Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to Tube Investments Q3 FY23 earnings conference call hosted by IIFL Securities Limited. As a reminder, all participant lines will be in the listen-only mode, and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions after the presentation concludes. Should you need assistance during this conference call, please signal an operator by pressing star then zero on your touchtone phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. Anupam Gupta from IIFL Securities. Thank you, and over to you, Mr. Gupta.
Thanks, Nirav. Welcome everyone to Tube Investments 3Q FY 23 conference call. From the management we have Mr. Vellayan Subbiah, Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. M. A. M. Arunachalam, Executive Chairman at TI, Mr. Mukesh Ahuja, Managing Director, Mr. A.N. Meyyappan, Chief Financial Officer, Mr. K.K. Paul, Managing Director at TICMPL, and a couple of other team members as well. I'll hand over to Mr. Vellayan for the opening remarks, post which we can have the Q&A. Over to you, sir.
Thanks, Anupam. Good morning, everybody. I'll just go with a quick set of opening remarks and then turn it over to you for questions. The board of TI met and approved the financial results for the quarter ended 31st December 2022. The board met on Friday. The board has declared interim dividend of INR 2 per share for the financial year 2022/2023. The standalone results for the quarter, the revenue in Q3 was at INR 1,710 crores compared with INR 1,701 crores same period previous year. The PBT was at INR 192 crores as against INR 161 crores in the same period previous year. The ROIC was at 52% compared to 50% in the same period previous year.
Free cash flow for the quarter was INR 115 crores. The engineering business revenue for the quarter was INR 1,081 compared with INR 996, the PBIT was INR 134 as against INR 87. Encouraged by the strong demand, the company has planned to expand its capacity in the large diameter precision tubes manufacturing facility at Tiruchirappalli at a cost of about INR 140 crores. For Metal Form, our revenue was at INR 371 as against INR 330 for the corresponding quarter, PBIT was at INR 42 versus INR 32. Mobility revenue was INR 174 compared with INR 280, PBIT was INR 2 crores as against INR 15 crores. The cycles business continues to be sluggish for us.
The other revenue was INR 166 versus INR 160, and PBIT was INR 12 versus INR 11. At a console level, that obviously includes CG Power and Shanthi Gears. Revenue was at INR 3,666 crores as against INR 3,410. The profit before share of profit of an associate joint venture, exceptional items and tax for the quarter was at INR 416 crores as against INR 354 on the corresponding quarter of the previous year. CG Power, in which we have a 58% stake, registered a consolidated revenue of INR 1,775 as against INR 1,551, and PBT there was INR 282 versus INR 174.
Shanthi Gears, in which we have 70% stake, had a revenue of INR 115 as against INR 95 and a profit of INR 23 as against INR 17. Commenting on the results, Mr. M.A.M. Arunachalam, Chairman, TII, said engineering and Metal Formed Products businesses continued their excellent performance in the third quarter as well. The bicycle industry continues to suffer from contraction and demand, and our bicycle business manages cost and operations well to remain profitable. Overall, the company has delivered excellent performance in both top line and profits. Our subsidiaries, CG Power and Shanthi, have all registered consistent performance and delivered strong results. That's a quick summary on results. Let me stop and turn it over to you for questions.
Thank you very much. We will now begin the question- and- answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their touchtone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to use handsets while asking a question. Ladies and gentlemen, we will wait for a moment while the question queue assembles. Participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. The first question is from the line of Jinesh Gandhi from Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. My first question pertains to the engineering business. We have seen a QoQ decline in revenues for engineering business. Is this reflection of the tool and industry performance, or are we seeing any further pressures beyond tool or segment as well?
You're talking about quarter-on-quarter, is it?
Quarter-on-quarter, yeah. Vis-à-vis previous quarter.
Okay.
So-
Usually obviously the... Mukesh, why don't you go?
Yeah. You are right. Particularly maybe you'll see there's a seasonality in the demand. December month, generally model change and all those things could be slowing down the production. Two-wheeler contract, let's say, flat demand has resulted into this. However, it has been recovered by the PV as well as commercial vehicle strong demand. Little bit slowdown is on account of two-wheeler industry. You're right.
