Global ratings agency Fitch today assigned highest speculative grade rating to UK-based Jaguar Land Rover Plc (JLR) and its India-based parent Tata Motors (TML).
"Fitch Ratings has assigned UK-based Jaguar Land Rover Plc (JLR) and its India-based parent Tata Motors (TML) Long-term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of 'BB-' and 'BB', respectively," the rating agency said in a statement.
'BB' ratings denote a fairly weak credit risk relative to other issuers or issues in the country and it comes under speculative grade.
The outlook on both IDRs is stable. Fitch has notched JLR's rating to a level down from TML's, reflecting the strong linkages between the two manufacturers.
"The agency believes that JLR remains strategic to TML, as reflected in its share of EBITDA contribution and the direct and indirect support provided by TML since the acquisition in FY09," the statement added.
The rating of TML reflects its dominant position in the Indian automobile market and the sharp improvement in margins and leverage over the financial year ended March 31, 2010 and three quarters of 2010-11.
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The improvement was driven primarily by the turnaround of its operations at JLR, which contributes the bulk of TML's consolidated revenues and net profits (58% and 81%, respectively, for the period April-December, 2010), Fitch said.
TML's rating is supported by a favourable outlook on the Indian auto industry and Fitch's expectation that premium car manufacturers in Europe will outperform volume segment players over the next two years.
JLR's strong brand in both developed and emerging markets, its strong design teams, its readiness for meeting tightening emission regulations, and product development capabilities constitute the basis on which its rating was assigned.
However, the rating also takes into account JLR's smaller size and scale of operations relative to Fitch-rated peers and its limited product diversification, the ratings agency said.