Rating Rationale
October 31, 2020 | Mumbai
Lucas-TVS Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Negative'; ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.359.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA+/Negative (Outlook revised from 'Stable' and rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.150 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has revised its outlook on the long-term bank facility of Lucas-TVS Limited (Lucas-TVS) to 'Negative' from 'Stable' while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL AA+'. The rating on the short-term bank facilities and commercial paper programme has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.
 
The outlook revision follows two consecutive years of moderation in Lucas-TVS's business performance, due to prolonged slowdown in the automotive (auto) industry, across business segments, particularly commercial vehicle (CV) volumes have declined steeply. The slowdown has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Revenue is thus expected to decline by 17-18% in fiscal 2021 following 17% degrowth in fiscal 2020. Operating profitability moderated to about 5.5% in fiscal 2020, compared with 6.1% in fiscal 2019, due to lower turnover and higher provisioning in the subsidiary, Lucas Indian Services Ltd (LISL; 'CRISIL AA/Negative/CRISIL A1+'). The company has undertaken several cost rationalisation measures, which should help sustain operating profitability at around 5% in fiscal 2021.
 
Given Lucas-TVS's diverse operations across original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), operating performance is expected to recover swiftly in fiscal 2022 with the anticipated revival in automobile demand, particularly passenger vehicles (PV) and two-wheelers. CV volumes are also expected to post sharp growth, albeit on a lower base. Increase in revenue is expected to improve operating margin to around 6% in fiscal 2022. Albeit, revenue and operating profit are unlikely to touch fiscal 2019 levels.
 
Despite moderation in operating performance, the financial risk profile continues to be strong supported by sizeable networth (Rs 1,097 crore as on March 31, 2020) and negligible gearing. Moderate but improving cash generation and modest capital expenditure (capex) plans should help sustain gearing at comfortable levels over the medium term. Furthermore, sizeable profit on sale of asset in fiscal 2020 coupled with prudent working capital management and limited capex in recent past has enabled build-up of liquid surplus; cash and marketable securities were in excess of Rs 270 crore as on September 30, 2020 (in Lucas-TVS and LISL). 
 
The ratings continue to reflect Lucas-TVS's leadership position in India's auto electrical products segment, diversified revenue and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to cyclicality in auto demand, susceptibility to pricing pressure on account of large exposure to automobile OEMs and volatility in input prices.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Lucas-TVS and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, LISL and TVS Automotive Systems Ltd (TVS Auto) as these companies have the same business, common management and operational 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:
* Leading position in India's auto electricals market:
Lucas-TVS is the largest player in India's auto electrical products market, with strong design and development capabilities, established brand, diversified revenue profile across market and customer segments and longstanding relationships with customers. Besides, in-house capabilities have enabled the company to make product improvements according to the requirements of its key customers and sustain its leading market position despite increasing competition in the auto electrical industry. However, as in the case of peers, the company is facing revenue headwinds since fiscal 2020, which has also impacted its profit.
 
* Diversified revenue profile:
Lucas-TVS has presence in all segments of the auto component sector'domestic OEMs, aftermarket and export, with OEMs accounting for about 71% of revenue. Within OEMs, it caters to all segments and has a strong market position, particularly in the PV, CV and tractor segments. Although revenue is expected to decline by 17-18% in fiscal 2021 due to demand slowdown, the company will maintain its share of business across customers.
 
* Strong financial risk profile:
The financial risk profile remains strong, backed by comfortable capital structure and improving financial flexibility. Steady cash generation, moderate capex and prudent working capital management have helped maintain gearing at less than 0.30 time in the five fiscals through 2020. Debt protection metrics are also comfortable.  Liquidity continues to be supported by largely unutilised working capital limit and healthy build-up in liquid surplus in excess of Rs 270 crore as on Sep 30, 2020, in addition to being part of the reputed TVS group.
 
Weaknesses:
* Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and pricing pressures from OEMs:
Raw material cost accounts for 70-73% of overall revenue. Profitability has been impacted in the past due to increase in input prices, which were only partially passed on to OEMs due to limited pricing power and intense competition. Operating margin was at 5-6% in the five fiscals through 2020. Return on capital employed was below 12% since fiscal 2013 (except in fiscal 2019 when it was 14.1%), and is expected to moderate further in fiscal 2021.
 