Okay. Exports continue to do well? Can you share how big is exports now for engineering business?
Exports continue to do well, as we are aware, Europe is going through some little bit slowdown along with the U.S. particularly because of the pileup of inventory due to energy crisis there. Otherwise, maybe there is a good progress on account of OEMs getting awarded new businesses and the new programs getting launched. On that side, there is a good performance.
Okay. Okay. got it. On the engineering business, again, I mean, the margin contraction on QoQ basis, that could be on account of operating deleverage only or there is something else there as well?
We shared in the last quarter, there was a customer prices settlement happens generally in quarter. Sometimes it happens due to delay. There was a one-time item. Otherwise, there is a consistent maintaining of the margins. There is no issue.
In 2Q, we had one-time item, in, on price settlement. Any, can you quantify how big that was? Or adjusted for that, what were the margins in 2Q?
Normally, we don't quantify that.
Okay.
It is on account of that only.
Got it. Got it. Second question on the cycle business. There we are continuing to see pressures on volumes. Can you indicate what kind of decline we saw in the cycle business? Where are we in terms of the export ramp-up in cycles business?
Yes, cycle is going through a little tough time because after COVID, there was a really escalation in demand. Post-COVID getting streamlined, the bicycle business is getting into little bit stress, and there's a huge contraction in demand. We are trying to optimize internal cost and work on logistics and all those stuff so that we can pass through this.
for the industry, what would be decline and for us, are we in line with the industry in terms of decline? how can you-
No, we are maintaining market shares as of now.
Okay. Okay. Lastly.
We are focused on the cash flow in this business, along with the capacity rationalization. Those steps we are taking.
Got it. Got it. Broadly at the mobility business level, can you indicate what would have been the losses on the electric three-wheeler business? The margins again here have corrected quite materially. I'm presuming that would be partly because of or largely because of increased activity for the electric three-wheeler launch.
Meyyappan, do we have the data? Can you share?
Yeah, yeah. See, consolidated, sir. The difference in the mobility, INR 10.74 is there. That is the loss, which we have shown. INR 2.394 is the mobility, on account of the mobility.
Got it. Thanks. I will come back in queue.
Yeah.
Thank you. Participants, you may press star and 1 to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Abhishek Ghosh from DSP Mutual Fund. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Sir, thanks for the opportunity. Sir, just one question in terms of the slight softness in the top line is also on account of, some amount of pass-through of the lower commodity prices. Is there also an effect of that?
Yes, that's right.
Okay. That would be to the tune of 5%-7%? Would that be a fair estimate?
Generally, we don't quantify, but you can assume it is around those numbers.
Okay. Okay. Thank you.
Yeah. No, but what you can do is. Yeah. Mukesh, yeah. Basically, yeah, it's about right.
Okay. Where we're coming from, the volume growth is fairly healthy. The moderation is largely because of the commodity pass-through. That's the way to look forward.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Yeah. The other thing is, you know, in the last con call, we were kind of talking about some amount of inventory pileup at the, you know, global levels, and that's why there was little bit of de-stocking which was happening. How is the situation now? Obviously you have an advantage of catering to many countries. Just from the broad level of exports, which was about 20%, how should one look at the outlook on that?
Uh, I mean-
Murali?
Yes, please. Go ahead.
Sorry, Mukesh. This is Murali, head of engineering division. The stocks are getting slowly liquidated, and we are seeing the signs of recovery from the month of January onwards. We see that in the coming quarters, yeah, the volume requirement of most of the exports customers mainly in North America and Europe will get revived.
That's helpful. Just one other thing, railways, if you broadly look at it, which is a part of the metal form, you know, there's been a lot of upbeat in terms of the overall outlook, and that's a segment which through the crisis didn't do well. Any thoughts in terms of how should one expect contribution from there in terms of growth rates and other things, and given the overall, you know, outlook on the order book there? Maybe you answer.
