The Company is subject to risks associated with the automobile financing business.
The sale of Company's commercial and passenger vehicles is heavily dependent on funding availability for its customers. Rising delinquencies and early defaults have contributed to a reduction in automobile financing, which, in turn, has had an adverse effect on funding availability for potential customers. This reduction in available financing may continue in the future and have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
In India, the Company is subjected to risks associated with its automobile financing business. Any default by its customers or inability to repay installments as due could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, any downgrade in the Company's credit ratings may increase its borrowing costs and restrict its access to the debt markets. Over time, and particularly in the event of any credit rating downgrade, market volatility, market disruption, regulatory changes or otherwise, the Company may need to reduce the amount of financing receivables it originates, which could severely disrupt its ability to support the sale of its vehicles.
Jaguar Land Rover has consumer financing arrangements in place with financing partners in a number of key markets. Any reduction in the supply of available consumer financing for the purchase of new vehicles could make it more difficult for some customers to purchase vehicles, which could put Jaguar Land Rover under commercial pressure to offer new (or expand existing) retail or dealer incentives to maintain demand for their vehicles, thereby materially and adversely affecting Jaguar Land Rover sales and results of operations. Furthermore, Jaguar Land Rover also offers residual value guarantees on the leases of certain vehicles in certain markets. The value of these guarantees is dependent on used car valuations in those markets at the end of the lease, which is subject to change. Consequently, Jaguar Land Rover may be adversely affected by movements in used car valuations in these markets.
Underperformance of the Company's distribution channels and supply chains may have a material adverse effect on the Company's sales, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company relies on third parties to supply it with the raw materials, parts and components used in the manufacture of the Company's products. For some of these parts and components, the Company is dependent on a single source. The Company's ability to procure supplies in a cost-effective and timely manner is subject to various factors, some of which are not within the Company's control. While the Company manages its supply chain as part of its vendor management process, any significant problems with the Company's supply chain in the future could disrupt its business and materially and adversely affect the Company's results of operations, as well as its sales, net income and financial condition.
The Company's products are sold and serviced through a network of authorized dealers and service centers across India and through a network of distributors and local dealers in international markets. The Company monitors the performance of its dealers and distributors and provide them with support to enable them to perform to its expectations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company expectations will be met. Any underperformance by the Company's dealers or distributors could materially and adversely affect the Company's sales and results of operations.
If dealers or importers encounter financial difficulties and the Company's products and services cannot be sold or sold only in limited numbers, this would have a direct effect on the sales of such dealers and importers. Additionally, if the Company cannot replace the affected dealers or importers with other franchises, the financial difficulties experienced by such dealers or importers could have an indirect effect on the Company's vehicle deliveries.
Consequently, the Company could be compelled to provide additional support for dealers and importers and, under certain circumstances, may even take over their obligations to customers, which would adversely affect the Company's financial position and results of operations in the short term.
Deterioration in the performance of any of the subsidiaries, joint ventures and affiliates may adversely the Company's results of operations.
The Company has made and may continue to make capital commitments to its subsidiaries, joint ventures and affiliates, and if the business or operations of any of these subsidiaries, joint ventures and affiliates deteriorate, the value of the Company's investments may decline substantially. Operating a business as a joint venture often requires additional organizational formalities and requirement of information sharing. The Company is also subjected to risks associated with joint ventures and affiliates wherein the Company retains only partial or joint control. The Company's partners may be unable, or unwilling, to fulfill their obligations, or the strategies of its joint ventures or affiliates may not be implemented successfully, any of which may significantly reduce the value of its investments or relationship with the co-owner may be deteriorated, and, which may, in turn, have a material adverse effect on the Company's reputation, business, financial position or results of operations.
The Company may be adversely impacted by political instability, wars, terrorism, multinational conflicts, countries resorting to protectionism natural disasters, fuel shortages/prices, epidemics, labour strikes and other risks in the markets in which the Company operates.
