Rating Rationale
September 02, 2022 | Mumbai
Maruichi KUMA Steel Tube Private Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A / Stable / CRISIL A1 '
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.96.4 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A/Stable/CRISIL A1' ratings on the bank facilities of Maruichi KUMA Steel Tube Pvt Ltd (KUMA).

 

The ratings continue to reflect the healthy market position of the company in the stainless steel tubes segment; operational, technical, and financial support from its parent, Maruichi Steel Tubes Ltd, Japan (Maruichi); and robust financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirement and vulnerability of operating margin to fluctuations in raw material prices and foreign exchange (forex) rates.

Analytical approach

CRISIL Ratings has factored in the strong support that KUMA receives from its parent, Maruichi.

Key rating drivers & detailed description

Strengths:

Continuation of strong operational, technical and financial support from the parents:

As one of the largest manufacturers of steel tubes in Japan, Maruichi has a robust credit risk profile. Although KUMA is a small subsidiary, it holds strategic importance in terms of prospects for growth and geographical diversification. Hence, the company will continue to receive technical and operational support from Maruichi and Toyota Tshusho Corporation (TTC; rated ‘A/Stable/A1’ by S&P Global Ratings); along with need-based funding. TTC also supplies around 40% of raw material to KUMA.

 

Established market position and customer base in exhaust tubes for the automotive industry:

The healthy market position is reflected in compound annual growth rate of 10% in revenue in the five fiscals through 2022, to Rs 496 crore. Revenue growth in fiscal 2022 is driven by improved realisation on account of rally in steel prices. It is expected to touch Rs 530-540 crore in fiscal 2023 on account of expected volumetric growth and moderation in steel prices. Clientele is strong and includes automotive exhaust manufacturers that supply to automotive original equipment manufacturers. This, along with high operating efficiency and ability to provide just-in-time supplies, should continue to support the business.

 

Robust financial risk profile:

Networth and gearing were strong at Rs 313 crore and 0.12 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2022. Gearing has remained below 0.5 time in the 10 fiscals through 2022 on account of nil reliance on external term debt. Total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio has remained below 0.5 time in the four fiscals through 2022. Debt protection metrics continued to be comfortable, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 33 times and 0.9 time, respectively, in fiscal 2022. Financial risk profile is expected to remain steady over the medium term, backed by funding support from the parents, moderate profitability, and absence of long-term debt.

 

Weaknesses:

Large working capital requirement

Gross current assets (GCAs) were 250 days as on March 31, 2022, because of sizeable inventory of 110-120 days (since the company offers steel tubes in many sizes) and credit of 90-100 days extended to customers. Though increasing exports will continue to keep GCAs at 250-300 days over the medium term, credit of 90 days from TTC will support working capital.

 

Vulnerability to fluctuations in raw material prices and forex rates

Raw materials constitute 75-85% of the total cost of production. The company imports 45-50% of raw materials, leading to forex exposure. Furthermore, prices of key input, steel coils, are highly volatile. Given the limited ability to pass on any rise in raw material prices to customers, profitability will remain susceptible to fluctuations in input and forex rates.

Liquidity: Strong

Utilisation of fund-based limit was around 52% for the 12 months through June 2022. Cash accrual is expected to be over Rs 35 crore and Rs 40 crore in fiscals 2023 and 2024, respectively, against nil debt obligation. Current ratio is estimated to be comfortable at 2.90 times as on March 31, 2022.

 

A large part of working capital requirement is funded through credit of 90 days from the supplier, backed by letters of credit. The parents infused Rs 57.6 crore in fiscal 2020 and will likely continue to provide funding support. Unencumbered cash and bank balance stood at Rs 18 crore while unencumbered FDRs (fixed deposit receipts) were Rs 30 crore, as on June 30, 2022.

Outlook: Stable

KUMA will continue to benefit from its established customer base and operational and financial support from the parents.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Revenue growth of more than 10% driven by rise in volume, and stable operating margin above 10%
  • Improved working capital cycle with GCAs below 250 days, leading to better financial risk profile

 

Downward factors

  • Any change in funding and operational support from the parents
  • Decline in revenue or fall in operating margin below 10% resulting in net cash accrual under Rs 25 crore
  • Any stretch in working capital cycle or large capital expenditure affecting financial risk profile

About the company

Set up in 2003, KUMA (formerly, Kuma Stainless Tube Ltd) is a joint venture of Maruichi (70% stake) and TTC (30%). The company is a tier-II supplier and manufactures stainless steel and aluminised steel tubes for automotive exhaust applications at its facility in Gurgaon and Bengaluru.

About the parents

Set up in 1947, Maruichi is a leading Japanese manufacturer of electric-welded steel tubes used in the construction and automotive industries. It has 13 facilities in Japan. Through its subsidiaries, the company also has manufacturing facilities in China, Indonesia, the US and Vietnam. Maruichi is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Securities Exchange.

 

TTC, a part of the Toyota Motor group, trades in steel and other products and has a global presence through its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Key financial indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2022

2021

Operating income

Rs crore

496.6

409.9

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

32.1

33.8

PAT margin

%

6.5

8.3

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.12

0.07

Interest coverage

Times

33.6

30.8

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 and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. 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 Buyer Credit Limit NA NA NA 45 NA CRISIL A1
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 8.1 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 25 NA CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 1.3 NA CRISIL A/Stable
NA Short Term Loan NA NA Sep-23 17 NA CRISIL A1
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT/ST 71.4 CRISIL A1 / CRISIL A/Stable   -- 23-06-21 CRISIL A1 / CRISIL A/Stable 31-03-20 CRISIL A1 / CRISIL A/Stable   -- CRISIL A1 / CRISIL A/Stable
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 25.0 CRISIL A1   -- 23-06-21 CRISIL A1 31-03-20 CRISIL A1   -- CRISIL A1
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Buyer Credit Limit 45 The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Ufj Limited CRISIL A1
Cash Credit 8.1 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A/Stable
Letter of Credit 25 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A1
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1.3 Not Applicable CRISIL A/Stable
Short Term Loan 17 The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Ufj Limited CRISIL A1

This Annexure has been updated on 23-Feb-23 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 09-Feb-23 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
Rating Criteria for Steel Industry
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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