Yeah, I will take it. As of now, the Government of India has started rewarding the new contracts, which are the pipelines, and contracts are getting confirmed. Scheduling, there is a bit of delay. We are optimistic about this sector going forward. As of now, in Q3, there was not much of progress. The new contracts, the good news is new contracts have started getting released. We have participated in that, and we are hopeful the coming quarter will be better in the railways.
Railway has still not started contributing to the volume growth. It'll only come in in the coming quarter. That's a fair assumption.
That's right.
Okay. Sir, just one last question. In terms of the new CapEx that you've announced, of that INR 140-150 crores of CapEx, what should one assume that peak revenues that you can do from that plant?
As of now, we are running and the capacity is utilization is getting close to 100%. We generally take a proactive step in doing the capacity expansion in terms of the foreseen growth in that sector. As you are aware of that, infrastructure spent by the Government of India is multiplying. We expect our construction industry to do pretty well going forward, and which is going to result in the more volume for large diameter plant. That's why we decided proactively to expand the capacity, and which will help us not only on the capacity, even on the capability front also, to contribute for the coming time.
Sir, my question was more around can you do a peak revenues something like INR 400 crores out of this plant whenever it gets fully operational?
We can assume that.
Okay, sir. Thank you so much. I'll come back and thank you. All the best.
Thank you.
Participants you may press star and one to ask the question. Next question is from the line of Nishit Jalan from Axis Capital. Please go ahead.
Yeah, hi sir, this is Nishant from Axis Capital. My question was primarily on two front. One, on the EVs side, just wanted to understand, we had launched our 3-wheeler, so any initial feedback? Last call we mentioned that we will launch our electric tipper in December. Has that launch happened or what is the new timeline? If any update you can give us on the EV business that would be great. Second question is, what are our net debt levels now in both standalone and consolidated entity? Just wanted to understand because we have done some acquisitions and making seed investments for EV business. Wanted to understand how is the balance sheet looking like.
Sure. First on EV. The EV three-wheeler, we did have the marketing launch for it. We will start manufacturing and put out the first set of product in March, is our current plan. Then start selling increasing volumes from April onwards. On the EV tractor also, the EV truck, the 55 ton truck will follow a similar timeline. The EV tractor is something that will still need a full homologation. That timeline we're estimating that we'll get homologated in that March-April timeframe, which means that sales will only happen in the July timeframe. The EV tractor timeline is a delay from what we had anticipated in the past. Right?
That is in terms of when we assume the revenue on these three products will start. The question on net debt at a standalone on a console level, is it INR 170 crores of net debt, Meyyappan, what's the...
Yes, sir. 170 standalone, sir. Correct, sir.
INR 170 standalone. obviously, like you know, CG Power had, I think has INR 600 in net cash.
Okay.
At a console level we're still positive, but, as you see, CG and Shanthi are both cash positive. To the extent of about, I would estimate between the two about INR 650 crores. Meyyappan, if you have the exact numbers, Meyyappan, you can give us. Standalone net debt for TI is INR 170.
Yeah. INR 170, sir.
Got it.
Just one follow-up. I was not very clear on exports, comment on exports. You did mention that, I think the last quarter you had mentioned that exports are weak because the markets are not in a good shape right now. How did it pan out for us in the third quarter? I just understood that you mentioned that the outlook is getting better now from January onwards. Did I hear it correctly?
Correct.
Any numbers you can share for the nine months, how has the exports panned out for us in the nine-month timeframe? Has it grown, declined? And what % of revenues for the standalone entity are coming from exports?
Standalone on the TI basis, because the domestic demand was pretty strong, there is a decline of about a percentage, 1%, in overall filing. Overall, maybe let's say in terms of absolute numbers, maybe we are able to maintain it.
Got it, sir. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask the question. The next question is from the line of Hardik Doshi from White Whale Partners. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Thanks for taking the question. My first question was on the three-wheeler electric vehicles. Like you mentioned you will launch the product in April. Can you give an update in terms of distributors and the geographies and-
Hardik, sorry to interrupt you, but your voice is not coming very clear.
Okay. Can you hear me now?
Yes, sir. I can.
