Rating Rationale
March 23, 2018 | Mumbai
Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Limited
Ratings downgraded to 'CRISIL BBB/Negative/CRISIL A3+', removed from 'Watch Developing'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.83 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Negative (Downgraded from 'CRISIL BBB+'; Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A2'; Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its ratings on bank facilities of Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Ltd (ASAL) to 'CRISIL BBB/CRISIL A3+' from 'CRISIL BBB+/CRISIL A2'. The ratings have been removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications' and assigned the 'Negative' outlook on the long-term facilities.

On February 7, 2018, CRISIL had placed its ratings on bank facilities of ASAL on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications', following the announcement of ASAL's third quarter fiscal 2018 results. Higher overheads and current lower profitability led to operating losses, despite considerable scale up in operations. For three months ended December 31,2017 ASAL reported operating income of Rs 94.2 crore and operating loss of Rs 6.1 crore, compared to Rs 70 crore and Rs 2.2 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. 

The rating downgrade follows continued weak operating performance by ASAL, which has weakened the financial risk profile. Net losses reported for three quarters (till December 2017) consistently led to an erosion of networth in fiscal 2018. Continuing losses have increased reliance on debt, which stood at Rs 106.63 crore as on December 31, 2017.  Operating margin for nine months ended December 31, 2017, was a negative 9.8%, against 0.8% for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Stabilisation of new programmes and growth in revenue, should support increase in operating margin in the medium term; however, it will improve gradually in fiscal 2019, which will lead to further increase in dependence on debt.

The ratings reflect strong business and financial support from Tata Motors Ltd and Tata Autocomp Systems Limited (TACO; rated 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+')TACO. During the first nine months of fiscal 2018, TACO extended unsecured loans of Rs 17.5 crore. These strengths are partially offset by the weak financial risk profile, concentration in terms of product portfolio, geographical reach, and clientele, and limited value addition in end-products.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has factored in strong operational, financial, and managerial support from TACO.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong business and financial support from TML and TACO: ASAL is a key supplier of sheet-metal stampings, welded assemblies, and modules for the passenger car segment of TML. Additional business from TML and Fiat India Automobiles Pvt Ltd (Fiat, rated 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), is expected to improve operating performance gradually in the medium term. TACO had earlier extended support via unsecured loans (Rs 44 crore as on December 31, 2017) and inter-corporate deposits to ensure timely debt servicing and meet other funding requirement. CRISIL expects that TACO will continue to extend need based and timely support to ASAL going forward.

Weakness
* Limited product, geographical, and customer diversity, and low value-added operations:
ASAL continues to be highly dependent on TML (which accounted for about 69% of revenue in first nine months of fiscal 2018), and is thus, exposed to high resulting in client concentration risk. While business levels in the first half were largely subdued, ASAL's revenues grew by 46% in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, due to increase in offtake by TML and ramp up of new programmes. However, operating loss continued due to higher overheads towards new programmes of original equipment manufacturers and lower profitability.

Profitability is also constrained by a limited product range, and high fixed cost intensity. The company reported operating losses in fiscals 2015 and 2016, and a thin profit in fiscal 2017, due to sub optimal capacity utilisation.

Low value addition in products such as sheet metal stampings, welded assemblies, and modules, limits the bargaining power.
Limited customer and geographical diversification, and the low value-added nature of products will continue to restrict any significant improvement in the overall business risk profile, over the medium term.

* Weak financial risk profile: Operating performance deteriorated in fiscal 2018 with continuing losses, impacting the company's key credit metrics. Realignment of unutilised plant and machinery is likely to strengthen the operating performance in the medium term. Growth momentum observed in third quarter of fiscal 2018, is likely to continue, on the back of healthy outlook for commercial vehicle and passenger car segments. Ramp up of business with TML and other customers to achieve critical mass will be essential for operating level to breakeven in fiscal 2019.

The company has moderate external debt repayment of about Rs 13 crore per annum during fiscal 2018 and 2019 is likely to be met through continued support from TACO.  Cash generation and credit metrics will remain under pressure over the medium term, due to slower recovery in growth and fixed cost-intensive nature of business. Timely support from TACO, and TML, nevertheless, is expected be forthcoming.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes ASAL will continue to benefit from regular funding support from TACO, though the business risk profile will remain constrained because of continued weak demand from TML, over the medium term.
 
Upside scenario
* Substantial growth in revenue and profitability, leading to stronger credit metrics
* Better than expected improvement in capital structure supoted by any equity infusion or cash accruals
 
Downside scenario
* Higher-than-expected losses due to lower revenue growth,
* Any change in CRISIL's ratings on TACO as well as its policy towards 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. The company 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 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.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2018, net loss was Rs 37 crore on net revenue of Rs 219 crore, as against net loss of Rs 1.5 crore on net revenue of Rs 201 crore in the corresponding period of fiscal 2017.

Key Financial Indicators
As on March 31 Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs crore 304 263
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs. crore -3 -21
PAT margin % -1 -7.9
Adjusted debt/Networth Times 0.3 -0.19
Adjusted interest coverage Times 5.3 3.4

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. crore)
Rating assigned with Outlook
NA Long-term loan NA NA Dec-2019 20.00 CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Long-term loan NA NA Dec-2020 10.00 CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Cash credit# NA NA NA 17.00 CRISIL BBB/Negative
NA Letter of credit & bank guarantee NA NA NA 24.00 CRISIL A3+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA Mar-21 12.00 CRISIL BBB/Negative
#Interchangeable with bank guarantee and letter of credit up to Rs 5.00 crore; and with working capital demand loan, short-term loan, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and export credit up to Rs 9.00 crore
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Non Convertible Debentures  LT    --    --    --  23-08-16  Withdrawal  18-03-15  CRISIL A-/Negative  CRISIL A-/Stable 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  59  CRISIL BBB/Negative  07-02-18  CRISIL BBB+/Watch Developing  08-08-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  23-08-16  CRISIL A-/Watch Developing  18-03-15  CRISIL A-/Negative  CRISIL A-/Stable 
            23-03-17  CRISIL A-/Negative           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  24  CRISIL A3+  07-02-18  CRISIL A2/Watch Developing  08-08-17  CRISIL A2  23-08-16  CRISIL A2+/Watch Developing    No Rating Change  CRISIL A2+ 
            23-03-17  CRISIL A2+           
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit# 17 CRISIL BBB/Negative Cash Credit# 17 CRISIL BBB+/Placed on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 24 CRISIL A3+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 24 CRISIL A2/Placed on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications
Long Term Loan 30 CRISIL BBB/Negative Long Term Loan 30 CRISIL BBB+/Placed on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 12 CRISIL BBB/Negative Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 12 CRISIL BBB+/Placed on 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications
Total 83 -- Total 83 --
#Interchangeable with bank guarantee and letter of credit up to Rs 5.00 crore; and with working capital demand loan, short-term loan, letter of credit, bank guarantee, and export credit up to Rs 9.00 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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