Rating Rationale
December 04, 2023 | Mumbai
 
Tata Sons Private Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.27566 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Non Convertible Debentures Aggregating Rs.2447.6 Crore (Reduced from Rs.3000 Crore) CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.3500 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL 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 AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+’ ratings on the bank facilities and debt instruments of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd (Tata Sons). CRISIL Ratings has also withdrawn the rating on debentures aggregating to Rs 552.4 crore on receipt of independent confirmation of their redemption. The withdrawal is in line with the CRISIL Ratings’ policy for withdrawal of ratings.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the exceptional financial flexibility of Tata Sons as the principal holding company of the Tata group and its strong financial risk profile, supported by comfortable liquidity and sound capital structure. These strengths are partially offset by ongoing investments in Tata group entities for funding growth.

 

CRISIL Ratings has noted the classification of Tata Sons as an upper-layer non-banking finance company (NBFC-UL) by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under its scale based regulations and would continue to monitor any further developments in this regard.

Analytical Approach

For calculating the market value of investments to debt ratio, CRISIL Ratings has considered the standalone debt of Tata Sons and the expected support to some of its subsidiaries.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Exceptional financial flexibility: The robust financial flexibility of Tata Sons stems from its ability to raise funds by sale or pledge of its large portfolio of investments, mainly equity shares in Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS). Tata Sons holds equity stakes in many other Tata group companies, such as Tata Motors Ltd (‘CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+’), Tata Steel Ltd and The Tata Power Company Ltd (‘CRISIL AA/Positive/CRISIL A1+’). As on December 1, 2023, the market value of the investments was ~Rs 13 lakh crore, of which TCS accounted for ~70%. The market value of investments to adjusted debt ratio is expected to sustain over 10 times.

 

  • Strong financial risk profile: The financial risk profile is supported by comfortable liquidity and a sound capital structure. The company remains adequately resourced aided by regular dividend/buyback income from TCS and other income, which provides sizeable cash flow for debt servicing. Annual proceeds from dividend/buyback were more than Rs 33,000 crore in the last fiscal. CRISIL Ratings believes Tata Sons will continue to manage its liabilities and cash prudently. Proposed investments in this fiscal are likely to be funded largely through dividends from group companies.

 

Weakness

  • Investment in group entities: In the recent past, Tata Sons has invested by way of preferential issues/rights issues in entities of the Tata group, such as Tata Motors Ltd, Tata Steel Ltd and The Tata Power Company Ltd. It is also investing in new growth businesses, such as Tata Digital, Tata Electronics and Air India. Over the past few years, the Tata group has been reorganising businesses by function under various clusters to enable synergies and to simplify its structure. Examples include the completed merger of the defence businesses of various group entities into Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and acquisition of the branded foods business of Tata Chemicals Ltd ('CRISIL A1+') by Tata Consumer Products Ltd (formerly, Tata Global Beverages Ltd). Similarly, Air India Ltd (owned by Tata Sons through its wholly owned subsidiary, Talace Pvt Ltd) subsumed Air Asia India Ltd as its wholly owned subsidiary.

 

The management is focusing on increasing the contribution of the digital, electronics and aviation businesses to the group’s profitability, which may require funding from Tata Sons towards growth capital in some of the entities. CRISIL Ratings believes that the investments will be funded largely through dividend/buyback income, with standalone debt remaining stable or even declining.

Liquidity: Superior

The strong liquidity is driven by financial flexibility arising from shares in Tata group companies, worth more than Rs 13 lakh crore as on December 1, 2023, against standalone net debt of about Rs 15,200 crore as on September 30, 2023. In addition, Tata Sons has substantial, stable income from group entities, including TCS, through dividends/buybacks, which should be sufficient for meeting interest obligation and planned investments. As on September 30, 2023, Tata Sons had standalone cash and equivalents of ~Rs 2,000 crore.

Outlook: Stable

Tata Sons will continue to benefit from the diverse business interests of the Tata group in various sectors and its competitive position. Also, exceptional financial flexibility will mitigate the impact of sizeable investments in group entities.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Downward factors

  • Weakening credit risk profiles of key subsidiaries or associates, requiring sizeable support from the parent.
  • Market value of investments to adjusted debt cover below 8 times.

