Rating Rationale
December 24, 2020 | Mumbai
Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.83 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3' ratings on the bank facilities of Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Limited (ASAL).
 
Operating performance for the first six months of fiscal 2021 moderated on account of slowdown in the end-user industry coupled with disruption in operations due to the nationwide lockdown announced to contain the spread of Covid-19. Revenue declined by 25% year-on-year in fiscal 2020 due to reduction in volumes sold and lower offtake from key customers. Revenue is likely to fall further by about 20% in fiscal 2021. However, discontinuation of loss-making business segments, price revision of products, recovery in overall industry demand and impact of BS-VI norm regulations will help the company cap losses and achieve operational breakeven this fiscal.
 
New orders may lead to better revenue flow from fiscal 2022 onwards, thereby improving scale and absorption of fixed costs. Furthermore, stabilization of new programmes and steady growth in revenue should increase operating margin over the medium term. The company expects to generate cash profits from the current fiscal due to expected healthy run rate and better realizations across the product segments. Lower-than-expected ramp-up in scale and profitability may further increase debt levels and hence, will be closely monitored.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the strong business and financial support ASAL receives from parent, TATA Autocomp Systems Ltd (TACO), and other group companies. During the first six months of fiscal 2021, TACO extended unsecured loans of about Rs 26 crore to the company. ASAL has also received additional support in the form of inter-corporate deposits (ICDs) of Rs 60 crore from TACO group companies. These strengths are partially offset by ASAL's weak financial risk profile due to continuing cash losses and negative net worth levels, concentration in terms of product portfolio, geographical reach and clientele; and limited value addition in end-products.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has applied its parent notch-up framework to factor in the strong operational, financial, and managerial support ASAL receives from TACO, which holds 75% share in the entity and has shown a track record of financial support in the form of unsecured loans and ICDs. Outstanding unsecured loans availed of from TACO stood at Rs 26 crore as on September 30, 2020. Adequate need-based support is expected to continue.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong business and financial support from TACO and other group companies
ASAL is a key supplier of sheet-metal stampings, welded assemblies, and modules for the passenger car segment of Tata Motors Ltd (TML). Additional business from TML is expected to improve operating performance gradually over the medium term. ASAL has received support via unsecured loans from TACO and TATA Capital, and ICDs from TATA Autocomp Hendrickson Suspensions Pvt Ltd ('CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1+') to ensure timely debt servicing and meet other funding requirement. ASAL is likely to continue receiving timely and need-based funds from TACO.
 
Weaknesses
* Limited, albeit improving, product, geographical, and customer diversity, and low value-added operations
ASAL continues to be highly dependent on TML (accounted for about 55% of revenue in fiscal 2020), resulting in high client concentration in revenue. For instance, revenue degrew by 55% in the first-half of fiscal 2021 due to drop in offtake by TML and disruption of operations following lockdowns. ASAL is taking active efforts to boost sales via price revisions and discontinuation of loss-making products. With new orders expected over the medium term, the company should be able to diversify customer profile and thereby reduce its low-margin business.
 
Profitability is also constrained by limited product range and high fixed cost intensity. Low value addition in products such as sheet metal stampings, welded assemblies and modules limits pricing power.
 
However, ASAL is focused on reducing the cost of fixed and variable expenses through various saving programmes. Profitability may improve over the medium term with various initiatives taken to expand high-margin business footprint, improve operating efficiency and implementing low-cost automations.
 
* Weak financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is driven by cash losses of Rs 11 crore during the first-half of fiscal 2021 because of lower-than-expected schedule. Networth remained negative Rs 59 crore as on March 31, 2020. The company had transferred leasehold rights in land at Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, which supported liquidity in fiscal 2020. ASAL has moderate external debt repayment during fiscal 2021 that will be met through fresh term loans, cash accrual, adequate undrawn limit, and continued support from TACO. Though credit metrics and capital structure should remain restricted over the medium term, gradual recovery is expected from fiscal 2022 with likely improvement in operating performance.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is expected to be strong over the medium term on the back of timely funds from the parent, TACO. Bank limit was utilised 86% on average for the six months through September 2020. ASAL also has access to Rs 39 crore limit from Tata Capital. Better cash accrual in fiscal 2022 and unutilised bank limit may be sufficient to meet incremental working capital requirement. Funding support from TACO is also likely to continue.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes ASAL will continue to benefit from regular funding support from TACO, though business risk profile will remain constrained over the medium term by low profitability and dependence on TML.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
* Improvement in the credit risk profile of parent by 1 notch
* Recovery in operating margin to 3-5% over the medium term on a sustained basis
* Better financial risk profile, backed by positive net cash accrual
 