The Company's products are exported to a number of geographical markets and the Company plans to expand its international operations further in the future. Consequently, the Company is subjected to various risks associated with conducting its business both within and outside its domestic market and the Company's operations may be subject to political instability, wars, terrorism, regional and/or multinational conflicts, natural disasters, fuel shortages/prices, epidemics and labour strikes. Any disruption of the operations of the Company's manufacturing, design, engineering, sales, corporate and other facilities could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, conducting business internationally, especially in emerging markets, exposes the Company to additional risks, including adverse changes in economic and government policies, unpredictable shifts in regulation, inconsistent application of existing laws and applicability of retrospective taxes/sanction, programs unclear regulatory and taxation systems and divergent commercial and employment practices and procedures. Any significant or prolonged disruptions or delays in the Company's operations related to these risks could adversely impact its results of operations.
Terrorist attacks, civil disturbances, regional conflicts and other acts of violence, particularly in India, may disrupt or otherwise adversely affect the markets in which the Company operates and the business and profitability of the Company. India has from time to time experienced social and civil unrest and hostilities and adverse social, economic or political events, including terrorist attacks and local civil disturbances, riots and armed conflict with neighboring countries. Events of this nature in the future could influence the Indian economy and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, as well as the market for securities of Indian companies, including the Company's Shares and ADSs. Such incidents could also create a greater perception that investment in Indian companies involves a higher degree of risk and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition, and also the market price of the Company's Shares and ADSs.
The Company is vulnerable to supply chain disruptions resulting from natural disasters or man-made accidents. For example, on August 12, 2015, there was an explosion in the city port of Tianjin, one of three major ports in China through which the Company's Jaguar Land Rover imports its vehicles. Approximately 5,800 of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles were stored at various locations in Tianjin at the time of the explosion, and, as a result, Jaguar Land Rover recognized an exceptional charge of GBP245 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015. Subsequently, GBP 274 million of net insurance proceeds and other recoveries have been received till March 31, 2017 , including £35 million related to other costs associated with Tianjin including lost and discounted vehicle revenue. A significant delay or sustained interruption in the supply of key inputs sourced from areas affected by disasters or accidents could materially and adversely affect the Company's ability to maintain the Company's current and expected levels of production, and therefore negatively affect the Company's revenues and increase the operating expenses.
The Company is a global organization, and is therefore vulnerable to shifts in global trade and economic policies and outlook. Policies that result in countries withdrawing from trade pacts, increasing protectionism and undermining free trade could substantially affect the Company's ability to operate as a global business. Additionally, negative sentiments towards foreign companies among the Company's overseas customers and employees could adversely affect our sales as well as the Company's ability to hire and retain talented people. A negative shift in either policies or sentiment with respect to global trade and foreign businesses could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company's business is seasonal in nature and a substantial decrease in the Company's sales during certain quarters could have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial performance.
The sales volumes and prices for the Company's vehicles are influenced by the cyclicality and seasonality of demand for these products. The automotive industry has been cyclical in the past and the Company expects this cyclicality to continue.
In the Indian market, demand for the Company's vehicles generally peaks between January and March, although there is a decrease in demand in February just before release of the Indian fiscal budget. Demand is usually lean from April to July and picks up again in the festival season from September onwards, with a decline in December due to year-end as customers defer purchases to the New Year.
The Jaguar Land Rover business is impacted by the semi-annual registration of vehicles in the United Kingdom where the vehicle registration number changes every March and September, which, leads to an increase in sales during these months and in turn, has an impact on the resale value of vehicles. Most other markets, such as the United States, are influenced by the introduction of new-model-year products, which typically occurs in the autumn of each year. Furthermore, in the United States there is some seasonality in the purchasing patterns of vehicles in northern states, notably for Jaguar when vehicle sales are concentrated in the spring and summer months and for Land Rover where the trend for purchasing 4x4 vehicles is concentrated in the autumn and winter months. Markets in China tend to experience higher demand for vehicles around the Chinese New Year and other national holidays. In addition, demand in western European automotive markets tends to be softer during the summer and winter holidays. Furthermore, Jaguar Land Rover's cash flows are impacted by the temporary shutdown of four of their manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom (including the Engine Manufacturing Centre at Wolverhampton) during the summer and winter holidays. As a result, the profile of operating results differs between each reporting period.
