Rating Rationale
December 29, 2023 | Mumbai
Auro Laboratories Limited
Rating outlook revised to 'Stable'; Rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.47.1 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL BBB-/Stable (Outlook revised from 'Negative'; Rating reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A3 (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has revised its rating outlook on the long-term bank facilities of Auro Laboratories Limited (ALL) to ‘Stable’ from ‘Negative’ and reaffirmed the Rating at 'CRISIL BBB-’. and reaffirmed the short term rating at ‘CRISIL A3’.

 

The outlook revision reflects the improvement in business risk profile, backed by steady demand from key customers and healthy recovery in profitability. While revenues remained rangebound around Rs 23.59 crores, operating margins bounced back to 17in during the first half of fiscal 2024. Consequently, cash accruals also improved to Rs 3.22 crores in H1 of fiscal 2024 from Rs 0.79 crore in H1 of fiscal 2023. Steady growth in scale of operations with estimated revenues of Rs 57-58 crores in fiscal 2024 while maintaining healthy profitability of around 16-17%. Financial risk profile remain comfortable, supported by comfortable capital structure and debt protection metrics and adequate liquidity.

 

The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters  in the pharmaceutical industry, strong customer base and its moderate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the large working capital requirement, modest scale of operation amid intense competition and product concentration in revenue.

Analytical Approach

Unsecured loan from promoters is treated as debt

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the promoters: The three decades of experience of the promoters in the pharmaceutical industry along with support of professionally qualified secondary level management, their in-depth understanding of market dynamics and strong relationships with suppliers and customers in India and abroad should continue to support the business. Company has also been diversifying its operations with expansion into new products through capital expenditure.

 

  • Strong customer base: Serving wide geographies have helped expand sales to customers across various countries. The company has large client base and has diversified its geographically presence across various countries such as Egypt, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Brazil, Spain and countries in the United Kingdom accounts for 70-75% revenues, while the remaining comes from the domestic market thereby reducing its geographical concentration risk.

 

 

ALL debt protection measures have also been at healthy level due to healthy profitability. The interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) ratio are at 6.55 times and 0.55 times for fiscal 2023. ALL debt protection measures expected to be moderated in the medium term with expected interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) ratio at 4.18 times and 0.16 time, respectively in fiscal FY 2024.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Modest scale of operation amid intense competition and volatile operating margins: Despite growth, scale of operation remains modest with revenue of Rs 52.89 crore in fiscal 2023. The pharmaceutical industry is highly competitive, which constrains sizeable growth and restricts bargaining power with customers and suppliers, and benefits accruing from economies of scale. Further the operating margins have been volatile between 10-20% over the last 3 fiscal years ended March 31,2023 and though the operating margins has been healthy in H1 of FY 2024  the same has been volatile in past 2 fiscals on account of sharp increase in freight charges and raw material prices and delays in passing on the same to its customers. , Stability and sustenance of operating margins will be monitorable over the medium term.

 

  • Product concentration in revenue: Nearly 80% of the revenue is derived through Metformin HCL (an active pharmaceutical ingredient).  Hence, slowdown in demand or price reduction due to replacement products or regulatory interventions, may impact the business significantly. Product concentration in revenue is likely to reduce with the expected addition of more products. Hence, diversification of product profile and revenue growth will remain key monitorable.

 

  • Large working capital requirement: Gross current assets (GCAs) were sizeable at 242 days, as on March 31, 2023, due to receivables of around 87 days, high other current assets, and high inventory of 90 days. An open credit of 60-90 days is offered to major clients. Payables of 60-117 days support working capital. The inventory days at higher level as currently the company is in capex mode and is in process of integration of capex with existing plant and company doesn’t want to interrupt the sales hence, company is maintaining high inventory. The management of working capital will remain a key monitorable over the medium term.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilization is moderate at 62% for the past twelve months ended September 2023. Cash accruals are expected to be over Rs. Rs 6.41-10.27 crores which are sufficient against term debt obligation of Rs 0.14 – 5.12 crores over the medium term. Current ratio is healthy at 1.97 times on March 31, 2023. The promoters are likely to extend support in the form of equity and unsecured loans to meet its working capital requirements and repayment obligations. The company has a cash and bank balance of Rs.6.35 crore as on September 30, 2023.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believe ALL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoter, and established relationships with clients.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward Factors:

  • Sustenance in revenue and significant improvement in operating margin above 14% leading to cash accurals of more than Rs.13 crores.
  • Sustenance of financial risk profile and liquidity.

 

Downward Factors:

  • Fall in revenue or profitability margin below 7%, leading to lower net cash accrual.
  • Debt-funded capital expenditure or stretched working capital cycle, leading to significant weakening in the financial risk profile and liquidity.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1989 by Mr Sharat Deorah and Mr Siddhartha Deorah, ALL manufactures APIs, majorly Metformin HCL. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Its facility is located in Tarapur, Maharashtra.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

6M FY2024

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

23.59

52.89

50.91

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

2.68

2.44

2.84

PAT margin

%

11.36

4.62

5.59

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

NA

0.19

0.44

Interest coverage

Times

NA

6.55

6.92

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)

ISIN

Name of the instrument

Date of
Allotment

Coupon
Rate (%)

Maturity
Date

Issue size
(Rs. Crore)

Complexity
Level

Rating assigned
with outlook

NA

Bank Guarantee

NA

NA

NA

0.6

NA

CRISIL A3

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

4.5

NA

CRISIL BBB-/Stable

NA

Letter of Credit

NA

NA

NA

5

NA

CRISIL A3

NA

Term Loan

NA

NA

Mar-30

32.04

NA

CRISIL BBB-/Stable

NA

Working Capital Term Loan

NA

NA

NA

0.22

NA

CRISIL BBB-/Stable

NA

Packing Credit

NA

NA

NA

4.5

NA

CRISIL A3

NA

Foreign Exchange Forward

NA

NA

NA

0.24

NA

CRISIL A3

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities ST/LT 41.5 CRISIL BBB-/Stable / CRISIL A3 03-05-23 CRISIL BBB-/Negative / CRISIL A3 27-07-22 CRISIL BBB-/Stable 29-11-21 CRISIL BBB-/Stable 27-08-20 CRISIL BBB-/Stable CRISIL BBB-/Stable
      -- 22-02-23 CRISIL BBB-/Negative   --   --   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 5.6 CRISIL A3 03-05-23 CRISIL A3 27-07-22 CRISIL A3 29-11-21 CRISIL A3 27-08-20 CRISIL A3 CRISIL A3
      -- 22-02-23 CRISIL A3   --   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Bank Guarantee 0.6 Indian Bank CRISIL A3
Cash Credit 4.5 Indian Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Foreign Exchange Forward 0.24 Indian Bank CRISIL A3
Letter of Credit 5 Indian Bank CRISIL A3
Packing Credit 4.5 Indian Bank CRISIL A3
Term Loan 16.5 Indian Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Term Loan 15.54 Indian Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Working Capital Term Loan 0.22 Indian Bank CRISIL BBB-/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for the Pharmaceutical Industry

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