Rating Rationale
February 08, 2017 | Mumbai
Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.250 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.60 Crore Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper) CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
 
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities and short-term debt of Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited (JCHAC India; formerly known as Hitachi Home and Life Solutions India Ltd) at 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+'.
 
The rating reaffirmation reflects company's established market position in the room air-conditioner (AC) industry in India, a healthy financial risk profile, and financial, managerial, and technical support from the parent, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning (JCHAC). These strengths are partially offset by exposure to volatility in raw material prices and foreign exchange rates, as well as to intense competition in the industry.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position: The company has a healthy brand equity in the AC market, wherein Hitachi is positioned as a high-end premium brand. The company has a healthy share of around 13-14% in the Indian AC market, supported by the wide recognition of the Hitachi brand. It is not only expanding its footprint in the mass premium segment but also diversifying into the lower priced AC segment in Tier 2 and 3 cities. This is reflected in the strong compound annual growth rate of 17% in revenue over the five fiscals through fiscal 2016.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Gearing was 0.5 time as on March 31, 2016, and interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios 10.9 times and 0.6 times, respectively, for fiscal 2016. The healthy financial risk profile is expected to be sustained over the medium term due to substantial cash accrual and no large capital expenditure plans.
 
* Financial, managerial, and technical support from JCHAC: Financial support is indicated by guaranteed bank lines for working capital requirement. Managerial support is reflected in the parent's involvement in the Indian subsidiary's policy making, with key management personnel being from JCHAC. Furthermore, JCHAC India is expected to benefit from access to the latest technology and designs of the parent.
 
Weaknesses
* Exposure to volatility in raw material prices and foreign exchange rates: Raw materials, primarily copper, aluminium, and steel (including compressors), account for more than 60% of the cost structure; 50-55% of the raw materials are imported. This exposes the profitability to volatility in raw material prices as well as in forex rates.
 
* Intense competition in the industry: The company operates in the intensely competitive consumer durables industry, which limits its ability to improve profitability through price increases.
Outlook: Stable
CRISIL believes JCHAC India will maintain its healthy business risk profile over the medium term, supported by its established market position in the AC industry and improved operating efficiency. Its financial risk profile is also expected to remain healthy over this period, driven by limited debt and healthy support from the parent. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of significant diversification in revenue and improvement in operating efficiency, while the healthy market share and financial risk profile are maintained. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of significantly lower-than-expected revenue growth or decline in profitability, large, debt-funded capital expenditure, or any reduction in support from JCHAC.
About the Company

JCHAC India was incorporated in 1984 as Acquest Air-conditioning Systems Pvt Ltd, promoted by the Lalbhai group of India. It became a joint venture (JV) of the Lalbhai group and Hitachi Ltd (Hitachi; rated 'A-/Stable/A-2' by S&P Global) in 1999. Hitachi Ltd purchased the entire shareholding of the Lalbhai group in 2003. JCHAC India manufactures and trades in the Hitachi brand of home appliances in India. It manufactures a range of ACs for residential and commercial spaces, including room ACs such as window and split ACs; and packaged ACs such as concealed splits, ductables, ceilings, and cassettes. The company also sells specific cooling solutions for the telecommunication sector, variable refrigerant volume systems, and large AC applications. In addition, it trades in refrigerators, AC spares and stabilisers, washing machines, and chillers.
 
JCHAC was established on October 1, 2015 as a JV between Hitachi and Johnson Controls Inc (JCI). Hitachi carved out and contributed its AC business to the JV. JCI acquired a 60% stake of the carved-out business and Hitachi continues as a 40% shareholder of this JV.
 
Hitachi is Japan's largest integrated electronics company and second-largest manufacturing company, after Toyota Motor Corp, in terms of sales, with a diverse industrial portfolio.
 
JCI is a globally diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries, with 170,000 employees. It is among the world's largest providers of services and solutions to optimise energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles.
 
In fiscal 2016, JCHAC India reported net profit of Rs 50 crore on operating income of Rs 1661 crore, against net profit of Rs 78 crore on operating income of Rs 1580 crore in the previous fiscal. In the nine months ended December 31, 2016, net profit was Rs 56 crore on operating income of Rs 1406 crore, against net profit of Rs 37 crore on operating income of Rs 1243 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

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. Cr) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Short Term Debt (Including
Commercial Paper)
NA NA 7-365 days 60.00 CRISIL A1+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 100.00 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit and Bank Guarantee* NA NA NA 150.00 CRISIL A1+
* Bank guarantee is fully interchangeable with letter of credit
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper)  ST  60  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change  01-04-16  CRISIL A1+  06-02-15  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
                08-01-15  CRISIL A1+       
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  100  CRISIL AA-/Stable    No Rating Change  01-04-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable  06-02-15  CRISIL AA-/Watch Developing  12-11-14  CRISIL AA-/Positive  CRISIL AA-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  150  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change  01-04-16  CRISIL A1+  06-02-15  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
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 100 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit 100 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 150 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee* 150 CRISIL A1+
Total 250 -- Total 250 --
* Bank guarantee is fully interchangeable with letter of credit
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 Consumer Durable Industry
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
Criteria for rating Short-Term Debt (including Commercial Paper)
Translating Global Scale Ratings onto CRISILs Scale

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