Austin Engineering

Austin Engineering Company (AEC) is in the business of manufacturing bearings for use in various basic industries such as automotive, defense, steel, cement, sugar, paper, agro-machinery etc.

AEC has been operating in this industry for the last 30+ years and has an established brand name (‘AECL’) in the domestic bearing market with a wide distribution network and an established customer base.

The company has reported reasonably stable operating profits on similarly stable revenues over the last five years barring the last financial year when it reported depressed operating profits of 6cr on revenues of about 80cr.  Previously, it reported average operating profits of about 12cr in the last five years. 

It employed minimal net debt (4cr) to generate these results.  Due to the nature of its business, which requires relatively high stocking of inventory, the company has to invest in its working capital that negatively impacts its operating cash flows – but not too significantly.

The business is primarily exposed to the risks of cheap imports from China etc., brand counterfeiting in the unorganised sector, and weak demand in its export markets (Europe, USA etc.).  It is also exposed to rising steel prices, which forms its major raw material input, and other ancillary risks such as oil price rises (affecting automotive demand) and interest rate increases (similar).

Management have engaged in buyback of shares (at reasonable market prices) along with declaration of a reasonable dividend rate indicating synchronisation with minority shareholder interests when considering the company’s financial position and performance.