Rating Rationale
October 01, 2021 | Mumbai
SFO Technologies Private Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.650 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.600 Crore)
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' ratings on the bank facilities of SFO Technologies Private Limited (SFO; part of the SFO group).


The ratings reflect a strong business risk profile, with a well-established market position in electronic systems design and manufacturing services, supported by a diverse product portfolio and healthy relations with reputed clientele. The promoters’ extensive experience and technical expertise further strengthen the business risk profile. The ratings also factor in the above-average financial risk profile, with moderate capital structure and debt protection metrics.


These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to intense competition, technology obsolescence and customer concentration risks, along with large working capital requirement.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of SFO and its subsidiaries, Nest Hi-Tek Park Pvt Ltd (NHPPL), SFO Technologies Corporation, USA (STC), NeST Information Technologies Pvt Ltd (NITPL), Ray-Hans Precision Tools Pvt Ltd (RPTPL) , ICAM Solutions Pvt Ltd (ICAM) and the step-down subsidiaries NeST Information Technologies Pty Ltd (Nest IT), NeST Technologies LLC (NeST Tech) and an associate, NeST Information Technologies LLC (NeST Info). SFO has provided corporate guarantees for the loans taken by these entities. All the entities are together referred to as the SFO group.

 

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:

  • Healthy market position with diversified product profile and strong relationships with customers: The group has a strong market position in the domestic electronic manufacturing services (EMS) industry because of integrated operations and a strong clientele. The product portfolio is diversified, catering to many business segments including healthcare, aerospace, defence, energy, transportation, and telecom.  Despite the COVID19 scenario, SFO has a healthy order book on hand and the revenues would remain broadly stable during the year.

 

  • Extensive experience and technical expertise of the promoters: The promoters have close to four decades of experience in the EMS industry. The founder, Mr Javed Hassan, headed the electronics departments of major multinational companies before venturing into his own business. The extensive experience has enabled the group to offer fresh products to current and new customers, leading to strong revenue growth.

 

  • Above-average financial risk profile: The SFO group has an above-average financial risk profile, as reflected in the moderate capital structure and debt protection metrics. Gearing is estimated at less than 1 time and total outstanding liabilities to adjusted networth at less than 2 times as on March 31, 2021. Debt protection metrics are moderate, with interest coverage ratio and net cash accrual to total debt ratios estimated at 2.9 times and 0.10 time, respectively, in fiscal 2021. Improvement in debt protection metrics will remain key rating sensitive factors.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to intense competition, technology obsolescence and customer concentration risks: Intense competition from several domestic and global players has led to severe pricing pressure, constraining the profit margin. Furthermore, any change in technology would require realignment of products in consonance with the end user. Any delays in such adjustments could pressurise the SFO group's competitive position. Furthermore, contribution of around 30% of the total revenue by a single entity leads to customer concentration risks. However, CRISIL notes the management’s efforts to diversify its clientele with new customers. Consequently, revenue concentration reduced to around 30% in fiscal 2021 from above 60% in fiscal 2012.

 

  • Large working capital requirement: The SFO group’s operations have remained working capital-intensive, with gross current assets (GCAs) estimated at more than 225 days as on March 31, 2021. Working capital management will remain a key monitorable over the medium term.

Liquidity: Strong

Net cash accrual, expected at Rs.75-80 crore per annum, should sufficiently cover yearly debt obligation of Rs.17-20 crore over the medium term. Bank limit utilisation averaged 85% over the 12 months through July 2021. The SFO group had healthy cash and bank balance of around Rs.30 crore as on August 31, 2021.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes the SFO group will continue to benefit from its strong market position and healthy relationships with reputed clients.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors:

  • Increase in revenue and the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin
  • Reduction in GCAs to less than 175 days and improvement in interest coverage ratio to more than 5 times

 

Downward factors:

  • EBITDA margin of less than 6% 
  • Stretched working capital cycle or deterioration in debt protection metrics

About the Group

Incorporated in 1990, SFO is the flagship company of the NeST group of companies in Kerala. It provides design, engineering, software development and electronics manufacturing services. NHPPL undertakes construction of special economic zones. STC is the marketing arm of the company in the US. NITPL, NeST IT, NeST Tech and NeST Info provide software services. RPTPL manufactures tools and moulds. ICAM provides machining facilities.

Key Financial Indicators

Particulars

Unit

2020

2019

Revenue

Rs Crore

1789

1670

Profit after tax

Rs Crore

76

26

PAT margin

%

4.2

1.5

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.71

1.09

Interest coverage

Times

2.92

2.77

 

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

Long Term Loan

NA

NA

Mar-25

30.42

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Term Loan

NA

NA

Mar-25

75

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Packing Credit

NA

NA

NA

180

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

51.1

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

62.0

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Working Capital Demand Loan

NA

NA

NA

30.0

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Pre Shipment Finance

NA

NA

NA

86.0

NA

CRISIL A2+

NA

Export Packing Credit

NA

NA

NA

95.0

NA

CRISIL A-/Stable

NA

Proposed Short Term

Bank Loan Facility

NA

NA

NA

40.48

NA

CRISIL A2+

 

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2021 (History) 2020  2019  2018  Start of 2018
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities ST/LT 536.9 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 03-07-20 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable 29-08-19 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable 25-05-18 CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable CRISIL A2+ / CRISIL A-/Stable
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 113.1 CRISIL A2+   -- 03-07-20 CRISIL A2+ 29-08-19 CRISIL A2+ 25-05-18 CRISIL A2+ CRISIL A2+
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 52 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Bank Guarantee 10 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Export Packing Credit 95 IDFC FIRST Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of Credit 5.1 Indian Bank CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 7 The South Indian Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 39 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Long Term Loan 30.42 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Packing Credit 40 The South Indian Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Packing Credit 70 Indian Bank CRISIL A2+
Packing Credit 70 The Federal Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Pre Shipment Finance 30 Citibank N. A. CRISIL A2+
Pre Shipment Finance 56 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 20.48 Not Applicable CRISIL A2+
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 20 Not Applicable CRISIL A2+
Term Loan 30 Citibank N. A. CRISIL A-/Stable
Term Loan 45 Axis Finance Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 30 ICICI Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable

This Annexure has been updated on 01-Oct-2021 in line with the lender-wise facility details as on 01-Oct-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
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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