Yeah, you know, I just wanted to ask a question on the three-wheeler electric vehicle that you're launching in April. Can you give an update in terms of, you know, how many distributors have you gotten on board or dealers you've gotten on board? What is the geographic distribution and what is the profile of, you know, these guys? Obviously we're launching on the OEM side for the first time. How are you convincing them to kind of come on board?
We have Paul or Sushant on, can they answer that.
Yeah, I'll answer that question. This is Paul here. I think in the first phase we are looking at the southern states for our launch, for the commercial production and the supply, which as Mr. Lal said, commences from March onwards and then steadily we ramp up. The distributors around these areas have been selected. Currently we have about 42 distributors with us along with the service centers. By year-end we plan to be at about 75. That's the plan. We are going systematically and then we go you know, state by state. We've had very good interactions with the distributors. We've sent some products to a few of them and it has been tested and they are quite positive about it.
We are getting into the final stages because the battery homologation, 1 part on the change on standard had to be done, which we have obtained, and the last part is what we are obtaining. In February we hope to get that, in March we should be full scale supplying the plans that we have made. While selecting the dealers also, we have been very careful in working out the ROIs carefully so that, you know, that there is based on the volumes that we estimated, we could sufficiently keep them motivated.
Okay.
Does that answer your question?
Just a follow-up. I mean, what is the profile of these distributors? I mean, are they existing OEM, you know, dealers already or are they like part of the Morarka Group?
Most of them are existing, some of them are new. Some of them have experience, not in three-wheelers, but in the OEM business of vehicles, et cetera. It's a good mix of people, predominantly little younger in nature and wanting to make a difference is the kind of people in terms of the profile that we have taken.
Okay. Got it. Just one follow-up question on the other part of the business. Like you mentioned the optical lens and then possibly looking at medical equipment, can you just give a, maybe a more broader overview as to like, you know, how are we looking beyond EVs in terms of the new areas that we are looking to diversify into?
Lal sir, you want to take it, this question or shall I go ahead?
Okay. Please go ahead.
Regarding MedTech, maybe, we are still exploring and at appropriate time we'll announce it to the market, what are the areas we are going to enter it. In optics, we have acquired a facility in Noida, which we are happy to announce that maybe exit that is touching breakeven levels now. We are increasing our share of business with, low metaphysical volumes as of now. At appropriate time we will even expand the business to do camera modules for even the higher segment.
Okay. All right. Thanks. Thanks so much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, you must press star and 1 to ask a question. The next question is from the line of Vimal Govind from Magna Capital. Please go ahead.
Okay. Sir, my question is on industrial chains exports. If you could just highlight how have they done. Even highlight what is the domestic picture looking like over there. I'm sorry to make you repeat this, but I missed out on your electric three-wheeler costs that you probably highlighted earlier in the call. If you could just probably mention that again. Thanks.
First I'll take on industrial chain. Industrial chain, exports, particularly in Europe, there's a bit slowdown because of the issues related to Europe. Otherwise all other geographies are doing pretty well. We also enhanced in that particular business also to do more OEM acquisitions on the new product development side. Forecast seems to be good going forward even for industrial chains. The domestic business is also doing pretty well in industrial chains. EV, Paul sir, you can take it.
Sorry, I didn't get your.
Sir, Paul Sir, you mentioned.
I didn't get your question. Question on EV.
Yeah. Paul sir, you mentioned something on electric three-wheeler cost that came about in this quarter.
Earlier in the call, if you can just highlight that once again, if it's okay?
The figure, I think, Meyyappan shared their asking price.
I think it's not about the cost, it's the profit. There is, it's a loss which, the three-wheeler, that is total TICMPL made during the quarter, certain improved. You are referring to that?
Yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Got it, got it, sir.
Okay.
Thanks. Thanks a lot.
Okay. Thank you. Bye.
Yeah. Sir, in industry, within industrial chains, if you can just tell us how much is autos at this point in time?
Industrial chain is nothing to do with autos.
Okay. Fair enough, sir. Thank you so much, and all the best.
Thank you. Next question is from the line of Anupam Gupta from IIFL Securities. Please go ahead.