Restrictive covenants in financing agreements may limit the Company operations and financial flexibility and materially and adversely impact the Company's financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Some of the Company's financing agreements and debt arrangements set limits on and/or require it to obtain lender consent before, among other things, pledging assets as security. In addition, certain financial covenants may limit the Company's ability to borrow additional funds or to incur additional liens. In the past, the Company has been able to obtain required lender consent for such activities. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such consents in the future. If the Company's liquidity needs or growth plans require such consents and such consents are not obtained, the Company may be forced to forego or alter the Company's plans, which could materially and adversely affect the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
In the event the Company breach these covenants, the outstanding amounts due under such financing agreements could become due and payable immediately and/or result in increased costs. A default under one of these financing agreements may also result in cross-defaults under other financing agreements and result in the outstanding amounts under such other financing agreements becoming due and payable immediately. Defaults under one or more of the Company's financing agreements could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
The Company relies on licensing arrangements with Tata Sons Limited to use the "Tata" brand. Any improper use of the associated trademarks by the Company's licensor or any other third parties could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company's rights to the Company's trade names and trademarks are a crucial factor in marketing the Company's products. Establishment of the "Tata" word mark and logo mark in and outside India is material to the Company's operations. The Company has licensed the use of the "Tata" brand from its Promoter, Tata Sons Limited, or Tata Sons. If Tata Sons, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities, or any third party uses the trade name "Tata" in ways that adversely affect such trade name or trademark, its reputation could suffer damage, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Inability to protect or preserve the Company's intellectual property could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company owns or otherwise have rights in respect of a number of patents relating to the products it manufactures. In connection with the design and engineering of new vehicles and the enhancement of existing models, the Company seeks to regularly develop new intellectual property. The Company also uses technical designs, which are the intellectual property of third parties with such third parties' consent. These patents and trademarks have been of value in the growth of the Company's business and may continue to be of value in the future. Although the Company does not regard any of its businesses as being dependent upon any single patent or related group of patents, an inability to protect this intellectual property generally, or the illegal breach of some or a large group of the Company's intellectual property rights, would have a materially adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company may also be affected by restrictions on the use of intellectual property rights held by third parties and the Company may be held legally liable for the infringement of the intellectual property rights of others in its products.
Impairment of intangible assets may have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.
Designing, manufacturing and selling vehicles is capital intensive and requires substantial investments in intangible assets such as research and development, product design and engineering technology. The Company reviews the value of its intangible assets to assess on an annual basis whether the carrying amount matches the recoverable amount for the asset concerned based on underlying cash-generating units. The Company may have to take an impairment loss as at a current balance sheet date or future balance sheet date, if the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount, which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and the results of operations.
The Company may be adversely affected by labour unrest.
All of the Company's permanent employees in India, other than officers and managers, and most of its permanent employees in South Korea and the United Kingdom, including certain officers and managers, in relation to its automotive business, are members of labour unions and are covered by its wage agreements, where applicable, with those labour unions.
In general, the Company considers its labour relations with all of its employees to be good. However, in the future the Company may be subject to labour unrest, which may delay or disrupt its operations in the affected regions, including the acquisition of raw materials and parts, the manufacture, sales and distribution of products and the provision of services. If work stoppages or lockouts at the Company's facilities or at the facilities of the Company's major vendors occur or continue for a long period of time, the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. The Company did recently face two minor standalone incidents of labour unrest, one in the Dharwad plant in Karnataka, India and the other in the Company's Sanand plant in Gujarat, India, both of which were amicably resolved.
The Company's business and prospects could suffer if the Company loses one or more key personnel or if the Company is unable to attract and retain the Company's employees.
The Company's business and future growth depend largely on the skills of its workforce, including executives and officers, and automotive designers and engineers. The loss of the services of one or more of the Company's personnel could impair the Company's ability to implement its business strategy. In view of intense competition, any inability to continue to attract, retain and motivate the Company's workforce could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.