Rating Rationale
December 29, 2020 | Mumbai
Astra Microwave Products Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.664.51 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.20 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 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper programme of Astra Microwave Products Limited (AMPL; part of the AMPL group).
 
The ratings continue to reflect AMPL's established market position, strong customer relationships, healthy order pipeline, and a comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the large working capital requirement and exposure to risks inherent in the tender-based business.
 
Though revenue rose to Rs 209 crore in the six months through September 2020, from Rs 142 crore in the six months through September 2019, operating margin dropped sharply to 2.8% from 20.3% over the same period, due to higher execution of low-margin export orders as against domestic orders fetching better margin. Margin for fiscal 2021 may also be lower than fiscal 2020, for the same reason. Covid-19 led disruptions led to delay in execution of domestic orders, as various quality checks and clearances at the customers' end were awaited. This also resulted in stretch in receivables and stock up in the inventory. With easing of travel restrictions, higher execution of domestic orders with moderation in working capital is expected in the second half of the current fiscal and hence, remains a key monitorable.
 
Further, the financial risk profile remains comfortable in the absence of long-term debt, and liquidity is adequate, aided by cash and cash equivalents of Rs 66 crore as on September 30, 2020, moderate bank limit utilisation and enhancement in fund-based limit.
 
Further, CRISIL has noted that the promoters have stepped down from AMPL's board and their shareholding has been reduced to around 10% as of September 30, 2020. Any material change in business and financial policies will be a key rating sensitivity factor.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of AMPL and Bhavyabhanu Electronics Pvt Ltd (BEPL). That's because the two companies, together referred to as the AMPL group, are under a common ownership and management, with strong business synergies.

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 market position, supported by strong in-house capability in the microwave radio-frequency (RF) applications domain and healthy customer relationships: The group derives its core business strength from its in-house capability to provide customised microwave RF solutions. It has four state-of-the-art facilities in and around Hyderabad, with research and development (R&D) capabilities for microwave RF applications, test equipment, and environment chambers for space applications. It has set up an R&D facility at Bengaluru, to manufacture radars. Over the years, the group has diversified its business portfolio by providing microwave applications in the space and civil telecommunication segments.
 
The group has a longstanding relationship with customers, and is recognised as a qualified vendor by defence research establishments. It is also acknowledged by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its space applications testing laboratories.
 
* Healthy order pipeline offering sound revenue visibility: As of November 2020, the group had orders worth Rs 1,770 crore, to be executed over the next 18-24 months. Orders are skewed towards exports (around 58% of total orders), and lumpiness in order inflow, primarily from space and defence public sector entities, also leads to volatility in sales. Further, technological joint ventures with firms based in Israel could provide potential upside to revenue in the long term. However, flow of orders and development of required technology are key monitorables.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile: Capital structure and debt protection metrics are healthy in the absence of any long-term debt. Gearing and total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOL/TNW) ratios stood at 0.11 time and 0.65 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2020 and are estimated below 0.10 time and 0.50 time, respectively, over the medium term. Net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios were 113% and 6.70 times, respectively, for fiscal 2020, vis-a-vis 156% and 4.22 times, respectively, in fiscal 2019.
 
Weaknesses:
* Large working capital requirement: Gross current assets (GCAs) were high at 488 days as on March 31, 2020, vis-a-vis 432 days a year before, led by large inventory of 277 days (vis-a-vis 195 days) primarily due to the stock up caused by Covid-19 related disruptions. The group primarily caters to domestic defence research and space establishments that usually have a long production cycle with large working capital requirement, compared with overseas orders. Though export revenue may be realised faster, it would be set off by slower realisation from domestic orders, given the inherent nature of business. Further, the group has to maintain sizeable inventory to cater to all segments, as products are customised, and thus, requirements vary across segments.
 
* Susceptibility to risks inherent in a tender-based business, and long gestation period for projects: The business depends on success in bidding for tenders invited by defence public sector undertakings and research establishments. Defence research establishments, such as Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), invite tenders from qualified vendors for their R&D requirement, and commence bulk production on successful completion of product development. Long-term revenue visibility is primarily driven by the success of R&D projects at DRDO and the subsequent mass production of products.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity remains adequate, driven by expected cash accrual of over Rs 50 crore per fiscal in 2021 and 2022, against no long-term debt or significant capital expenditure plans. As of September 2020, cash and cash equivalents were around Rs 66 crore. Fund-based limit was utilised at an average of 50% during the 12 months ended October 30, 2020. Sustenance of liquidity remains a key monitorable.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the AMPL group will continue to benefit from its established market position and healthy order book.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors:
* Significant increase in cash accrual, driven by sustained revenue growth of over 20% per fiscal
* Better working capital management with GCAs sustaining below 250 days

Downward Factors:
* Lower-than-expected revenue or operating margin leading to cash accrual below Rs 40 crore per fiscal
* Stretch in working capital cycle with GCAs sustaining above 450 days.

About the Group

AMPL was incorporated as a private limited company in 1991, and reconstituted as a public limited company in 1993. It is promoted by Mr P A Chitrakar, Ms C Pramelamma, and Mr B Malla Reddy. The company designs, develops, and manufactures customised sub-systems and components for microwave communication systems used in the defence, space, and telecommunication sectors.
 
In fiscal 2014, AMPL floated the 100% owned BEPL, as a captive supplier of raw material for overseas orders. In fiscal 2019, AMPL set up a joint venture, Astra Rafael Comsys Pvt Ltd, with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems for production of communication systems and sub-systems for defence.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs crore 486 306
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 44 10
PAT Margin % 9.4 3.2
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.11 0.03
Interest coverage Times 6.70 4.22

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 Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 20.00 Simple CRISIL A1
NA Term Loan NA NA Sept-2020 7.13 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 95.0 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 560.0 NA CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Long-Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 2.38 NA CRISIL A/Stable
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Entities consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Bhavyabhanu Electronics Pvt Ltd Full Under a common ownership and management, with strong business synergies
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  20.00  CRISIL A1  05-03-20  CRISIL A1  26-04-19  CRISIL A1  24-04-18  CRISIL A1  25-04-17  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
Non Convertible Debentures  LT    --    --  26-04-19  Withdrawal  24-04-18  CRISIL A+/Stable  25-04-17  CRISIL A+/Stable  CRISIL A+/Stable 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  104.51  CRISIL A/Stable  05-03-20  CRISIL A/Stable  26-04-19  CRISIL A/Stable  24-04-18  CRISIL A+/Stable  25-04-17  CRISIL A+/Stable  CRISIL A+/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  560.00  CRISIL A1  05-03-20  CRISIL A1  26-04-19  CRISIL A1  24-04-18  CRISIL A1  25-04-17  CRISIL A1  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
Bank Guarantee 560 CRISIL A1 Bank Guarantee 560 CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 95 CRISIL A/Stable Cash Credit 95 CRISIL A/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 2.38 CRISIL A/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 2.38 CRISIL A/Stable
Term Loan 7.13 CRISIL A/Stable Term Loan 7.13 CRISIL A/Stable
Total 664.51 -- Total 664.51 --
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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