Morning, sir. The first question is relating to the three-wheeler launch delays which have happened. You have mentioned 2 standard changes which have happened. Can you just highlight what were those changes and what is that is affecting in the delayed launch versus the September marketing launch which happened?
I'll take that question. I think, in the interim, if you know that there have been two standards on battery that has got, you know, announced by the government, MHI, which we had to comply with. Therefore, that entailed, you know, doing, you know, revising the specifications on the batteries and having, you know, adhering to those safety standards, which are the new ones that they're regulated. That's what has been one of the reasons, you know, where we had to, you know, raise on, for example, there was a CAN-enabled charger and many other stuff that they mandated, which resulted in the delays of the launch. The other thing also was that, you know, we took that opportunity to do a far, a lot more reliability kind of test, you know, further to just assure ourselves.
These are the two reasons. The other one was also the ramping up of the supply volume, you know, and aligning them with the quality and delivery standard, you know, and having everything up to date for them to be capable to ready just-in-time supply. This combination of factors has actually, you know, resulted in this delay from the launch. Now, going forward, as we already mentioned, in March, we should see the first, you know, vehicles rolling out for sales actually.
Sure. That's helpful. The second question is slightly, let's say if you look at the medium term for EVs, I think as of now, it's more of sort of assembly with some... structural doing yourself, battery and cells being, I think even motors being outsourced and acquired from third party. If you can highlight what will be the path to not indigenization, insourcing for yourself for both 3-wheelers as well as trucks. From what are we at right now and how will we change that in terms of sourcing? How much will come in-house? If you can highlight that for us.
Sure. I think we have to break this question down into two parts. The first part would be in terms of 3-wheelers, we are sufficiently indigenized, excepting for cells, which we have to import, not only us, everybody else. Battery is assembled here, the motor and controller is local. You know, there is nothing to import there. That's the first part on the 3-wheeler piece. On the heavy commercial vehicles, there is a huge opportunity of indigenization, and we are working around those plans, you know, to materialize as in the first half of next year in stages with that cost reduction program related with, you know, batteries related with motor controller, related with cabin and a few other items. You know, we are seized of that. There is a internal plan that we are monitoring.
The way we look at it in the first half of next year, there'll be substantial reduction in cost some and also in terms of the lead time for supplies because it will get indigenized in term. That's the way we are working around this.
Okay. Just maybe, more from a slightly longer term in the same aspect, what part of, let's say, the 3-wheeler or trucks will you want to retain with yourself and not do even on a outsourcing basis to ensure that you are competitive versus in the longer term? What portion of the supply chain will you want to have with yourself?
Yeah. I think the first part would be, you know, gradually we would like to see that the software and associated hardware we are largely controlling because the vehicle, you know, is going to get more and more, you know, software driven. Those differential advantages we would want to retain with ourselves. Actually we are arming ourselves to be able to get to that stage to be able to do that. That's the, that's the phase that we would do. The second is with the volumes, ramp up, we should be able to get far, a lot more suppliers whom we can synergize with each other and thereby look at stable supply chain and stable costs, you know.
Okay.
That's the second thing. Third thing is in terms of how we look at, you know, which components in the supply chain would we outsource, which components do we manufacture ourselves or assemble ourselves is another view that we have taken, and we are working around to that to get to a much more leaner and cost-effective supply chain.
Okay. Okay, understand. This is helpful, sir. Just one last question from my side on the optic lens business. What is the update on that? Have we got the full sort of validation or what's the timeline for that?
In optical lens, our sample has been given and it is approved, and we have received the first set of orders. Now to deliver that, to entire commercial production, and we are in the stage, we hope to deliver that in this quarter.
Okay. Okay, understand. That's all from my side, sir. Thank you.
Thank you. Next question is from the line of Mahesh Bendre from LIC Mutual Fund. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Sir, about the optical lens, from whom we have received the orders?
Generally, we don't share the name of customer.
Yeah.
It's basically in China and Korea.
From which industry side?
It's for the optical lens, maybe for automobile industry. We're talking about the AA Optics.
