Rating Rationale
October 01, 2020 | Mumbai
Luminous Power Technologies Private Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.850 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL AA+/Positive
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1+
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Luminous Power Technologies Private Limited (LPTL) continue to reflect its established market position and brand name in the inverter and battery segments, along with a strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by vulnerability to fluctuations in input costs and seasonality of demand, and exposure to intense competition.
 
LPTL's operating performance in fiscal 2021 will be moderately impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as the company lost significant sales during the first quarter, which is a peak sales period for its inverter and battery businesses. However, sales momentum picked up from May 2020 onwards as the work-from-home scenario spurred increased demand for inverters and batteries, in addition to pent-up demand. Thus, revenue is expected to be Rs 3,600-3,650 crore this fiscal, similar to fiscal 2020 levels when revenue declined 3%, compared to fiscal 2019,  following loss of sizeable sales during March 2020 due to regulatory lockdown in the country. Operating profitability improved to 7.6% in fiscal 2020 (8.6% on Net Sales), compared to 6.3% (7.8% on Net Sales) in fiscal 2019, supported by better sales mix and cost rationalisation measures. Going forward, the company should maintain steady margin of 7-8% (8-9% on Net Sales) over the medium term.
 
Notwithstanding the impact of the pandemic, LPTL sustains its strong market share in both inverter and battery businesses, supported by its brand, wide product offerings and extensive distribution network. That said, the extent, pace and sustenance of demand recovery and the company's revenue visibility in the coming months will be a monitorable.
 
The financial risk profile will remain strong, supported by low debt levels and healthy cash generation. Liquidity should strengthen further over the medium term; cash and cash equivalent were over Rs 260 crore as on August 2020 (excluding loan extended to group entity).

Analytical Approach

The ratings also factor in support that LPTL will gain from its parent, Schneider Electric SE (Schneider, rated 'A-/Stable/A2' by S&P Global Ratings [S&P]), and LPTL's strategic importance as a critical arm of Schneider's retail portfolio.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position and brand name
The company has an established brand, Luminous, in the domestic inverter and battery businesses. Market share of around 39% and 22% in the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and inverter battery segments, respectively, is backed by a network of 2,000 distributors supplying to almost 60,000 dealers across the country. The company has pan India presence and geographical diversity has been improving over the years.
 
* Strong financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is marked by strong capital structure; tangible networth was Rs 1042 crore and gearing was 0.09 times as on March 31, 2020. Healthy cash generation expected at over Rs 200 crore per annum should comfortably fund annual capex plans of ~Rs 100 crore. Debt levels are thus expected to remain negligible over the medium term resulting in continued strong credit metrics. Liquidity is also strong marked by low bank limit utilisation and build-up in cash and cash equivalents to over Rs 260 crore as on August 2020. This excludes Rs 400 crore loan given to group entity. While this loan is expected to be repaid in February 2021, any instances of continued and sizeable quantum of fund outflow to parent/group will be a monitorable.
 
* Strong support from Schneider
LPTL is a 100% subsidiary of Schneider, which provides integrated energy management solutions to energy and infrastructure sectors, industries, data centres and networks, buildings and residential markets worldwide. The company derives operational and managerial support from Schneider, which is involved in strategic decisions and has active top management representation.
 
Weaknesses:
* Vulnerability to fluctuations in input costs, seasonality of demand and exposure to intense competition
The operating margin is susceptible to fluctuations in prices of inputs, mainly lead and copper, which together account for 70% of total raw material cost. Moreover, increasing competition led to higher advertising, discounts and selling expenses over the past few years. Also, demand for inverter and batteries is seasonal and peaks during summer when power cuts are frequent. Thus, sales of inverters and batteries bunch up during the last quarter of the fiscal (ending in March) and the first quarter of the next fiscal (ending June), and remains comparatively leaner for the rest of the year. LPTL's margin may partly remain susceptible to volatility in raw material and selling expenses over the medium term, given limited flexibility to pass on price increases because of intense competition.
Liquidity Strong

