Singapore, July 13, 2018 -- Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded to Ba2 from Ba1 the
corporate family rating (CFR) for Tata Motors Limited (TML).
At the same time, Moody's has downgraded the company's
senior unsecured instrument ratings to Ba2 from Ba1.
The rating outlook is stable.
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The downgrade to Ba2 reflects our expectation of continued weakness
in TML's consolidated credit metrics over the next two years,
led by its wholly owned subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc (JLR,
Ba2 stable)," says Kaustubh Chaubal, a Moody's
Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.
Although JLR accounted for 48% of TML's group unit sales
in the fiscal year ending March 2018 (fiscal 2018), it generated
78% and 76% respectively of the TML's reported consolidated
revenues and EBITDA for the automotive business. Given this large
contribution, weakening credit metrics at JLR have a direct and
immediate impact on TML's consolidated results.
Notwithstanding the improvements in TML's Indian automotive business,
it continues to operate at a higher leverage, with an estimated
reported debt/EBITDA of 4.8x as of 31 March 2018. As such,
the improvements are not sufficient to compensate for JLR's weakening
metrics.
TML's consolidated adjusted debt/EBITDA rose to an estimated 3.8x
as of March 2018 from 3.0x a year ago and is likely to remain elevated
over the 12-18 months. At the same time, large capital
and product development expenditure at JLR of GBP4.5 billion annually
will keep free cash flows negative. Moreover, Moody's
also expects that rising commodity prices and a challenging operating
environment for JLR will keep TML's EBITA margins below 3%.
Meanwhile TML's ex-JLR operations, in particular the
India business, will continue to improve, on the back of favorable
industry dynamics, the company's upcoming product launches
and focus on cost rationalization measures.
Moody's expects India's commercial vehicle (CV) industry to
grow by mid-teen percentages over the next 12-18 months.
TML is the market leader in this segment -- commanding a
solid 45% of the market -- and will likely continue to introduce
new products, sustaining its recent track of above-industry-average
growth rates, thus modestly strengthening its overall market share.
TML's share of the passenger vehicle (PV) market also increased
to an estimated 6.5% Q4 fiscal 2018 from 4.9%
in Q1 fiscal 2018, but TML's low capacity utilization levels
and cash burn in PVs are a drag and thus a rating concern.
Moody's expects the Indian PV market to grow at high-single
digit percentages over the next 12-18 months, and for TML
to further grow its market share through new product launches and efforts
to improve its customer service and engagement.
TML's ratings continue to incorporate a one-notch uplift
from its parent Tata Sons Ltd., reflecting Moody's
expectation of extraordinary support from Tata Sons, should the
need arise.
OUTLOOK
The stable outlook reflects JLR's relative strength and Moody's
expectation that although capital spending and product development requirements
will remain high over the next two years, TML's sizeable consolidated
cash balances, strong operating cash flow and long-dated
debt maturity profile will allow the company time for its free cash flow
to return to positive.
The stable outlook also reflects TML's leadership position in CVs
in India, in turn underpinning strong growth prospects for its ex-JLR
operations.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING DOWN
Any pressure on JLR's Ba2 ratings will have an immediate impact
on TML's ratings.
Downward rating pressure could also emerge if TML's ex-JLR
businesses are unable to sustain their performance because of weak market
conditions, input cost pressure, disappointing new products
or a significant decline in its market share, resulting in lower
revenue and declining earnings and cash flow.
Credit metrics indicative of downward rating pressure include adjusted
debt/EBITDA exceeding 5.0x and a significant weakening in EBITA
margins from their current levels.
WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING UP
Given JLR's large contribution to TML's consolidated earnings
and cash flow, JLR's ratings would need to be upgraded for
any upward pressure on TML's ratings.
In addition, TML's ex-JLR businesses would need to
show growth with improving profitability. For example, through
a strengthening of its already solid market leading position in commercial
vehicles and an increased share in the passenger vehicle market,
such that it regains its #3 position.
Consolidated metrics for a higher rating include adjusted debt/EBITDA
below 4.0x and a reduction in its negative free cash flows.
A structural improvement in profitability with EBITA margins sustained
at levels of at least 4% would also be key for a higher rating.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Automobile Manufacturer
Industry published in June 2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of the methodology.
Tata Motors Limited (TML), incorporated in 1945, is the largest
manufacturer of commercial vehicles and a leading manufacturer of passenger
vehicles in India. Its products include light, medium,
and heavy-duty commercial vehicles such as trucks, pick-ups
and buses, utility vehicles and passenger cars.
TML's acquisition of JLR in June 2008 has diversified the group's
profile through JLR's presence in key markets such as the UK,
Europe, the US, China, Russia, Brazil, and
a diversified product range that now includes the addition of JLR's
luxury cars and vehicles.
TML is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange
of India and the New York Stock Exchange. It was 36.4%
owned by the Tata group entities as of 30 June 2018.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to
each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their
credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating.
For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory
disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and
in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to
the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction
structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive
rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further
information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the
respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action,
the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Kaustubh Chaubal
VP - Sr Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Laura Acres
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
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Singapore
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Client Service: 852 3551 3077