About the Company

Tata Sons is the principal investment holding company of the Tata group. Around 66% of the share capital of Tata Sons is held by public charitable trusts. The company holds core equity stakes in major group companies, including TCS, Tata Steel Ltd, Tata Motors Ltd, The Tata Power Company Ltd, Tata Chemicals Ltd ('CRISIL A1+'), Tata Investment Corporation Ltd (CRISIL AAA/Stable), Tata Teleservices Ltd ('CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), Tata Capital Ltd ('CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), Tata AIG General Insurance Company Ltd (CRISIL AA+/Stable), Tata Industries Ltd ('CRISIL AAA/Stable'), Tata Play Ltd ('CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') and Tata Projects Ltd ('CRISIL A1+'). Tata Sons is registered as a core investment company with the RBI.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31

 

2023

2022

Revenue

Rs crore

35,058

24,133

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

22,132

17,171

PAT margin

%

63.1

71.2

Adjusted debt / adjusted networth

Times

0.2

0.5

Interest coverage

Times

15.6

9.8

 

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

Overdraft facility

NA

NA

NA

25

NA

CRISIL AAA/Stable

NA

Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility

NA

NA

NA

25

NA

CRISIL AAA/Stable

NA

Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility

NA

NA

NA

11,500

NA

CRISIL AAA/Stable

NA

Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility

NA

NA

NA

16,016

NA

CRISIL A1+

NA

Commercial paper

NA

NA

7 to 365 Days

3,500

Simple

CRISIL A1+

INE895D07370

Debentures

13-Dec-13

9.71

13-Dec-23

162.00

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D07396

Debentures

13-Jan-14

9.74

13-Jan-24

247.80

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D07446

Debentures

20-Mar-14

9.90

20-Mar-24

240.00

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D07453

Debentures

2-Jun-14

9.44

2-Jun-24

140.20

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D07487

Debentures

19-Jun-14

9.30

19-Jun-24

390.00

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D07495

Debentures

22-Jan-15

8.50

22-Jan-25

85.00

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D08618

Debentures

5-Aug-16

8.08

5-Aug-26

10.00

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D08642

Debentures

2-Sep-16

8.04

2-Sep-26

5.00

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

INE895D07354

Debentures

27-Nov-12

9.40

27-Nov-27

70.00

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

NA

Debentures*

NA

NA

NA

1,097.60

Simple

CRISIL AAA/Stable

*Yet to be issued

 

Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn

ISIN

Name of instrument

Date of allotment

Coupon rate (%)

Maturity date

Issue size (Rs.Crore)

Complexity level

Rating assigned with outlook

INE895D08519

Debentures

29-Aug-12

9.71

29-Aug-22

114

Simple

Withdrawn

INE895D08543

Debentures

13-Sep-12

9.67

13-Sep-22

153.4

Simple

Withdrawn

INE895D08550

Debentures

2-May-13

8.85

2-May-23

145

Simple

Withdrawn

INE895D08576

Debentures

21-May-13

8.32

21-May-23

140

Simple

Withdrawn

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT/ST 27566.0 CRISIL A1+/ CRISIL AAA/Stable   -- 08-12-22 CRISIL A1+ / CRISIL AAA/Stable 27-08-21 CRISIL AAA/Stable 31-08-20 CRISIL AAA/Stable CRISIL AAA/Stable
      --   -- 25-08-22 CRISIL A1+/ CRISIL AAA/Stable   --   -- --
      --   -- 23-06-22 CRISIL AAA/Stable   --   -- --
Commercial Paper ST 3500.0 CRISIL A1+   -- 08-12-22 CRISIL A1+ 27-08-21 CRISIL A1+ 31-08-20 CRISIL A1+ CRISIL A1+
      --   -- 25-08-22 Withdrawn   --   -- --
      --   -- 23-06-22 CRISIL A1+   --   -- --
Fixed Deposits LT   --   -- 25-08-22 Withdrawn 27-08-21 F AAA/Stable 31-08-20 F AAA/Stable F AAA/Stable
      --   -- 23-06-22 CRISIL AAA/Stable   --   -- --
Non Convertible Debentures LT 2447.6 CRISIL AAA/Stable   -- 08-12-22 CRISIL AAA/Stable 27-08-21 CRISIL AAA/Stable 31-08-20 CRISIL AAA/Stable Withdrawn
      --   -- 25-08-22 CRISIL AAA/Stable   --   -- --
      --   -- 23-06-22 CRISIL AAA/Stable   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Overdraft Facility 25 BNP Paribas Bank CRISIL AAA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 25 Not Applicable CRISIL AAA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 11500 Not Applicable CRISIL AAA/Stable
Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 16016 Not Applicable CRISIL A1+
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for rating holding companies (including debt backed by pledge of shares)
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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