logo
The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency Limited
Press Release

Date
01-Jun-21

Analyst
Sohail Ahmed Qureshi
sohail.ahmed@pacra.com
+92-42-35869504
www.pacra.com

Applicable Criteria

Related Research

Disclaimer
This press release is being transmitted for the sole purpose of dissemination through print/electronic media. The press release may be used in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof with due credit to PACRA

PACRA Maintains Entity Ratings of Panther Tyres Limited

Rating Type Entity
Current
(01-Jun-21 )
Previous
(01-Dec-20 )
Action Maintain Upgrade
Long Term A A
Short Term A1 A1
Outlook Stable Stable
Rating Watch - -

Panther Tyres Limited has built strong brand equity. In an industry, which is volume driven and price sensitive, brand name provides inherent strength. This has enabled the company to sustain its market share. Panther Tyres has strong positioning in its respective niches. The company got listed successfully on Pakistan Stock Exchange, IPO was over-subscribed by 4.4 times, proceeds from listing will assist company to expand its production capacity with integration of latest technology. Panther Tyres Limited has a formidable market share in 2 & 3 wheeler tyres, tractor tyres, and tubes segments. The company has recently expanded its product range and introduced two new types of tyres which are related to trucks and buses and earth movers (caterpillar). The company has received favourable market response in these new segments. The distribution network designed along product lines and nature of segment plus longstanding relationships with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are of crucial help. The sponsors have built a strong management team with a wholesome mandate: roles are clearly demarcated with high degree of delegation. The new leadership from the sponsor side is in full control. The company has improved its overall organization structure and is inculcating financial transparency as per Code of Corporate Governance. Further, role of chairman and CEO has been segregated and four new directors including 3 independent directors have been elected on the board to strengthen the governance of the company. Revenue stream is segmented into OEMs and Replacement Markets (RM), wherein (RM) has a higher inclination. The company's financial risk profile is demonstrated by stable margins, healthy coverages and adequate capital structure. Despite Covid19 outbreak with associated lockdown period the company managed to sustain its growth in revenues and margins during FY20 and 1HFY21 which show consistency in growth. Export side of the company is gradually escalating, currently the company exports 2, 3 & 4 wheeler tyres to number of countries in the world. The management believed that grey channels are curtailed thus demand from replacement market is expected to rise in future which will be complemented through planned capacity expansion, whereas the OEMs demand will be subject to multiple challenges.
The ratings are dependent on the management's ability to sustain its business profile with cautious management of market risks, increase in international outreach and improvement in governance structure.

About the Entity
Panther Tyres Limited is a listed company incorporated in 1983. The company is primarily engaged in the production of tyres & tubes of vehicles and trading business of automobile lubricants and motorcycle spare parts. Panther is the pioneer in the motorcycle tyre manufacturing industry of Pakistan. The company sells its product with the brand name "Panther: and it has since been renowned for quality products.
Mian Iftikhar Ahmed, a renowned businessman, along with his family owns the majority shareholding of the company. He has served as the chairman of All Pakistan Tyres & Tubes Manufacturers Association. The overall control of the company vests in seven members (Board of Directors). Out of seven, three are executive directors including the chairman, one is a non-executive member of the sponsoring family and remaining three are independent directors. Mian Faisal Iftikhar is the CEO of the company and is supported by a team of qualified and experienced professionals.

The primary function of PACRA is to evaluate the capacity and willingness of an entity to honor its obligations. Our ratings reflect an independent, professional and impartial assessment of the risks associated with a particular instrument or an entity. PACRA's comprehensive offerings include instrument and entity credit ratings, insurer financial strength ratings, fund ratings, asset manager ratings and real estate gradings. PACRA opinion is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, in as much as it does not comment on the security's market price or suitability for a particular investor.