

NA

NA

5

NA

CRISIL B+/Stable

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 19.0 CRISIL B+/Stable   -- 21-07-21 CRISIL BB-/Negative 20-07-20 CRISIL BB/Stable 04-12-19 CRISIL BB/Stable CRISIL BB+/Stable
      --   --   --   -- 08-01-19 CRISIL BB+/Stable --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST/LT 6.0 CRISIL B+/Stable / CRISIL A4   -- 21-07-21 CRISIL A4+ / CRISIL BB-/Negative 20-07-20 CRISIL BB/Stable / CRISIL A4+ 04-12-19 CRISIL BB/Stable / CRISIL A4+ CRISIL A4+
      --   --   --   -- 08-01-19 CRISIL BB+/Stable / CRISIL A4+ --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 0.5 CRISIL A4
Bank Guarantee 4.5 CRISIL A4
Cash Credit 14 CRISIL B+/Stable
Proposed Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL B+/Stable
Proposed Cash Credit Limit 5 CRISIL B+/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Engineering Sector
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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