Rating Rationale
August 26, 2019 | Mumbai
Motherson Auto Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.310 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Motherson Auto Limited (MAL).

The rating continues to reflect steady cash flow from lease rentals and consultancy income, the strong counterparty risk profiles of Samvardhana Motherson group (SMG) entities, and healthy debt protection metrics. The rating also factors in strong business and financial linkages with, and support from, SMG. These strengths are partially constrained by performance of MAL being directly linked to the growth prospects and performance of SMG companies.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has taken a standalone view of MAL, given that most of its debt is in the form of lease rental discounting loans. While the company has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Motherson Lease Solution Ltd (MLS), which leases vehicles and equipment to SMG entities, CRISIL has not combined the business and financial risk profiles of the two companies. That's because funds are not fungible between them (besides the initial equity investment of Rs 8.25 crore), and no further equity is likely to be invested by MAL in MLS. While some part of the debt in MLS has legacy guarantees from MAL, this is expected to be replaced by non-guaranteed debt over the medium term, as MLS is generating sufficient cash for its debt servicing.

Further, CRISIL has applied the group notch-up to the ratings of MAL. This is because promoters of MAL also own Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd (SMIL; 'CRISIL A1+') and Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd (MSSL; rated 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), and have supported MAL through inter-corporate deposits. Leveraging of the common group name helps MAL negotiate better financial and operating terms with all stakeholders, on behalf of smaller group companies, while it also ensures high moral obligation for SMG to support MAL, if required.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Steady cash flow from lease rentals and consultancy income, and strong counterparty risk profile
MAL acts as the lessor for factories and corporate and registered offices of SMG companies, and offers consultation to them for the corporate finance, legal, taxation, and secretarial functions. Income through leasing services constituted 54% of revenue in fiscal 2019, while consultancy income formed the remaining. Over 90% of the lease rentals come from subsidiaries and joint ventures of MSSL and SMIL. Renewal, vacancy, and counterparty risks are low as MSSL/SMIL group entities occupy most of the space leased out. Also, the entire range of consultancy services is provided only to group entities, with the aim of driving operating efficiencies. Hence, cash flows will continue to be supported by leasing and consultancy income over the medium term.
 
* Healthy debt protection metrics
While cash flows from rental income more than suffice to cover debt obligation, the debt servicing ability is also supported by consultancy income, received every quarter. Including the consultancy income, the debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) is expected to be healthy at over 1.4 times across the tenure of the loan. A debt service reserve account (DSRA) is not available for the loans; however, an overdraft line of Rs 10 crore (equivalent to 2 months of debt servicing) is available in case of any cash flow mismatch or delay in receipt of rent.
 
* Strong business and financial linkages with, and support from, SMG
MAL is critical for operations of SMG entities, as the group does not prefer to work on third-party rented premises for setting up factories to ensure continuity of operations. Further, the corporate office is also held by MAL and leased out to group companies. Consultancy services provided by MAL drive operating efficiencies within SMG entities, as a common pool of resource is used for several activities. Some of the companies operate on a small scale, which increases the economic incentive for centralised operations. Promoters of MAL also own SMIL and MSSL, and have supported MAL through inter-corporate deposits. Leveraging of the common group name helps MAL negotiate better financial and operating terms with all stakeholders, on behalf of smaller group companies, while it also ensures high moral obligation for SMG to support MAL, if required.

Weakness:
* Performance directly linked to growth prospects/performance of group companies
Services provided by MAL are mainly for entities within the SMG. As a result, growth in rental and consultancy income would be directly linked to expansion of operations or new entities being set up within the group. However, as MAL has long-term lease contracts, with escalation clauses, cash flows from existing rental arrangements should be sufficient for debt servicing. Any change in the credit risk profiles of the key operating companies in the group will remain a rating sensitivity factor.
Liquidity

Liquidity remains healthy. While cash flows from rental income are more than suffice to cover debt obligation, the debt servicing ability is also supported by consultancy income, received every quarter. Including the consultancy income, the DSCR is expected to be healthy at over 1.4 times across the tenure of the loan. A DSRA is not available for the loans; however, an overdraft line of Rs 10 crore (equivalent to 2 months of debt servicing) is available in case of any cash flow mismatch or delay in receipt of rent. Further, cash and bank balances of Rs 20 crore were outstanding as on March 31, 2019.

Outlook: Stable

MAL is likely to maintain adequate debt protection metrics over the medium term, backed by steady cash flows from the rental business and growth in consultancy services provided to SMG entities. The company will continue to derive strong support from SMG.

Upside scenario
* Strengthening of debt protection metrics due to higher-than-expected cash flows, led by strong growth in group companies
* Revision in ratings of key companies in SMG

Downside scenario
* Weakening of debt protection metrics and liquidity if large debt is contracted without a corresponding increase in lease rentals, there is significant delay in receipt of lease rentals, or consultancy income remains stagnant
* Any significant deterioration in credit quality of key companies in SMG

About the Company

MAL, incorporated in 1983, is promoted by Mr Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Mr Laksh Vaaman Sehgal, and Ms Renu Alka Sehgal.

The company owns the land and building on which SMG companies have their plants, registered offices, and corporate offices in India. Besides, consultancy services in the form of centralised teams for corporate finance, company affairs, taxation, secretarial, and legal functions, are also offered to group entities. The arrangement for leasing services is via long-term contracts, while consultancy services are through 8-12 month contracts, which are renewed thereafter.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 132 121
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 40 32
PAT margin % 30.6 26.4
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 2.4 3.3
Interest coverage Times 3.1 2.9

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 Long Term Loan NA NA Feb-27 125 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Jan-29 25 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Oct-26 24 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-27 125 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 10 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 1 CRISIL AA/Stable
 
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  310.00  CRISIL AA/Stable      22-06-18  CRISIL AA/Stable  31-03-17  CRISIL AA/Stable    --  -- 
                21-03-17  CRISIL AA/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
Long Term Loan 299 CRISIL AA/Stable Long Term Loan 299 CRISIL AA/Stable
Overdraft 10 CRISIL AA/Stable Overdraft 10 CRISIL AA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1 CRISIL AA/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1 CRISIL AA/Stable
Total 310 -- Total 310 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Group Support
The Rating Process

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