Rating Rationale
February 18, 2025 | Mumbai
SM Exhaust Technology Private Limited
Rating reaffirmed at 'Crisil BBB/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.60.7 Crore
Long Term RatingCrisil BBB/Stable (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 BBB/Stable’ rating on the long-term bank loan facilities of SM Exhaust Technology Pvt Ltd (SMET).

 

The rating continues to reflect the operational and financial support that SMET receives from its parent and the moderate financial risk profile of the company. These strengths are partially offset by its susceptibility to cyclicality in the automotive (auto) industry, large working capital requirement and average return on capital employed (RoCE).

 

The reaffirmation reflects the steady operating performance of SMET along with steady operating performance and credit profile of the parent, S M Auto Engineering Pvt Ltd (SMAEPL; 'Crisil BBB+/Stable/Crisil A2').

 

SMET continues to benefit from its association with reputed brands such as Renault, Nissan and Royal Enfield. While the operating revenue of SMET dipped to Rs 253 crore in fiscal 2024 from Rs 331 crore in fiscal 2023 due to lower business from Renault India, the operating margin improved to 5.03% from 2.84% due to change in product mix. The profitability is expected to sustain over the medium term.

Analytical approach

Crisil Ratings has applied its parent notch-up framework to factor in the business, managerial and financial support provided to SMET by SMAEPL. Unsecured loan from the promoters (Rs 2 crore as on March 31, 2024) has been treated as neither debt nor equity. Preference shares have been treated as 75% equity and 25% debt as they carry a low interest rate, are subscribed by the promoters and expected to remain  in the business over the medium term.

Key rating drivers & detailed description

Strengths:

  • Strong financial and operational support from the parent: Financial and operational support from SMAEPL will continue to support the credit risk profile of SMET.

 

  • Moderate financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is likely to remain moderate with debt funded capex plans over the medium term. Networth and gearing stood at Rs 45 crore and 0.91 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2024; the total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio was 1.66 times. Debt protection metrics were adequate, reflected in interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 4.31 times and 0.25 time, respectively, in fiscal 2024.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to volatility in raw material prices and to cyclicality in the auto industry: As the cost of procuring the major raw material accounts for 80-85% of the company’s operating revenue, even a slight variation in raw material prices may significantly impact profitability. The pass-through clause with key customers protects the margin partially as the price revision happens with a time lag. Moreover, revenue depends on demand from the auto industry (key end-user), which is inherently cyclical.

 

  • Large working capital requirement and average RoCE: Gross current assets (GCAs) stood at 92 days as on March 31, 2024, driven by receivables of 63 days and inventory of 30 days. The GCAs were higher in the past mainly because of stretched receivables. Improvement in the working capital cycle will remain monitorable. The RoCE was average at 12.28% in fiscal 2024.

Liquidity: Adequate

Expected annual cash accrual of Rs 9-12 crore should comfortably cover yearly debt obligation of Rs 3-9 crore over the medium term and support liquidity. Bank limit utilisation averaged 61% for the 12 months through December 2024. The current ratio was average at 1.21 times as on March 31, 2024. Unsecured loans from the promoters and preference shares subscribed by them should continue to cushion liquidity.

Outlook: Stable

The operating performance of SMET will steadily improve over the medium term, backed by healthy demand from customers.

Rating sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Revenue growth of over 25% per annum and better operating margin
  • Upgrade in the ratings of SMAEPL

 

Downward factors

  • Revenue declining by more than 25% each fiscal or a drop in the operating margin, leading to lower-than-expected cash accrual.
  • Stretch in the working capital cycle, or any large, debt-funded capital expenditure weakening the financial risk profile and liquidity 
  • Downgrade in the ratings of SMAEPL

About the company

SMET was incorporated in 1997 as a 50:50 joint venture (JV) between SMAEPL and Eberspaecher GmbH & Co K G of Germany. In fiscal 2015, SMAEPL purchased 49% of the JV partners share, and SMET became a subsidiary of SMAEPL. The company manufactures three- and four-wheeler exhaust systems.

Key financial indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

 

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs crore

253.05

331.91

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

6.78

3.46

PAT margin

%

2.68

1.04

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.91

0.95

Interest coverage

Times

4.31

3.15

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 Levels Rating Outstanding with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 30.00 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 30-Jun-27 9.50 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Jan-27 8.04 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Mar-25 1.44 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Oct-28 5.00 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
NA Working Capital Term Loan NA NA 30-Jun-27 6.72 NA Crisil BBB/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2025 (History) 2024  2023  2022  Start of 2022
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 60.7 Crisil BBB/Stable   --   -- 21-11-23 Crisil BBB/Stable 28-12-22 Crisil BBB/Stable Crisil BBB-/Positive
      --   --   --   -- 07-12-22 Crisil BBB/Stable --
      --   --   --   -- 10-06-22 Crisil BBB-/Positive --
      --   --   --   -- 07-06-22 Crisil BBB-/Positive --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 30 IndusInd Bank Limited Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 5 IndusInd Bank Limited Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 9.5 IndusInd Bank Limited Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 8.04 IndusInd Bank Limited Crisil BBB/Stable
Term Loan 1.44 IndusInd Bank Limited Crisil BBB/Stable
Working Capital Term Loan 6.72 IndusInd Bank Limited Crisil BBB/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Basics of Ratings (including default recognition, assessing information adequacy)
Criteria for manufacturing, trading and corporate services sector (including approach for financial ratios)
Criteria for factoring parent, group and government linkages

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