Rating Rationale
June 27, 2018 | Mumbai
Apex Auto Limited
Suspension revoked; 'CRISIL B+/Stable/CRISIL A4' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.80 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL B+/Stable (Assigned; Suspension Revoked)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4 (Assigned; Suspension Revoked)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revoked the suspension of its ratings on the bank facilities of Apex Auto Limited (AAL) and has assigned its 'CRISIL B+/Stable/CRISIL A4' ratings to the bank facilities. CRISIL had suspended the ratings on March 28, 2013, as the company had not provided the information required for a rating review. It has now shared the requisite information, enabling CRISIL to assign ratings to its facilities.

The rating reflect highly leveraged capital structure majorly on account of working capital-intensive operations,  the risk associated with customer concentration in the revenue profile, susceptibility of operating profit margin to volatility of input prices and demand risk related to fortune of infrastructural activity. These weaknesses are partially offset by established relationship with customers and a moderate financial risk profile.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Weakness:
* Highly leveraged capital structure

Scale down of operations during fiscals 2015 and 2016 on account of slowdown in the overall economic scenario resulted in under absorption of fixed overhead and in cash losses. It also resulted in erosion of networth of the company. With revival of the economic scenario, the situation improved considerably during fiscals 2017 and 2018. Though the gearing is expected to improve with accretion to reserve and gradual repayment of term loan, however, it will remain on the higher side over the medium term, due to working capital-intensive operations.

* Client concentration in the revenue profile
The company faces customer concentration risk as 80% of the revenue is from two major clients, Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Pvt Ltd (THCMCPL) and Volvo India Pvt Ltd (VIPL). Any slowdown in the performance of these companies may result in lesser order inflow or stretch in payment, thereby impacting the business and financial risk profile.

* Susceptibility of operating profit margin to volatility of input prices

The company's finished products are priced at launch of the models and remain valid throughout the lifecycle of the models. There is, however, a monthly adjustment to the prices based on monthly steel prices published by Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL). Prices are revised if volatility of steel prices is more than Rs 1000/tonne. The company maintains raw material inventory of 60 days on an average, exposing it to the risk of inventory losses if the steel prices decline by less than Rs 1000/tonne, which is to be absorbed by the company.

* Demand risk related to the performance of infrastructure activities
The products are used in construction equipment industry and their demand is directly linked to the investment in infrastructure activities in both domestic and international markets. Any slowdown in the infrastructural activities may adversely impact the financial and business risk profiles.

Strengths:
* Established relation with clients

The company has had long term association with both of its clients, THCMCPL (20 years) and VIPL (8 years), resulting in repeat orders from them. The company supplies to VIPL's factory from its Bangalore unit and to THCMCPL's factories located in Kharagpur and Jamshedpur from its unit in Jamshedpur. For some components, AAL is the sole supplier to these locations for both the clients. Strong and established relationship considerably mitigates the impact of competition from other players in the industry.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that AAL will maintain its credit risk profile on the back of established customer relationships. The outlook could be revised to 'positive' if the company sustains its scale of operations along with improvement in operating profit margin, thereby resulting in better cash generating ability and improved liquidity. The outlook could be revised to negative if profitability declines, working capital intensity increases or if the company undertakes any debt-funded capital expenditure, weakening the liquidity profile.

About the Company

AAL, incorporated in 1994 by Mr Atul Taunk, manufactures components for excavators, back hoe loaders, cranes, compactors, transit mixers, underground drilling, crushing and screening equipments. Around 80% of the revenue is derived from THCMCPL and VIPL

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs cr 182 134
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs cr 4 (2)
PAT margin % 2.3 (1.3)
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 1.98 3.17
Interest coverage Times 2.33 1.36
 

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 Cr) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 15.0 CRISIL B+/Stable
NA Bill Discounting NA NA NA 13.0 CRISIL B+/Stable
NA Long-Term Loan NA NA 31-03-2021 33.5 CRISIL B+/Stable
NA Proposed Long-Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 3.5 CRISIL B+/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 15.0 CRISIL A4
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  65.00  CRISIL B+/Stable                  Suspended 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  15.00  CRISIL A4                  Suspended 
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
Bill Discounting 13 CRISIL B+/Stable -- 0 --
Cash Credit 15 CRISIL B+/Stable -- 0 --
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 15 CRISIL A4 -- 0 --
Long Term Loan 33.5 CRISIL B+/Stable -- 0 --
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 3.5 CRISIL B+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 80 -- Total 0 --
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 Bank Loan Ratings

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