Rating Rationale
August 17, 2020 | Mumbai
Sree Saradhambal Automobiles Private Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.44 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Sree Saradhambal Automobiles Pvt Ltd (SSAPL; part of the SSA group) at 'CRISIL BB-/Stable/CRISIL A4+'
 
The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters in the automobile (auto) dealership segment and moderate scale of operation. These strengths are partially offset by modest financial risk profile, geographical concentration in revenue and exposure to intense competition.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of SSAPL and Sree Saradhambal Automobiles Erode Pvt Ltd (SSAEPL). The two companies, together referred to as the SSA group, are in the same business and operate under the same brand, have a common management team, and have fungible cash flow.

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: 
* Extensive experience of the promoters: The promoters have been in the auto dealership business for over a decade and have an established relationship with the principal supplier, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL).
 
* Moderate scale of operation: SSA group's scale of operation is moderate marked by revenue of around Rs. 570 crore in FY 2020. The same is due to consistent capex made towards year on increase in showrooms and service centres spread across the Coimbatore- Erode region in Tamil Nadu.
Sales in first quarter of FY 2021 has been impacted by covid19 lockdown. Revenue growth rate in the current fiscal is expected to remain muted owing to same.
 
Weaknesses:
* Modest financial risk profile: Total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio was high at more than 6 times as on March 31, 2020, due to considerable dependence on bank borrowing and is estimated to stay at similar level over the medium term. Estimated networth in the range of Rs 20 crore over the medium term is expected to give partial comfort to capital structure. Debt protection metrics remain modest, with estimated net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios at 8% and 1.85 times, respectively, for fiscal 2020.
 
* Geographic concentration in revenue and exposure to intense competition: Operations are limited to Coimbatore and Erode region in Tamil Nadu. In addition, dependence on a single supplier restricts growth. Furthermore, the group faces intense competition because there are several small and mid-sized players in the industry.
Liquidity Stretched

Average month end Bank limit utilization for the last 12 months ended on June, 2020 was less than 70%. Estimated net cash accruals is sufficient against repayment obligations. Current ratio is moderate at around 1.08 times, as on March 31, 2020.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the SSA group will continue to benefit from its established position in the auto dealership segment.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward Factors:
* Improvement in capital structure marked by gearing and TOL/TNW of less than 3 times backed by increase in net worth or reduction of external borrowings.
* Efficient working capital management, significant improvement in revenue growth rate while sustaining moderate operating margin
 
Downward Factors:
* Further Decline in capital structure marked by gearing of more than 7.5 times and further increase in TOL/TNW backed by incremental external borrowings.
* Larger than expected working capital requirement, significant decline in revenue growth rate or margin resulting in fall of NCA
About the Group

SSAEPL was incorporated in 1998, promoted by Mr Asokan Muthuswamy and Mr K Krishnakumar. Based in Erode, Tamil Nadu, the company is a dealer for MSIL. SSAPL, based in Coimbatore, is in the same business. The SSA group operates under the brand name of 'Ambal Auto'.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 617 629
Reported profit after tax Rs crore 4 3
PAT margins % 0.6 0.5
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 6.66 7.18
Interest coverage Times 1.82 1.84

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL 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. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs cr.) Complexity Level Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Inventory Funding Facility NA NA NA 19.5 NA CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 22.5 NA CRISIL A4+
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 2 NA CRISIL BB-/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Sree Saradhambal Automobiles Erode Private Limited Full Same line of business, common promoters and operational linkages
Sree Saradhambal Automobiles Erode Private Limited Full Same line of business, common promoters and operational linkages
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  44.00  CRISIL BB-/Stable/ CRISIL A4+      02-05-19  CRISIL BB-/Stable/ CRISIL A4+  15-05-18  CRISIL BB-/Stable/ CRISIL A4+  03-04-17  CRISIL BB-/Stable/ CRISIL A4+  CRISIL BB-/Stable/ CRISIL A4+ 
                    07-02-17  CRISIL BB-/Stable/ CRISIL A4+   
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
Inventory Funding Facility 19.5 CRISIL BB-/Stable Inventory Funding Facility 5 CRISIL A4+
Overdraft 22.5 CRISIL A4+ Inventory Funding Facility 24.5 CRISIL BB-/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 2 CRISIL BB-/Stable Long Term Loan 11 CRISIL BB-/Stable
-- 0 -- Overdraft 3.5 CRISIL A4+
Total 44 -- Total 44 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Retailing Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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