Rating Rationale
March 27, 2020 | Mumbai
Avon Cycles Limited
 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.150 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Positive 
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Avon Cycles Limited (ACL) continue to reflect ACL's strong market position in the domestic bicycle industry and strong financial risk profile on account of low total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio, robust debt protection metrics, and ample liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by modest presence in the fast-growing special bicycle segment vis-a-vis large-scale players and decline in operating margin.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths: 
* Strong market position in the domestic bicycle industry
The market position is backed by the strong brand name, wide distribution network, proven quality, and favourably located unit. ACL is among the top three players in the bicycle industry in India, with an estimated market share of around 15% currently. Sales up to 60-70% are estimated to be from the standard bicycles segment, and volume growth is driven by bulk sales to state governments for their social welfare schemes. The favourable location of the bicycle unit in Ludhiana, Punjab, which is close to the components and end-user markets in North India, provides advantages in terms of savings in freight cost and enables competitive product pricing.
 
The company reported revenue growth of around 14%, with turnover of Rs 877.3 crore in fiscal 2019, supported by increase in volumes and realisations across government and non-government sales.
 
* Strong financial risk profile
Healthy cash accrual, networth, and efficient working capital management have led to a robust financial risk profile. TOLANW ratio was 0.3 time as on March 31, 2019. Debt protection metrics were robust, as reflected in interest coverage of 21.9 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of 2.8 times in fiscal 2019.
 
Weaknesses:  
* Modest presence in the fast-growing special bicycle segment
Bicycles are broadly classified into standard and special segments. Currently, the standard segment (catering mainly to transportation needs of the less affluent population) constitutes 60-70% of the total revenue. The special bicycle segment contributes 30-35% to ACL's revenue, while for larger players, such as Hero Cycles Ltd (CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+) and Tube Investments of India Ltd (CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+), this segment constitutes 30-55% of total sales. Competition in this segment is expected to intensify, as these large players are increasing their focus on marketing and product development efforts to enhance their market share in this faster growing and better margin segment. Furthermore, ACL's sales growth has been volatile over the past few years due to fluctuations in government orders (orders being tender-based).
 
* Declining operating margins and volatile raw material prices
Operating margin declined to 11.7% in fiscal 2019 from 17.3% in fiscal 2017, primarily on account of decline in realisation from government sales and volatile raw material prices. The prices of major raw materials'stainless steel, nickel, and chrome'are volatile, and the materials are procured at market-linked rates. The company should remain exposed to fluctuations in raw material prices.
Liquidity Strong

Net cash accrual is expected at Rs 90-110 crore per fiscal against nominal debt obligation of less than Rs 2.0 crore in fiscals 2020-2022. The surplus funds should be adequate to meet modular capex and incremental working capital requirement. Additionally, the company has large investments of Rs 218.6 crore as on March 31, 2019, in different market instruments, such as equity instruments (quoted as well as unquoted), mutual funds, private equity funds, bonds, debentures, among others, supporting liquidity. Utilisation of fund-based limit averaged 11.7% over the 12 months through November 2019. Current ratio was healthy at 4.5 times as on March 31, 2019. With gearing of 0.06 time, ACL has sufficient gearing headroom to raise additional debt to meet its capex requirement. Also, promoters provide support in the form of unsecured loans (Rs 20.2 crore as on March 31, 2019).

Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes ACL will continue to benefit from its strong market position in the domestic bicycle industry, with a strong brand and distribution network and healthy financial risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upside factors
* Significant scale-up of operations (more than 20%) resulting in improved market share and sustained profitability
* Reduced dependency on government orders

Downside factors
* Decline in revenue and profitability (less than 10%) and return on capital employed
* Higher-than-expected debt-funded capex, stretched working capital cycle, and investment in unrelated activities resulting in significant weakening of the financial risk profile.
About the Company

Incorporated in 1951, ACL primarily manufactures bicycles and bicycle components for the domestic and global markets. It only makes major components, such as frames, forks, and mud guards; it procures the rest from local suppliers. The company ventured into e-bikes in fiscal 2007, by setting up a manual assembly line. It also has nine windmills for power generation, spread across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. These windmills have an aggregate capacity of 15 megawatt. ACL has entered into contracts with the respective state governments for sale of power generated from these windmills. It also has 10 solar power plants with an aggregate capacity of 22.83 megawatt.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Units 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 877.3 769.5
Profit after tax Rs crore 72.4 79.9
PAT margin % 8.3 10.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.06 0.08
Interest coverage Times 21.9 20.2
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 Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 13 CRISIL A1+
NA Bill Discounting NA NA NA 15 CRISIL A1+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 54 CRISIL A+/Positive
NA Export Performance Guarantee NA NA NA 1 CRISIL A1+
NA Foreign Letter of Credit NA NA NA 1 CRISIL A+/Positive
NA Letter of Guarantee NA NA NA 38 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 13 CRISIL A+/Positive
NA Export Packing Credit NA NA NA 15 CRISIL A+/Positive
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  97.00  CRISIL A+/Positive/ CRISIL A1+  29-01-20  CRISIL A+/Positive/ CRISIL A1+      31-10-18  CRISIL A+/Positive/ CRISIL A1+  08-07-17  CRISIL A+/Positive/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  53.00  CRISIL A+/Positive/ CRISIL A1+  29-01-20  CRISIL A1+      31-10-18  CRISIL A1+  08-07-17  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 13 CRISIL A1+ Bank Guarantee 66 CRISIL A1+
Bill Discounting 15 CRISIL A1+ Bill Discounting 15 CRISIL A1+
Cash Credit 54 CRISIL A+/Positive Cash Credit 54 CRISIL A+/Positive
Export Packing Credit 15 CRISIL A+/Positive Export Packing Credit 15 CRISIL A+/Positive
Export Performance Guarantee 1 CRISIL A1+ -- 0 --
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 13 CRISIL A+/Positive -- 0 --
Foreign Letter of Credit 1 CRISIL A+/Positive -- 0 --
Letter Of Guarantee 38 CRISIL A1+ -- 0 --
Total 150 -- Total 150 --
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 the Two-Wheeler Industry
CRISILs Approach to Recognising Default
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
The Rating Process

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