Rating Rationale
July 11, 2024 | Mumbai
Gufic Biosciences Limited
Ratings reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities RatedRs.425 Crore
Long Term RatingCRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term RatingCRISIL A2+ (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 reaffirmed its ratings on the bank loan facilities of Gufic Biosciences Ltd (GBL) at 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'.

  

The ratings reflect the established market position of GBL in the pharmaceutical business, well-established customer base and comfortable financial risk to risks related to stabilization of the ongoing project profile. These strengths are partially offset by vulnerability to adverse changes in government regulations, large working capital requirement and exposure.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Established market position in the pharmaceutical industry: The promoters have over five decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Their strong understanding of market dynamics and healthy relationships with customers and suppliers should continue to support the business. GBL obtained various certifications and approvals for its manufacturing facilities and diversified its product portfolio through continuous R&D. The product portfolio is diversified, with the top 10 products contributing to over 14.5% of revenues in fiscal 2024. Revenues have grown to around Rs 807 crores in fiscal 2024 from Rs 690 crore in fiscal 2023 and is expected to increase further, backed by healthy demand, continuous R&D and diversified product portfolio. Furthermore, steady ramp up of the newly established Indore unit, which is expected to commence commercial production from July 2024, should contribute to incremental growth. Established market position in the pharmaceutical industry should continue to support the business risk profile over the medium term.

 

  • Well-established customer base: Clientele comprises large players such as Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Lupin Ltd, Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd and Zydus Healthcare Ltd. Healthy relationships with reputed pharmaceutical players led to repeat orders, contributing to steady revenue growth over the years. Besides, it has a network of 25 carrying and forwarding agents and more than 500 stockists across India, through which it has access to over 1 lakh retailers. The top five customers contributed 24% of the revenue profile in fiscal 2024. Benefits from longstanding relationships with the well-established customer base will persist.

 

  • Strong financial risk profile: Networth was strong at around Rs 532 crores as on March 31,2024, an increase from Rs 347 crore a year earlier backed by steady accretion to reserves and equity infusions. The total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio and gearing are expected to stood at around 1 time and 0.60 times as on March 31,2024 (1.48 times and 0.90 times as on March 31,2023) due to moderate reliance on external debt with high working capital and capex requirement. The debt protection metrics are robust, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios estimated at 9.6 times and 0.3, respectively, in fiscal 2024. Though expected to deteriorate slightly due to higher debt levels, it is expected to remain comfortable over the medium term. The financial risk profile is expected to remain comfortable over the medium term backed by stable profitability and no further debt funded capex plans in place.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Vulnerability to adverse changes in government regulations: The pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated by state governments and various government agencies, which approve new drugs and clinical trials, control the quality of imported drugs and set prices for many critical drugs; while state authorities regulate manufacture, sales and distribution. Any unfavourable regulation may adversely impact the business of GBL.

 

  • Large working capital requirement: The working capital cycle is likely to remain stretched. Gross current assets (GCAs) stood at around 259 days as on March 31, 2024, driven by high debtors of 150 days (109 days as on March 31, 2023) and huge inventory of 111 days (120 days as on March 31, 2023). Debtors have increased due to the increased credit period offered to certain customers extending up to 120-180 days. , Furthermore, due to its business need, it holds large raw material and work-in-process inventory of 90-120 days. GBL’s operations are expected to remain working capital intensive over the medium term.

 

  • Exposure to risks related to the stabilization of ongoing project: GBL has undertaken a greenfield project at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, to expand capacities of existing formulations/injectables and incorporate new product. While the project has been completed, with commercial production expected to commence from July 2024, timely stabilization and subsequent ramp up remains a key for the medium term. Similarly, maintenance of healthy operating margins at 18-18.5% with the newly incorporated product lines remains a key monitorable for the medium term.

Liquidity: Strong

Cash accrual is projected to be Rs 115-140 crore in fiscals 2025 and 2026, which is sufficient to meet the debt obligation of Rs 21-22 crores each. The fund-based bank limit of Rs 150 crore (enhanced from Rs 110 crores in May 2023) was utilised at 40% on average for the 12 months through March 2024. Cash and cash equivalent were at around Rs 12-13 crore as on March 31,2024. CRISIL Ratings expects internal accrual, cash and cash equivalent, and unutilised bank lines to be sufficient to meet the capex, debt obligation and incremental working capital requirement.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL Ratings believes GBL’s business risk profile will continue to improve over the medium term, driven by increasing scale of operations with stable operating margin.

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Upward factors:

  • Sustained revenue growth and stable operating margin above 18%, leading to cash accrual of more than Rs 120 crore
  • Improvement in working capital cycle and sustenance of healthy financial risk profile

 

Downward factors:

  • Sharp decline in revenue or operating margin to below 15%, leading to lower than expected cash accrual less
  • Stretch in the working capital requirement or higher-than-expected capex, weakening liquidity

About the Company

Incorporated in 1984 by the Choksi family, GBL manufactures formulations across various therapeutic segments such as antifungal, anesthetics and immunosuppressants. The key business segments are pharmaceutical products (92% contribution to revenue), and bulk drugs (8%) . Its facilities are at Navsari, Belgaum, Karnataka; and Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Mr Jayesh P Choksi (chairman and managing director) and Mr Pranav J Choksi (CEO) manage the business. GBL is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2024 12M

2023

2022

Operating income

Rs crore

806.67

690.62

779.22

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

85.95

79.70

95.84

PAT margin

%

10.66

11.54

12.30

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.60

0.90

0.23

Interest coverage

Times

9.64

16.69

30.69

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 110 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 50 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 30 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2031 115 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA Mar-2033 60 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2024 (History) 2023  2022  2021  Start of 2021
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund Based Facilities LT 325.0 CRISIL A-/Stable   -- 05-05-23 CRISIL A-/Stable 10-10-22 CRISIL BBB+/Positive 25-10-21 CRISIL BBB+/Stable --
      --   --   -- 07-04-22 CRISIL BBB+/Positive   -- --
Non-Fund Based Facilities ST 100.0 CRISIL A2+   -- 05-05-23 CRISIL A2+ 10-10-22 CRISIL A2   -- --
      --   --   -- 07-04-22 CRISIL A2   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 20 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 110 The Saraswat Co-Operative Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit 20 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of Credit 50 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 20 The Saraswat Co-Operative Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 30 Axis Bank Limited CRISIL A2+
Term Loan 115 The Saraswat Co-Operative Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Term Loan 60 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL A-/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Rating Criteria for the Pharmaceutical Industry
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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