The rated instrument of LPTL has strong liquidity available, driven by expectation of support from the parent, Schneider (S&P A-/A1) to provide ongoing and need-based support, in case of exigencies. On a standalone basis, LPTL's strong liquidity is driven by expected cash accrual of around Rs 200 crore each in fiscals 2021 and 2022, and cash and cash equivalent of over Rs 260 crore as on August 31, 2020 (excluding Rs 400 crore loans given to the group entity). LPTL also has access to fund-based limits of Rs 550 crore, utilised minimally at 10% on average over the 12 months through August 2020. The company has no long-term debt obligation but capex of around Rs 100 crore in fiscal 2021. Internal accrual and cash equivalent should be sufficient to meet its capex plans and unutilised bank lines are sufficient to meet its incremental working capital requirement, if any.

Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes LPTL will maintain its dominant market position in the inverter and battery segments and increase the contribution from the home electricals division, resulting in healthy revenue growth and steady profitability. The financial risk profile and liquidity should also remain strong on account of healthy cash generation, better working capital management and moderate capex.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained and healthy revenue growth of over 9-10% while maintaining operating margin at 7-8%
* Sustenance of strong financial risk profile and liquidity
 
Downward factors:
* Deterioration in the credit risk profile of Schneider by 1 or more notches or change in stance of support
* Low revenue growth or decline in margin, leading to significantly lower-than-expected cash generation
* Substantial increase in debt on account of large capex or acquisition, leading to deterioration in the capital structure and credit metrics
About the Company

LPTL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Schneider and is one of the leading manufacturers of inverters and batteries in India. It is also present in the solar power solutions and home electricals segment. Its facilities are located in Baddi and Gagret in Himachal Pradesh, and Hosur in Tamil Nadu. 

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2020 2019
Revenue# Rs crore 3,642 3,744
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 141 150
PAT margin % 3.9 4.0
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.09 0.04
Interest coverage Times 33.96 66.86

#Sales net of discount is INR 3231 cr and INR 3403 cr for FY 19-20 and FY 18-19 respectively. Operating Margin based on net sales is 8.6% and 7.8% for FY 19-20 and FY 18-19. Further PAT margins based on net sales are 4.4% for FY 19-20 and FY 18-19 

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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)
Complexity level Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 550.0 NA CRISIL AA+/Positive
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 260.0 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Term Loan NA NA NA 40.0 NA CRISIL AA+/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  590.00  CRISIL AA+/Positive  30-09-20  CRISIL AA+/Positive  27-06-19  CRISIL AA+/Positive  11-09-18  CRISIL AA+/Positive  01-03-17  CRISIL AA+/Stable  CRISIL AA/Stable 
                26-06-18  CRISIL AA+/Positive       
                25-05-18  CRISIL AA+/Positive       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  260.00  CRISIL A1+  30-09-20  CRISIL A1+  27-06-19  CRISIL A1+  11-09-18  CRISIL A1+  01-03-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
                26-06-18  CRISIL A1+       
                25-05-18  CRISIL A1+       
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
 
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Name of Lender Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit Bank of America N.A. 125 CRISIL AA+/Positive
Cash Credit Citibank N. A. 50 CRISIL AA+/Positive
Cash Credit Deutsche Bank 75 CRISIL AA+/Positive
Cash Credit HDFC Bank Limited 75 CRISIL AA+/Positive
Cash Credit ICICI Bank Limited 50 CRISIL AA+/Positive
Cash Credit Standard Chartered Bank Limited 100 CRISIL AA+/Positive
Cash Credit The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited 75 CRISIL AA+/Positive
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee Bank of America N.A. 50 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee Citibank N. A. 10 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee HDFC Bank Limited 50 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee ICICI Bank Limited 50 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee Standard Chartered Bank Limited 50 CRISIL A1+
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee YES Bank Limited 50 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Term Loan Not Applicable 40 CRISIL AA+/Positive

This Annexure has been updated on 2-Sep-2021 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 19-Aug-2021 received from the rated entity.

Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Mapping global scale ratings onto CRISIL scale
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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