Rating Rationale
November 02, 2020 | Mumbai
Cerebra Integrated Technologies Limited
'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.35 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Assigned)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+' ratings to the bank loan facilities of Cerebra Integrated Technologies Limited (CITL).

The ratings reflect an established market position, well established customer base and Diversified geographical reach, and a healthy financial risk profile. These rating strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to intense competition, and large working capital requirements.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of CITL and its wholly owned subsidiaries Cerebra LPO India Limited and Cerebra Middle East FZCO, Dubai. That's because the three entities have common management and have significant financial linkages.

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: CITL's moderate scale provides it an operating flexibility in an intensely competitive computer hardware and e-waste recycling industry. Further, it also benefits from the promoters' experience of over three decades, their strong understanding of market dynamics, healthy relations with customers & suppliers and will continue to support the business. Revenue saw a healthy growth of 25% in FY 2018 to record Rs 314.02 crore on account of increase in sales of refurbished products and e-waste recycling. In fiscal 2019 as well, company saw a healthy growth of 23% in revenue to record Rs 385.23 crore driven by ramp up in revenue from e-waste management and sales of refurbished products. Since FY 2018, company has been focusing on increasing its share from 'E-waste recycling' business segment as it is more profitable. On the other hand, company has been consciously working on reducing the revenue share from trading activity as it is a low profit margin business segment. This has led to drop in revenue to Rs 182 crore in FY 2020.

* Well established customer base and Diversified geographical reach: CITL has long-standing relationships with its customers and suppliers. Its customers include some of the well established players in electronics industries such Samsung India Electronics Limited and LG Electronics for which e-waste recycling is done. CITL has around 50-60 vendors and channel partners across selected cities in India through which waste procurement is done. CITL has diversified its presence across India through its 33 Cerebra Experience Centre's (CEC's) wherein customers can walk in and purchase refurbished products.

* Healthy Financial risk profile: Company has a strong networth of Rs 300.87 crore as on March 31, 2020 backed by steady accretion to reserves. On account of low reliance on external debt, gearing is low at 0.04 time as on March 31, 2020. Despite the high reliance on creditors, but backed by a strong networth, the TOLTNW ratio is low at 0.49 time as on March 31, 2020. On account of low reliance on external debt and healthy operating profitability, the debt-protection metrics are healthy, reflected in interest cover and NCAAD of 18.4 times and 2.35 times in fiscal 2020.

Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to intense competition: About 95% of the industry is handled by unorganised players, which operate without any license and use unscientific methods to treat e-waste. Operating margin has improved from FY 2018 with the addition of E-waste segment. Operating Margin was 18% in FY 2020. Margin is expected to range between 12-15% over the medium term.

* Working capital intensive operations: Company has large working capital requirements as reflected in high GCAs of 350-580 days over the last four fiscals ended 2020. Under trading division, the company supplies computers to various government agencies. The company derives about 60-70% of its trading revenue through these government agencies. Around 30% of the order value is retained by government as retention money and warranty money, which is released after end of contract period or warranty period. This has resulted in higher receivables. In order to support its working capital requirements, the company also holds warranty from its suppliers and releases the payment for them upon receipt of payment from its customers. Hence, creditors are stretched in the range of 130-300 days for the past four fiscals ended 2020. In case of E-waste segment, the payments are received within 10-15 days after the bill is raised. In respect of the walk-in customers, the company does not allow any credit period and hence is not exposed to debtor risk in retail segment. Hence, as the revenue from e-waste increases, the debtor realization would improve in the medium term.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is adequate with average BLU of 83% over the 12 months ended Aug 2020. Liquidity is supported by free cash & bank balance of Rs 12.90 crore as on March 31, 2020, and sufficient net cash accruals expected at Rs 10-20 crore against repayments of Rs 3.55 crore, Rs 0.47 crore and Rs 0.05 crore in FY21, FY22 and FY23. Current ratio is healthy at 2.03 times as on March 31, 2020. Bank had given blanket approval for moratorium 1.0 and 2.0 on both the working capital limit and vehicle loans.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes CITL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters, and established relationships with clients.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors:
*Significant improvement in working capital cycle with gross current assets under 180 days
*Increase in revenue along with operating margin over 15%
*Sustenance of financial risk profile
 
Downward Factors:
*Further stretch in working capital cycle leading to gross current assets stretching beyond 800 days
*Sharp decline in revenue or operating margin leading to lower than expected net cash accruals
*Significant debt-funded capex leading to deterioration in financial risk profile or liquidity.

About the Company

CITL, was initially established as partnership firm in 1992 and started its operation as manufacturing of computer systems and trading of its peripherals, components, etc. In 1993 it was converted to public limited company. CITL is currently engaged in the business of e-waste recycling, refining and refurbishment, electronic manufacturing services and IT infrastructure management.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2020 2019
Operating income Rs.Crore 182.00 385.23
Reported profit after tax Rs.Crore 12.20 5.81
PAT margins % 6.7 1.5
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.04 0.02
Interest coverage Times 18.43 26.97

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
Levels
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 8.0 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Proposed Fund Based Bank Limits NA NA NA 22.0 NA CRISIL BB+/Stable
NA Import letter of Credit Limit NA NA NA 2.0 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 3.0 NA CRISIL A4+
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Cerebra Integrated Technologies Limited 100% Cerebra LPO India Limited and Cerebra Middle East FZCO, Dubai are CITL's wholly owned subsidiaries. All the three entities have common management and have significant financial linkages.
Cerebra LPO India Limited 100%
Cerebra Middle East FZCO, Dubai 100%
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  30.00  CRISIL BB+/Stable    --    --    --    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  5.00  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
Proposed Fund-Based Bank Limits 22 CRISIL BB+/Stable -- 0 --
Import Letter of Credit Limit 2 CRISIL A4+ -- 0 --
Bank Guarantee 3 CRISIL A4+ -- 0 --
Cash Credit 8 CRISIL BB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 35 -- Total 0 --
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
The Rating Process

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