* Demand cyclicality due to large exposure to auto OEMs:
Lucas-TVS's high dependence on the OEM segment renders its performance partly vulnerable to the inherent cyclicality in the automobile industry. For instance, revenue, which grew at a compound annual rate of 25% between fiscals 2009 and 2012, moderated to a modest 3% between fiscals 2012 and 2017. Revenue growth again picked up to 17% in fiscal 2018 and 14% in fiscal 2019 following healthy demand from OEMs, but fell 17% in fiscal 2020 and is expected to fall further by 17-18% in fiscal 2021. While presence in the aftermarket and export segments provides some respite, these segments together account for only 30% of overall revenue. These segments have been impacted in fiscal 2021. Thus, given the sizeable share of business from OEMs, the company will remain susceptible to inherent cyclicality and any prolonged slowdown.
Liquidity Strong

Lucas TVS enjoys strong liquidity driven by expected cash accruals of more than Rs 100 crore each in fiscals 2021 and 2022, against nil term debt obligation and annual capex of Rs 70-80 crore. Cash and equivalent was in excess of Rs 270 crore as on September 30, 2020. Fund-based limit of Rs 244 crore was sparingly utilised. On account of low gearing, Lucas-TVS has sufficient headroom to raise additional debt for its capex, if required. The unutilised bank lines are adequate to meet incremental working capital requirement. Association with the TVS group also enhances its financial flexibility.

Outlook: Negative

CRISIL believes Lucas-TVS's revenue and operating profit will be subdued due to prolonged slowdown in the auto sector. While recovery is expected to be swift in fiscal 2022, it will be on a lower base. The financial risk profile and liquidity will however remain strong.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors:
* Improvement in business performance driven by double-digit revenue growth and operating profitability in excess of 6-7% in fiscal 2022
* Sustenance of strong financial risk profile and healthy liquid surplus
 
Downward Factors:
* Lower-than-expected recovery in revenue and profitability in fiscal 2022, with operating profit before depreciation, interest and tax (OPBDIT) remaining less than Rs 150-160 crore
* Significant debt-funded capex or acquisitions, leading to material impact on debt metrics
* Sharp reduction in liquid surplus because of share buyback, large dividend payout or capital reduction.

About the Company

 Lucas-TVS was set up in 1961 as a joint venture between Lucas Industries PLC, UK, and TV Sundaram Iyengar & Sons Ltd (TVS), India, to manufacture auto electrical systems. Currently, TVS, along with group companies, has more than 80% equity stake in Lucas-TVS. The company supplies products to major OEMs across all auto segments, and has a wide presence in the aftermarket segment. It has seven manufacturing plants: one each at Padi and Maraimalai Nagar in Tamil Nadu, Eripakkam and Thiruvandarkoil in Puducherry, Rewari in Haryana, Chakan in Maharashtra, and Rudrapur in Uttarakhand.
 
 The TVS group, with more than 50 companies, is among India's top 20 business groups. The company is run by Mr TK Balaji (CMD) and his children, Mr Arvind Balaji (Joint MD) and Ms Priyamvada Balaji (executive director).
 
 LISL, a 100% subsidiary of Lucas-TVS, was incorporated in 1930 as an overseas venture of Lucas Industries PLC, UK. The company sells and services auto electrical components manufactured by Lucas-TVS and diesel fuel injection equipment manufactured by Delphi-TVS Diesel Systems Ltd.
 
TVS Auto is a 100% subsidiary. It has limited operations, reflected in turnover of Rs 24 lakh in fiscal 2020.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs crore 2,392 2,891
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 169 103
PAT Margin % 7.1 3.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.03 0.05
Interest coverage Times 58.61 39.26

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.Crore) Complexity Level Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 94.0 NA CRISIL AA+/Negative
NA Packing Credit NA NA NA 150.0 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 115.5 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 150.0 Simple CRISIL A1+
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of entities consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Lucas Indian Service Ltd Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
TVS Automotive Systems Ltd Fully consolidated Strong business and financial linkages
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
Commercial Paper  ST  150.00  CRISIL A1+      05-11-19  CRISIL A1+  20-12-18  CRISIL A1+  21-12-17  CRISIL A1+  -- 
Short Term Debt (Including Commercial Paper)  ST                  23-03-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  359.50  CRISIL AA+/Negative/ CRISIL A1+      05-11-19  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  20-12-18  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  21-12-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
                    23-03-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ 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
Cash Credit 94 CRISIL AA+/Negative Cash Credit 94 CRISIL AA+/Stable
Packing Credit 150 CRISIL A1+ Packing Credit 150 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 115.5 CRISIL A1+ Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 115.5 CRISIL A1+
Total 359.5 -- Total 359.5 --
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 Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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