Q&A Session: Investor Queries & Management Responses 💬
13/ ❓ Can you expand on defense/aerospace orders, their size, and whether you’re making full drone/anti-drone systems or components?
💬 Manikandan: Defense is 44.2% of Dec’24 revenue. Orders: ₹45-50 Cr for HAL AMCA simulators, track-based missile systems, tank hulls .
🚀 Full drone/anti-drone systems, not components. Civil drone for high-rise cleaning adapted for defense with European tech (NATO-proven).
📈 EoI for 3,000 drones for HAL, targeting 200-300/month. 80% local content, importing motors.
#defensetech
14/ ❓ Timeline for future defense projects?
💬 Manikandan: Drone & anti-drone prototypes by Mar ‘26, leveraging civil drone tech & Israeli partner 🛩️.
🌍 Radar system likely FY27 due to capital needs. Defense is long-gestation, but confident with European tie-up.
📅 Drone/anti-drone on track for FY26, radar in FY27.
#Aerospace
15/ ❓ : Existing railway order book and completion timeline?
💬 Manikandan: Order book ₹30,635.67 Lakhs (95% railways), expected to reach ₹600-700 Cr in 2-3 months 🚆.
⏳ 70% this FY, rest FY27. New orders (12-18 months).
📈 Participated in ₹800 Cr tender, finalizing soon.
#railwaysafety
16/ ❓How much of the order book will be executed in the next 12 months?
💬 Manikandan: Conservatively, ₹350 Cr this FY (achievable) 📊.
🚄 Next FY, targeting ₹500 Cr. Numbers conservative; we’ll exceed with existing capacity.
#OrderExecution
17/ ❓ EBITDA margins at 28.14%—sustainable or improvable?
💬 Manikandan: Margins sustainable at ~28% 💰.
🔍 Post-COVID strategy: high-margin projects only. Aerospace/defense focus to maintain/boost margins.
🚀 Selective bidding ensures profitability.
#Financials
18/ ❓₹13.44 Cr from IPO for machinery—what are these, and extra revenue?
💬 Manikandan: Machinery for metro coach roofs (currently Chinese-made) & bogie frames/body shells 🏭.
📈 Adds ₹150 Cr this FY, ₹500 Cr FY27. Enables full coach body building (3,000 outsourced coaches/year).
#Capex
19/ ❓ Production capacity increase post-machinery installation?
💬 Manikandan: Machinery usable FY27, adding ₹500 Cr capacity 📊.
🏗️ New facility for full car body building. Current infra hits ₹350 Cr this FY with 2 shifts.
#CapacityExpansion
20/ ❓Capacity utilization ~83%. Can FY26 targets be met with remaining capacity?
💬 Manikandan: Yes, FY26 targets achievable 🚆.
🔄 Two 8-hour shifts from one. Existing capacity sufficient for ₹350 Cr this FY. No new infra needed yet.
#Operations
21/ Possibility drone orders won’t materialize post-prototype?
💬 Manikandan: 0.01% uncertainty (e.g., COVID) ⚠️.
🛩️ Drones are carriers; applications vary. Defense budget: ₹56,000 Cr for drones/anti-drones. 2% share makes us ₹1,000 Cr company. Confident in 5% share.
#DroneMarket
22/ ❓Other geographies targeted besides Mozambique & Sri Lanka?
💬 Manikandan: Targeting 200 coaches for Bangladesh via RCF 🌍.
🚄 Exploring African & South American markets (developing countries). Developed markets saturated; focus on tech transfer.
#ExportMarkets
23/ ❓Drone tech in-house or collaborations? Future expectations?
💬 Manikandan: Civil drone 100% in-house, defense drones use European motors & tech (NATO-proven) 🤝.
🔋 Local battery tie-ups. Future: 80% local content, mass production. No Chinese components.
#TechTransfer
24/ ❓Drivers for higher margins than peers?
💬 Manikandan: Post-2021 focus on projects, not products 💡.
👷 Labor & engineering edge, own design team, maxed infra (saving ₹40-45L/month). Tech products & defense to boost top/bottom lines.
#Margins
25/ ❓Raw material procurement mechanism? Main materials?
💬 Manikandan: Stainless steel & aluminum sheets/extrusions (Jindal, SAIL, Hindalco) 🛠️.
📉 No mild steel. Contracts have price escalation clauses for commodity swings.
#SupplyChain
26/ ❓
Why high FY24 attrition? Future outlook?
💬 Manikandan: High FY24 attrition due to KPA-based cleanup for Vande Bharat 👷.
📈 Stabilized, added 70-75 performance-based staff. Hiring design & project execution talent, building R&D center.
27/ ❓
Any project delays in railways or defense?
💬 Manikandan: Railways: No delays, monthly schedules like automotive 🚆.
Defense: Long gestation, but no delays except COVID (penalties waived). Just-in-time supply, in-house inspections.
#Execution
28/ ❓ IPO size and bifurcation?