Okay. Okay. Sir, the second question is regarding the investments in electronics and medical devices. Is it possible to share what kind of, at least investment we are looking for a medium-term perspective over next 2, 3 years in terms of growing this business organically, inorganically? Any, any timeline budget on this?
No, I think it's too early in some of the new businesses to give any forward-looking statements, so we will refrain from that, right? Kind of till we get more comfort with the business.
sir, if I look at for next 3 years, do you think this business can materially add more than 10% of our sales?
Yes.
Okay. Okay. If the investments required for these businesses, this will come internally or is it that we need to raise the cash for these businesses?
We said that we will continue to take... Yes, I mean, in a situation where we do believe that, you know, it does not make sense. Because basically what we've kind of openly discussed with you is that we don't wanna go more than, you know, 2 times free cash flow as debt, right? We believe that a business is better funded by bringing in external investments. Yes, we will pursue that path.
Okay. Sir, last question is, from Tube Investments perspective. Our company will keep developing businesses in our subsidiary and Tube Investments will act as a holding company or is it that we can develop the business inside the company as well?
In some it's gonna be dependent on the nature of the business. In some cases, they will develop in TUBE. Like you know, in specific areas like in clean mobility, because it makes sense to kind of keep that as a separate standalone entity, or, you know, kind of a reason like when we go down the path of, you know, perhaps a totally different business like MedTech or something like that, then we will basically push it out as a separate entity. As a subsidiary, basically.
Electronics and medical devices will be the same thing whenever we will develop those businesses?
Right now, like, you know, electronics, I mean, is, well, Moshine and acquisition is different. Otherwise, kind of electronics, we've not kind of created a standalone subsidiary for that. Like I said, it's gonna depend on the nature of each business. If it makes sense for that business to stand alone as a separate subsidiary, then we will do that.
Okay. Sure. Thank you so much, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you. A reminder to all the participants, you may press star and one to ask the question. The next follow-up question is from the line of Abhishek Ghosh from DSP Mutual Fund. Please go ahead.
Yeah. Hi, sir. Thanks for the opportunity again. Sir, few questions. Just, you know, we have seen a very sharp moderation in the overall shipping rates and supply chains have gotten normalized. Are you seeing any impact of that on the imports for certain of your segments? Because import substitution was also a big theme. Any sense on that?
There have been.
When you think of import substitution.
Yes, please.
Okay. I'll just kind of answer that first, and then you can jump in. You know, to your question on import substitution, when we talked about some of these new businesses, right? That's what we talked about import substitution from a reference to. I think that thesis definitely continues to hold, right? We don't see any change in that thesis because there are two things driving it, right? One is the pricing, the second is clearly India wants to make a lot of this ourselves within the country. I think that that will continue, right? I think to your second question, I don't know if you are also talking about just imports in general and what's happening on that front.
You know, I don't think, I mean, besides of, you know, steel, which we import a small quantity of, I don't think we do kind of anything, you know, much more significant on that front.
Okay. No, my question was more around, you know, in generally across, and we are seeing where people had benefited because of lower imports, because of higher shipping cost. I think those benefits are going away. I was more trying to understand, are you also kind of seeing those impacts or benefits going away? That was my question, but I think you've made it clear. That's clear. Yeah.
Yeah.
The second thing is that if, you know, in the last year's annual report, you had articulated that broadly in small bits and pieces, you'll be putting up four new plants which either had just got commissioned towards the year-end or through the year it'll get commissioned in terms of, you know, the four new plants which were there in terms of the Aurangabad auto chain unit, industrial chain, new tube mill at Chennai. Just in terms of have they been able to ramp up or what is the status, or should we assume growth coming from those in the subsequent years? Just your status there?
Mukesh, these are plants with existing business only.
Yeah, existing business. Whatever the investment we have done in the Rajpura, on the tube mill side, we are able to ramp up and it is getting fully stabilized. In terms of, we took some initiative for putting a capacity on the exports capability development side. That is ramping up. New programs are getting awarded on the export business, and it's a question of time and we will start increasing the capacity utilization. All of the CapEx are work in progress, like on Industrial Chains and on the CRS side. Industrial Chain, we expect it to be over by next quarter, and CRS will take about another few quarters to get it commissioned.