Downward Factors
* Further decline in operating margin (negative 5% to negative 8%) due to lower efficiency and muted revenue growth
* Decline in CRISIL's ratings on TACO and change in the parent's policy toward extending financial support to ASAL.

About the Company

ASAL was promoted as JBM Tools Ltd (JBM) by SK Arya and Associates (SKAA) in March 1990, and got its current name in August 2003. ASAL mainly manufactures sheet-metal stampings, welded assemblies, and modules for passenger cars and commercial vehicles (largely for TML); these products account for more than 95% of the total revenue. It has four manufacturing facilities: two in Pune, one each in Halol (Gujarat) and Pantnagar (Uttarakhand).
 
ASAL went public in March 1994, and TACO, a Tata group company, became a joint venture (JV) partner in 1997. In April 2002, SKAA exited the JV and transferred its entire holding in JBM to TACO and Tata Industries Ltd ('CRISIL A1+').
 
In February 2007, TACO entered into an agreement with Gestamp Servicios S L (Gestamp) under which both the companies were to hold equal equity stakes in ASAL. Consequently, Gestamp acquired 0.01% stake through an open offer and TACO transferred 37.49% of its stake in ASAL to Gestamp. In February 2007, TACO reduced its stake to 37.50% (same as Gestamp's), while the remaining shares were owned by the public and others. With the purchase of Gestamp's stake in December 2010, TACO now has 75% equity stake in ASAL.
 
ASAL reported revenue of Rs 92 crore and negative operating margin of 13% in the first-half of fiscal 2020, against Rs 206 crore and negative 2.4%, respectively, during the first-half of fiscal 2019.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ending March 31 Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs crore 362 481
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore -17 -13
PAT Margin % -4.7 -2.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times -2.5 -3.7
Interest coverage Times -0.52 0.82

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 Cash Credit# NA NA NA 24 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Working Capital
Demand Loan
NA NA NA 37.9 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Letter of credit &
Bank Guarantee
NA NA NA 2.13 NA CRISIL A3
NA Long Term Loan NA NA May-2025 11.57 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term
Bank Loan Facility
NA NA NA 7.4 NA CRISIL BBB-/Stable
#Interchangeable with bank guarantee and letter of credit up to Rs 5 crore; and with working capital demand loan, short-term loan, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and export credit up to Rs 9 crore
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  80.87  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  03-01-20  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  30-05-19  CRISIL BBB/Negative  23-03-18  CRISIL BBB/Negative  08-08-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  CRISIL A-/Watch Developing 
                07-02-18  CRISIL BBB+/Watch Developing  23-03-17  CRISIL A-/Negative   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2.13  CRISIL A3  03-01-20  CRISIL A3  30-05-19  CRISIL A3+  23-03-18  CRISIL A3+  08-08-17  CRISIL A2  CRISIL A2+/Watch Developing 
                07-02-18  CRISIL A2/Watch Developing  23-03-17  CRISIL A2+   
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
Cash Credit# 24 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Cash Credit# 24 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 2.13 CRISIL A3 Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 2.13 CRISIL A3
Long Term Loan 11.57 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Long Term Loan 11.57 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 7.4 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 7.4 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 37.9 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan 37.9 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Total 83 -- Total 83 --
#Interchangeable with bank guarantee and letter of credit up to Rs 5 crore; and with working capital demand loan, short-term loan, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and export credit up to Rs 9 crore
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 Criteria for rating short term debt

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