Rating Rationale
September 27, 2018 | Mumbai
D-Link India Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative', rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.10 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facility of D-Link India Limited (D-Link) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' while reaffirmed the rating at 'CRISIL A'.

The outlook revision reflects continued decline in business performance in fiscal 2018 against CRISIL's expectation. While performance is expected to improve on the back of price corrections, sourcing efficiencies, and healthy demand outlook for the networking products industry, it is unlikely to restore to pre-2017 levels given intense competition. While currency volatility is also a concern, CRISIL draws comfort from planned increase in hedging of foreign exchange exposure.

D-Link's performance, which deteriorated in fiscal 2017 due to demonetisation and continued intense competition, was further affected in fiscal 2018 by destocking by distributors before the implementation of GST and revaluation of inventory. OPBDIT (operating profit before depreciation, interest and tax) declined to Rs 26 crore in fiscal 2017 and further to Rs 20 crore in fiscal 2018; from Rs 38 crore in fiscal 2016. Operating performance in the first three months of fiscal 2019 was also impacted due to currency volatility and high copper prices (OPBDIT was Rs 7 crore during this period). While performance is expected to improve gradually in the near term, it is unlikely to be restored to pre-2017 levels.

The rating continues to reflect D-link's established market position and strong distribution network across India, and healthy financial risk profile because of comfortable networth and negligible debt. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition in the networking industry, low profitability, and vulnerability to input price and currency volatility.

Analytical Approach

Goodwill, as a result of acquisition of Team F1, is being amortised over five years from the effective date of acquisition. 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position and strong distribution network: D-Link is the market leader in shipment of switches and WLAN(Wireless LAN) products, with a share of around 30% and 40%, respectively.

* Healthy financial risk profile
Networth was large at Rs 173 crore as on March 31, 2018, while debt was negligible. However, return on capital employed, which was affected by weak business performance in fiscal 2018, declined to 9.7% from 24.6% in fiscal 2016.

Weaknesses
* Exposure to intense competition and risks inherent in the networking industry
D-Link mainly operates in the home and SME segments of the networking industry, where profitability is lower than that in the institutional sales segment. The latter is dominated by CISCO India, a large and well-entrenched player. Profitability in the retail segment is constrained by intense competition and commoditised nature of products.

* Susceptible to input price and currency volatility
Price of copper, one the key inputs for manufacturing cables, is an open market commodity traded globally on exchanges. Prices of the copper has been volatile in the past. Further, currency volatility also impacts profitability as company largely imports its products. Complete pass on of cost increases is difficult given the intense competition in the industry. Hence, Margin will continue to remain susceptible to any adverse fluctuation in raw material prices and currency volatility.
Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes business risk profile will register only modest improvement over the medium term given intense competition. Financial risk profile will, however, remain healthy because of low internal funding requirement and continued limited reliance on bank debt.

Upside scenario
* Significant and sustained improvement in revenue and profitability

Downside scenario
* Lower-than-expected growth in revenue or continued low operating profitability.

About the Company

Incorporated in 2008, D-Link is a step-down subsidiary of D-Link Corp and mainly markets networking products of the parent in India. Product profile comprises network switches, wireless local area networks, routers, modems, storage devices, and cameras. In 2010, D-Link began marketing structured cabling products procured externally.

In January 2014, D-Link acquired Team F1, a US-based company that specialises in providing network and security software for embedded devices. The consideration for the acquisition was in the form of D-Link's equity shares, which resulted in D-Link Corp's equity stake in D-Link reducing to 51% from 60%.

D-Link Corp, set up in 1986, is a multinational company that designs, markets, and manufactures networking equipment, with presence across over 100 countries.

For the three months ended June 30, 2018, at a standalone level, D-Link reported a net profit of Rs 1.1 crore on net sales of Rs 174 crore, against Rs 10.6 crore and Rs 93 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs.Cr 659 707
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Cr 10 14
PAT Margin % 1.5 1.9
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.07
Interest coverage Times 33.68 67.13

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 Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan NA NA NA 10 CRISIL A/Negative
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  10.00  CRISIL A/Negative      08-09-17  CRISIL A/Stable      31-12-15  CRISIL A/Stable  CRISIL A/Stable 
            30-03-17  CRISIL A/Stable           
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 & Working Capital demand loan 10 CRISIL A/Negative Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 10 CRISIL A/Stable
Total 10 -- Total 10 --
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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