Okay. Okay. Okay. Sir, the other thing is, you know, whatever margins that you've reported in the current quarter, that does not include any one-off or anything. This is X of that, right? Is that a fair assumption?
That's right.
Okay. Margins from here on, these are base margins, and margins should improve from here on given the operating leverage and overall, you know, benefits of the Project Leap and other things. Is that the way one should assume?
Yeah. That's what maybe. Generally, we don't give forecast.
Yeah.
That's what we attempt, we are driving internally.
Okay. Great, sir. Thank you so much. Wish you all the best. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Rohit Ohri from Progressive Shares. Please go ahead.
Hi, Dean. I've got three or four more questions related to Shanthi Gears. If you allow me, I should ask.
I think we've said this, right, which is we. Maybe we can just take one question, you know, from you, but kind of, you know, our preference is to do the subsidiaries kind of, in independent meetings, even those are independent listed companies on their own. We can take one question from you, sir, just to overcome.
Okay. Shanthi is exploring some opportunities which are related to some buying of plant in Sanand, and there's an agreement that Shanthi Gears has entered into. If you can just take us through that, what sort of area is there available in that plot? What is the amount that you intend to spend? Which is the area where you see that there will be stronger demand coming from the GGV business?
Mukesh, do you want to take that?
Like you said that we already signed the agreement in the west for expansion. Today, Shanthi Gears is more of a south-based manufacturing company.
Mm-hmm.
We want to actually expand our operations to get the operating leverage as well as getting into new sectors like, renewable energy. That's the intent. We want to do it in west, and hopefully that plant should be up running in next, one or two quarters.
The spends, if you can share, and which segment do you intend to focus on?
I mentioned that maybe it'll be renewable energy and the gears.
Okay.
business, whatever we do it in Shanthi Gears, that'll be done in the west.
Could you just help me with the cash levels or bank balances that Shanthi Gears has as of nine months?
We can't go through all of this level of detail, so I'll appreciate it. We are happy to take your question offline and answer it offline. You can contact us kind of, you know, in Investor Relations. We'll happily get back to you with response.
Okay, that's cool. Thank you, sir. Thanks a lot.
Thank you.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you may press star and one to ask a question. Next question is from the line of Vipul Kumar Shah from Mangal Investments. Please go ahead.
Hi, sir. Thanks for the opportunity. My question is what is our cumulative investment till date for electric three-wheeler, that, truck and tractor, and what will be the CapEx for next financial year in all these three products?
We are not discussing a CapEx number yet for the next financial year because that plan is evolving. We're in the middle of our business planning cycle. We will have a number for you on that by March when we take our business planning cycle to the board. In the three businesses to date, the total expenditure that has come off as internal approvals has been to the extent of about INR 500 crores.
Okay. Thank you, sir.
We'll share that with you. We'll share our CapEx estimate with you after we finish our March quarter, it'll be in the next earnings call.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you. A reminder to all the participants, you may press star and one to ask a question. As there are no further questions, we now hand the conference over to the management for closing comments.
Thank you.
Someone would like to give any closing comments?
Oh, nothing from our side. You know, I think kind of, you know. We continue to be, you know, bullish on the overall outlook. You know, I think, like we told you in the past, kind of, you know, some of the new businesses will take time to kind of, set root and start growing. We continue to be kind of extremely bullish about both our new businesses and the existing businesses. The two segments in which we are seeing a certain level of slugging, obviously, is the bicycle business and currently on railways and PI, but we do see that changing with some of the new announcements in the budget as well.
Overall, we are quite excited about the outlook for the next financial year, which seems very promising at this stage. That's it from my side. I'm happy to turn back, Anupam, to you and take the questions from there.
Sure. Thanks. Thanks, Vellayan. Thanks for the time, we can end the call here. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, everyone. Bye.
Thank you. Thank you, everyone. On behalf of IIFL Securities Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us. You may now disconnect your lines. Thank you.
Thank you.