💬 Manikandan: IPO size ₹90 Cr 💰.
📊 14.9% capex (₹1,343.82 Lakhs), 58.3% working capital (₹5,246.18 Lakhs), 6.7% debt repayment (₹600 Lakhs). Valued at ~₹350 Cr, P/E ~13.5.
#IPODetails
29/ ❓R&D in-house for defense, or tech transfer?
💬 Manikandan: Tech transfer from European partners for drones/anti-drones, initial engineering support 🤝.
🏭 Full buildup in-house (composites, machining). 80% local content, importing motors.
30/ ❓ Assembling or manufacturing defense products?
💬 Manikandan: Manufacturing in-house 🏭.
🛠️ Composites (carbon/aramid fibers), high-precision machining locally. Motors imported, controllers by Indian partner.
31/ Design team (2 in deck) sufficient for high-end products?
💬 Manikandan: Deck error; 25 engineers, separate design facility 👷.
🔍 Setting up R&D division for drones/anti-drones. Team sufficient for current projects.
32/ ❓Railway product line? Market share?
💬 Manikandan: Entire interiors: floors, seats, panels (aluminum/composites), windows, doors, lights, luggage racks, toilets, gangways 🚆.
📊 ~30-40% market share in tenders. Peers: Kineco (FRP-focused), Hindustan Fiberglass, DTL.
33/Tech transfer or patents in railways, aerospace, defense?
💬 Manikandan: MOU signed 10-11 days ago for drone/anti-drone/radar tech transfer from European partner 🤝.
📜 Transfer pending commercial terms. No patents yet, recent defense/aerospace entry
34/ ❓Raw material procurement constraints?
💬 Manikandan: No constraints, using stainless steel & aluminum (Jindal, SAIL, Hindalco) 🛠️.
⚖️ Limited suppliers reduce negotiation power, but availability fine.
35/ ❓ Bid win ratio and book-to-bill in the past?
💬 Manikandan: Bid win ratio ~30-40% for interior tenders, bid only where eligible 📈.
📚 Book-to-bill: Maintain 2x order book (this FY next FY) vs. revenue.
36/ ❓Past execution track record? Delays or penalties?
💬 Manikandan: COVID caused delays, penalties waived by Finance Ministry 🚨.
🚆 Just-in-time supply, in-house inspections ensure no rejections. Extensions granted if needed.
37/ ❓ ₹500-600 Cr railway order book—execution timeline?
💬 Manikandan: Orders typically 12-18 months ⏳.
🚄 Scheduled monthly with customers (Siemens, Alstom, BEML). Targeting ₹350 Cr this FY, rest FY27.
38/ Differentiator in crowded drone segment?
💬 Manikandan: Tech (European partner) proven in Ukraine war, unlike Indian startups 🛩️.
📈 High-end tech & mass production (200-300/month). Anti-drone is niche, less competitive.
39/ ❓Working capital needs and margins/ROE across segments?
💬 Manikandan: Railways: ₹300 Cr achievable this FY, receivables clear by Sep 💰.
Defense: ₹15 Cr for prototyping, may need bank/fund for ₹1,000 Cr orders. Margins vary, targeting high-margin tech products.
40/ ❓Top 1-2 clients’ revenue contribution?
💬 Manikandan: Indian Railways dominates (95% order book) 🚆.
🚄 Titagarh, Kinet, TMH emerging as key clients FY27.
41/ ❓Team strength by department?
💬 Manikandan: 255 employees, 54 engineers 👷.
🏭 Production: 195, QC: 5, maintenance: 18, admin: 2, BD: 4, tool stores: 7, accounts: 6, purchase: 4, HR: 1, design: 8, planning: 2, security: 3. Expanding R&D.
42/ ❓Team size (255, 80% labor, 8-10 design engineers) aligns with R&D-heavy company?
💬 Manikandan: Dec’24 numbers outdated. Now 270 employees, 54 engineers 👷.
🔍 Strengthened design team, setting up R&D division. In-house design for specialized products.
43/ ❓Valuation for the IPO?
💬 Manikandan: IPO size ₹90 Cr for 26.25% stake, valuing ~₹350 Cr 💰.
📊 Post-IPO P/E ~13.5 (Mar ‘25), targeting trailing P/E of 8 FY27.
44/ ❓Revenue split (45% railways)? Future norm?
💬 Manikandan: Incorrect, railways ~55.8% (Dec’24), 95% order book 🚆.
Defense/aerospace 44.2%. Railways to remain dominant, defense growing. Margins vary by project.
45/ ❓Other tender participants?
💬 Manikandan: Kineco & Hindustan Fiberglass Works are main competitors 🤝.
🚄 We secure 25-30% share as L1/L2/L3.
46/ ❓ FY25 numbers and in investor presentation?
💬 Manikandan: FY25: ₹192 Cr revenue, 30% EBITDA, 12% PAT 📈.
📜 Not in presentation (DRHP based on Dec’24). March numbers shared here.