Rating Rationale
July 10, 2020 | Mumbai
Austin Engineering Company Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.22 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BB/Stable/CRISIL A4+' ratings on the bank facilities of Austin Engineering Company Limited (AECL; part of the AECL group).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the AECL group's moderate capital structure and its long market presence in the industrial bearings segment. These strengths are partially offset by limited bargaining power with customers, working capital-intensive operations, and exposure to volatility in profitability, raw material prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of AECL and its subsidiary, Austin Engineering Company (AEC; formerly, Accurate Engineering Inc). This is primarily because the entities, together referred to as the AECL group, have operational synergies, wherein AEC acts as a marketing arm for AECL in the US.

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: 
* Moderate capital structure: Networth and gearing were estimated around Rs 50 crore and 0.2 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2020 (Rs 51 crore and 0.14 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019). Losses incurred during fiscal 2020, led to a slightly lower networth, yet minimal reliance on external debt has kept gearing comfortable. While debt protection measures have been affected by losses, healthy capitalisation levels have aided the financial risk profile and liquidity.
 
* Long market presence in the industrial bearings segment: The group manufactures customised industrial bearings for numerous industries, but mainly caters to the non-automotive sector. The group has historically derived around 40% of its revenue from exports to the US and Europe. Benefits from track record of over two decades and healthy relationship with customers will continue.
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to volatility in profitability, raw material prices and forex rates, and limited bargaining power with customers: Intense competition limits the ability to pass on any hike in raw material prices to customers, thus constraining profitability. Over the five years ending March 31, 2020, the group's operating margin has been below 5%. Furthermore, significant exports, in the absence of any hedging policy, exposes the group to fluctuations in forex rates.
 
* Large working capital requirement: Gross current assets were high at 283 days as on March 31, 2019, because of large inventory and stretched receivables of over 182 days and 83 days, respectively. The working capital intensity is estimated at similar levels in fiscal 2020.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity remains adequate, aided by moderate bank limit utilisation and absence of any term debt. Bank limit utilisation averaged around 50% in the 13 months ended April 30, 2020, despite the large working capital requirement. Current ratio was healthy estimated over 2 times as on March 2020. Current freely available cash bank balance of around Rs 3 crore also aids liquidity.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the AECL group will continue to benefit from its healthy capital structure and moderate order pipeline.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Improvement in scale and profitability, leading to cash accrual of Rs 3 crore on a sustained basis
* Better working capital management
 
Downward factors
* Increase in bank limit utilisation to over 90%
* Large capital expenditure or sharply increased working capital or deterioration in the business profile
About the Group

Established in 1985, the AECL group manufactures anti-friction bearings that are used across the power, mining, steel, cement, defence and transportation industries. Manufacturing plants are in Junagadh, Gujarat.

Key Financial Indicators - Consolidated
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 97 78
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 1.9 (1.2)
PAT margin % 2.0 (1.5)
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.15 0.11
Interest coverage Times 5.42 0.78

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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 2.5 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 13.9 NA CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Credit Limit Under Gold Card NA NA NA 1.6 NA CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 4 NA CRISIL BB/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Austin Engineering Company Ltd Full Consolidation AEC is subsidiary of AECL and acts as its marketing arm
Austin Engineering Company
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  19.50  CRISIL BB/Stable      06-05-19  CRISIL BB/Stable  21-02-18  CRISIL BB/Negative  30-10-17  CRISIL BB+/Negative  CRISIL BBB-/Negative 
                    07-07-17  CRISIL BB+/Stable   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2.50  CRISIL A4+      06-05-19  CRISIL A4+  21-02-18  CRISIL A4+  30-10-17  CRISIL A4+  CRISIL A3 
                    07-07-17  CRISIL A4+   
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 2.5 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee 2.5 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit 13.9 CRISIL BB/Stable Cash Credit 13.9 CRISIL BB/Stable
Credit Limit Under Gold Card 1.6 CRISIL BB/Stable Credit Limit Under Gold Card 1.6 CRISIL BB/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4 CRISIL BB/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4 CRISIL BB/Stable
Total 22 -- Total 22 --
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
Rating Criteria for Auto Component Suppliers
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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