Rating Rationale
October 22, 2020 | Mumbai
The Hi-Tech Gears Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.150 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its rating on the long-term bank facilities of The Hi-Tech Gears Limited (THGL; part of the Hi-Tech group) at 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable'.
 
The reaffirmation factors in the expected impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the business and financial risk profiles of the Hi-Tech group, esp. liquidity. CRISIL estimates Hi-Tech group's revenue and profitability to be impacted in fiscal 2021 and show a healthy revival in fiscal 2022.
 
The liquidity profile is expected to remain slightly impacted on account of deterioration in overall business performance. Net cash accrual vis-a-vis repayments are expected to be around 1 times for fiscal 2021 and < 1 times for fiscal 2022, largely because of the ballooned repayments towards the various loans availed for acquisition of 2545887 Ontario Inc. Canada and its various step-down subsidiaries.
 
The cushion could have been significantly lower but for the deferral of scheduled repayments for months of April to August, 2020 for the term debt from the Canadian lender. The group is in consultations with the same lender for extending the deferral of the repayments till September, 2021. Availing deferment for scheduled repayments, unencumbered cash balance of around Rs 60 crore as on March 31, 2020 and cushion in bank lines utilized at 28% for last 12 months ending August, 2020 should continue to support its liquidity risk profile.
 
The rating continues to reflect the promoters' established presence in the auto component manufacturing industry and healthy relations with reputed original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The rating also factors in the company's comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by volatility in operating profitability and moderate scale of operations of subsidiaries.

Analytical Approach

'2545887 Ontario Inc. Canada' has various step-down subsidiaries and is itself a wholly owned subsidiary of THGL. Hence, CRISIL has taken a consolidated approach with regard to all these companies, together referred to as 'the Hi-tech group' due to parent and subsidiary relationship and common promoters.

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
* Promoters' established presence and relations with reputed OEMs: The three-decade-long experience of the promoters in the auto component manufacturing industry has resulted in healthy relations with reputed large customers, such as Hero MotoCorp Ltd (HMCL), JCB, Cummins, Daimler Bharat, Tata Cummins and Magna. Furthermore, diversification into international territories (through acquisition of foreign subsidiaries) should also help mitigate the risk of geographical concentration and ongoing slowdown in the domestic automobile industry.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is comfortable: networth was Rs 283 crore and gearing at 1.3 times as on March 31, 2020. Moreover, despite increase in interest cost (due to additional debt) and deterioration in both revenue and operating margin, interest coverage remained comfortable at around 2.7 times in fiscal 2020. In the wake of no sizeable debt funded capex, financial risk profile should remain comfortable over the medium term despite a comparatively weaker business performance anticipated in fiscal 2021.
 
Weaknesses
* Moderate scale of operations of subsidiaries: Scale of operations in subsidiaries continues to remain moderate at Rs 213 crore in fiscal 2020 which is expected to deteriorate further in fiscal 2021. Decline in scale to Rs 213 crore in fiscal 2020 from Rs 266 crore in fiscal 2019, further constrained the cost efficiencies of The Hi-tech group and ability of the subsidiaries to independently service their upcoming debt obligations. Going forward, improved contribution from subsidiaries, leading to an improved business risk profile of the hi-tech group, will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.
 
* Volatility in operating profitability: Although the group has the mechanisms in place to pass through changes in raw material prices, however, it may be delayed by some period, typically 90 days. The group's profitability is also dependent on the order book that it receives as it changes the product mix, which also adds to volatility.
 
The severe impact on operating profitability, however, in Q1 of fiscal 2021 was largely on account of higher fixed costs incurred against lower revenue achieved because of the overall impact on auto industry.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity should remain adequate supported by healthy unencumbered cash balance of Rs 56 crore as on September 30, 2020 and moderately utilized bank lines at 28% for last 12 months ending August, 2020. Cash accruals, however, are expected to be lower for fiscal 2021 but will remain sufficient for covering the debt obligations to be met this fiscal.
 
Liquidity profile is also supported by ability of promoters to extend unsecured loans as and when required. This was visible in infusion of unsecured loans by promoters into its foreign operations worth Rs 7.4 crore in December, 2019 (same were outstanding as on March 31, 2020). These loans are interest bearing and are expected to continue to remain in the business over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Hi-tech group's credit profile will continue to be supported by established relationships with its major customers.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors:
* Significant improvement in annual cash accrual generation to over Rs 90 crore, predominantly driven by healthy growth in subsidiaries' operations
* Prudent working capital management, with no sizeable stretch in gross current assets
 
Downward Factors:
* Deterioration in the subsidiaries performance over the medium term, thereby, impacting the group's revenue and profitability
* Non-acceptance of deferral in repayments by the concerned lender for period of October, 2020 to September, 2021
* Sizeable debt-funded capital expenditure or stretched working capital cycle deteriorating the capital structure, with gearing exceeding 2 times.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1986, THGL is a public limited entity listed on Bombay Stock Exchange as well as National Stock Exchange. Mr Deep Kapuria is the promoter. The company manufactures auto components, particularly transmission gears. THGL has 2 manufacturing plants in India - one in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan and other in Manesar, Haryana.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs Crore 726.8 915.1
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs Crore 8.3 35.6
PAT Margins % 1.1 3.9
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 1.25 1.6
Interest coverage Times 2.7 3.9

Status of non cooperation with previous CRA
THGL had not cooperated with India Ratings And Research Private Limited (Ind-Ra), which classified it as non-cooperative vide release dated Nov 14, 2019. The reason provided by Ind-Ra was non-furnishing of information for monitoring of ratings. However, the rating was subsequently withdrawn by Ind-Ra vide release dated Jan 28, 2020.

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 Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 90.5 NA CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-2025 59.5 NA CRISIL BBB+/Stable
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
The Hi-tech Gears Limited Full Common management and similar line of business
2545887 Ontario Inc. Canada Full Wholly owned subsidiary, Common management and similar line of business
Tuetech Industries Inc. Full Step-down subsidiary, Common management and similar line of business
2504584 Ontario Inc. Full Step-down subsidiary, Common management and similar line of business
Tuetech Holding Corporation Full Step-down subsidiary, Common management and similar line of business
Tuetech Leasing Corporation Full Step-down subsidiary, Common management and similar line of business
Tuetech LLC Full Step-down subsidiary, Common management and similar line of business
2323532 Ontario Inc. Canada Full Step-down subsidiary, Common management and similar line of business
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  150.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      11-09-19  CRISIL BBB+/Stable    --    --  -- 
            10-09-19  CRISIL BBB+/Stable           
            06-09-19  CRISIL BBB+/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 59.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Long Term Loan 59.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Working Capital Facility 90.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Working Capital Facility 90.5 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 150 -- Total 150 --
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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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