Rating Rationale
July 23, 2019 | Mumbai
Aarti Drugs Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL A+/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1246 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its long term rating on the bank facilities of Aarti Drugs Limited (ADL, part of Aarti group) to 'CRISIL A+/Stable' from 'CRISIL A/Positive' while reaffirming the short term rating at 'CRISIL A1'
 
The upgrade reflects sustained improvement in the group's business risk profile driven by steady growth in revenues, healthy profitability and controlled working capital cycle. The revenues of the company grew y-o-y by over 25% in FY19 to Rs.1562 crores, largely driven by volume growth. Notwithstanding moderation in topline growth, the group is expected to record double digit growth in topline with improving capacity utilization and steady demand for the group's products. Though volatile raw material prices and fluctuating forex led to dip in operating margins to 13.58% in FY19 from erstwhile levels of over 15%, it remained healthy for the scale of operations. With the group working on new product launches and also launching of its brand, the operating margin is expected to see some expansion over the medium term.
 
Working capital management has also improved with GCAs at 183 days as on March 31, 2019 as against GCA of 215 as on March 31, 2018. Strong accretions and controlled reliance on external debt has meant overall capital structure improved in FY19, with TOLANW (total outside liabilities to adjusted networth) at 1.67 times as on March 31, 2019 as against 2.03 times as on March 31, 2018. Absence of any major debt funded capital expenditure or acquisition and management's stated posture of maintaining gearing below 1 time has been centrally factored in the rating upgrade.
 
The ratings continue to reflect Aarti group's strong market position in the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) business, sound operating efficiencies and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by capital intensive nature of operations and susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices, intense competition, and regulatory risks.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ADL and its wholly owned subsidiary, Pinnacle Life Science Pvt Ltd (PLSPL), herein after referred to as the Aarti group, as there are operational and financial linkages between these entities. Unsecured loans (outstanding at Rs 8.57 crore as on March 31, 2019) extended to ADL by the promoters and affiliate entities have been treated as neither debt nor equity as these loans are expected to remain in the business for at least three years.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong market position in the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) business
Aarti Group is one of the leading manufacturers of APIs in India, operating in over 12 therapeutic segments with expertise in the antibiotic and antidiarrheal segments.  Furthermore, it has been increasing its focus on the antifungal and antidiabetic segments by adding new product capacities or enhancing existing capacities. ADL has a diversified customer base and presence in domestic as well as export markets. However absence of any major product launches, and absence in the complex generic/molecules will restrict any major realization improvement.
 
* Sound operating efficiencies
Aarti group has healthy operating efficiencies supported by high economies of scale and enhanced level of backward and forward integrations for key products and research and development capabilities, which help develop new products and improve processes to optimize costs.
 
* Strong financial risk profile
Networth has been adequate at Rs 541 crore as on March 31, 2019, with moderate total outside liabilities to adjusted net worth ratio of 1.67 times. Also, interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios were comfortable at 4.99 times and 0.26 times, respectively, in fiscal 2019. Financial risk profile is expected to be maintained over the medium term supported by Aarti group management's conservative policy towards external funds, and absence of any major capex or acquisition programme.
 
Weakness
* Capital intensive nature of operations
Aarti Group's operations are capital intensive due to its need to undertaking continuous capital expenditure for refurbishment, debottlenecking and modernisation of its facilities. Further, inspite reduction, the working capital requirements still remain high at GCA of 183 days as on March 31, 2019. As a result majority of the accretions are utilised towards capital expenditure and working capital requirements of the company. This limits the flexibility available with company to fund any major product launches, or any complex product development.
 
* Susceptibility to fluctuations in raw material prices, intense competition, and regulatory risks
The bulk drugs industry is highly competitive due to presence of numerous domestic as well as global players, which exerts pricing pressure on individual entities. This necessitates the company to remain cost competitive to maintain profitability. Indian players, including ADL, also face challenges from increase in inspections and regulatory actions by authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since March 2015, US FDA has banned exports to the US from one of ADL's manufacturing facilities in Tarapur (Maharashtra); however, its impact has been limited as exports to the US account for less than 1% of total sales.
Liquidity

Aarti Group has adequate liquidity driven by expected cash accruals of more than Rs. 120 crore per annum in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 and unencumbered cash and cash equivalents of Rs.4.64 crore as on March 31, 2019. The company also has access to bank limits of Rs.601 crore, utilized to the tune of around 72% over the 12 months trailing May, 2019. The company has long term repayment obligation of around Rs. 36 crore and Rs. 38 crore each in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 and capex of around Rs. 60 crore planned over fiscal 2020. The liquidity is further supported by unsecured loans extended by the promoters to the tune of Rs. 8.57 crore as on March 31, 2019. This funding support is expected to continue over the medium term. CRISIL believes ADL's net cash accruals, unutilized bank limits and cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its incremental working capital, debt repayment and capex requirements over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Aarti group will continue to benefit over the medium term from its established market position in the API business; financial risk profile will remain strong backed by absence of any major debt funded capex or acquisition programme. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of significant and sustainable jump in revenues and operating profitability through shift to new complex molecules, expansion into new export markets or improvement in production efficiency. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if the group's working capital cycle stretches or if it undertakes any unanticipated large debt funded capex or acquisition programme.

About the Group

ADL, incorporated in 1984, manufactures APIs, formulations, advance intermediates, and specialty chemicals; APIs contribute almost 90% to the total revenue. ADL has 11 manufacturing facilities certified under good manufacturing practices in Maharashtra and Gujarat. The company operates in over 90 countries. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.
 
PLSPL, incorporated in 2003, manufactures and packages pharmaceutical formulations. ADL acquired PLSPL in September 2014, making it a wholly own subsidiary. PLSPL recommenced commercial operations in December 2014. Most of its requirement of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is met by ADL.

Key Financial Indicators - Consolidated
  Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs. Cr. 1562 1244
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 90 82
PAT Margin % 5.75 6.62
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.92 1.20
Interest coverage Times 4.99 5.29

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity date Issue Size
(Rs. Cr)
Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 30 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Composite Working Capital Limit NA NA NA 926 CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility Proposed NA NA 35.92 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA March 2022 254.08 CRISIL A+/Stable

Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Aarti Drugs Limited Full Consolidation Similar line of business with operational synergies and wholly owned subsidiary
Pinnacle Life Science Pvt Ltd Full Consolidation Similar line of business with operational synergies and wholly owned subsidiary
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST    --    --  31-12-18  Withdrawal  09-08-17  CRISIL A1  27-12-16  CRISIL A1  CRISIL A1 
            05-10-18  CRISIL A1      15-07-16  CRISIL A1   
            20-08-18  CRISIL A1      08-07-16  CRISIL A1   
            19-03-18  CRISIL A1           
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1246.00  CRISIL A+/Stable/ CRISIL A1      31-12-18  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1  09-08-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  27-12-16  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1 
            05-10-18  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1      15-07-16  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1   
            20-08-18  CRISIL A/Positive/ CRISIL A1      08-07-16  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1   
            19-03-18  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1           
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit 30 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit 30 CRISIL A/Positive
Composite Working Capital Limit 926 CRISIL A1 Composite Working Capital Limit 926 CRISIL A1
Proposed Working Capital Facility 35.92 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Working Capital Facility 35.92 CRISIL A/Positive
Term Loan 254.08 CRISIL A+/Stable Term Loan 254.08 CRISIL A/Positive
Total 1246 -- Total 1246 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for the Pharmaceutical Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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