Rating Rationale
July 03, 2024 | Mumbai
Mercury Laboratories Limited
Rating reaffirmed at 'CRISIL BB+/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Rs.3 Crore Fixed DepositsCRISIL BB+/Stable (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 'CRISIL BB+/Stable’ rating on the fixed deposits of Mercury Laboratories Ltd (MLL).

 

The rating considers the steady operating performance of MLL over the two fiscals through 2024, with revenue at Rs 75 crore and operating margin at 11-12%. Revenue was marginally lower than expected in fiscal 2024 as the company was expecting a few orders from its existing clients, which did not materialise. Going forward, demand from export and domestic market is expected to aid business risk profile as the company is setting up new injections manufacturing unit, getting its new products registered into established international market and entering new regions. However, the same remains monitorable. Over the medium term, financial risk profile will remain comfortable, driven by steady accretion to reserve, schedule debt repayments and adequate liquidity, even though the company has planned a debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) for setting up of new injection manufaturing unit.

 

The rating continues to reflect the extensive experience of the promoter in the pharmaceutical industry and the comfortable financial risk profile of the company. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to regulatory changes and volatility in raw materials prices and average scale of operations and large working capital requirement.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the promoter: The promoter’s experience of over five decades in the pharmaceutical industry, his technical expertise, the company’s wide product range in the pediatrics and gynecology segments, the strong team of medical representatives and wide distribution network across India will continue to support the business. The company exports to semi-regulated markets such as Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Afghanistan and the Philippines, which enhances the product reach.

 

  • Comfortable financial risk profile: Financial risk profile should remain supported by reduction in debt levels and moderate accretion to reserve. Networth stood at Rs 50.84 crore, gearing at around 0.08 time and total outside liabilities to tangible networth ratio at 0.34 time as on March 31, 2024. The debt-funded capex for setting up manufacturing capacity for medicines, ampules and injections during fiscals 2024 and 2025 may moderate the financial risk profile going forward. That said, the capital structure will remain supported by steady cash accrual and scheduled debt repayment. Healthy operating profitability and moderate debt have led to adequate debt protection metrics, reflected in interest coverage ratio of 24.14 times and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of 1.93 times for fiscal 2024.

 

Weaknesses:

  • Susceptibility to regulatory changes and volatility in raw materials prices: The pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated by state governments and various central government agencies, such as Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. The central agencies 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. Furthermore, prices of key raw materials (active pharmaceutical ingredients) are volatile. Operating margin stood 12.2% in fiscal 2024 (11.67% in fiscal 2023), marginally lower than expectation of 13% owing to increase in other selling expenses and partial cost passthrough. The margin has fluctuated over the five fiscals through 2024; its sustenance remains a key monitorable.

 

  • Average scale of operations and working capital intensive operations: Operating income remained at Rs 75 crore for fiscals 2023 and 2024 owing to stable demand both in domestic and overseas markets. While healthy demand from the international and domestic markets is expected to aid revenue profile, increase in scale is a key rating sensitivity factor.

 

Gross current assets (GCAs) were 202-213 days over the three fiscals ended March 31, 2024, driven by sizeable receivables of 106 days due to extensive credit provided to customers to remain competitive, and moderate inventory of 38 days. The working capital cycle is expected to remain stretched over the medium term.

Liquidity: Adequate

Bank limit utilisation was around 18% for the 12 months through May 2024. Cash accrual is expected at Rs 8.0-8.6 crore per annum, against yearly debt obligation of Rs 0.18-3.34 crore for fiscals 2025 and 2026; the surplus will aid financial flexibility. Current ratio stood healthy at 3.32 times and cash and bank balance at around Rs 8.22 crore on March 31, 2024. The promoters are likely to extend funds (equity and unsecured loans) to support operations. Low gearing and moderate networth also boost financial flexibility.

Outlook: Stable

MLL will continue to benefit from its established position in the pharmaceutical formulations industry.

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Upward factors:

  • Significant increase in revenue and sustenance of operating margin over 12%, leading to higher-than-expected cash accrual
  • Improvement in the working capital cycle

 

Downward factors:

  • Increase in working capital requirement, with GCAs more than 240 days
  • Large, debt-funded capex

About the Company

Incorporated in 1982 and promoted by Vadodara–based Mr R R Shah, MLL is engaged in formulating, developing, marketing and distributing safe, innovative, cost-effective therapeutic compliance medicines. The company has two plants, which manufacture oral liquid, tablets and dry powder – Unit 1 plant in Vadodara and Unit 2 at Jarod, 22 kilometre from Vadodara. The plants have state-of-the-art technology and are environment friendly and energy saving.  They also have WHO-GMP accreditation besides accreditation facility with several countries. The company has a presence in more than 25 countries directly and in 15 countries indirectly.  Its major brands are K-Win, K-Stat, T-Stat, Merizyme and Promolact.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended March 31

Unit

2024

2023

Operating income

Rs crore

75.77

75.55

Reported profit after tax

Rs crore

5.65

5.24

PAT margins

%

7.46

7.38

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth

Times

0.08

0.12

Interest coverage

Times

24.14

24.35

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 Fixed Deposit NA NA NA 3 Simple CRISIL BB+/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
Fixed Deposits LT 3.0 CRISIL BB+/Stable   -- 28-07-23 CRISIL BB+/Stable 29-12-22 CRISIL BB+/Stable 16-06-21 F B+/Stable F B+/Stable
      --   --   -- 28-07-22 CRISIL BB+/Stable   -- --
      --   --   -- 21-06-22 CRISIL BB+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*   -- --
      --   --   -- 31-05-22 F B+ /Stable(Issuer Not Cooperating)*   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
* - Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
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
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
Rating Criteria for the Pharmaceutical Industry
CRISILs criteria for rating fixed deposit programmes
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Aveek Datta
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 99204 93912
B: +91 22 3342 3000
AVEEK.DATTA@crisil.com

Prakruti Jani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
M: +91 98678 68976
B: +91 22 3342 3000
PRAKRUTI.JANI@crisil.com

Rutuja Gaikwad 
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
B: +91 22 3342 3000
Rutuja.Gaikwad@ext-crisil.com


Nitin Kansal
Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
D:+91 124 672 2154
nitin.kansal@crisil.com


Nilesh Agarwal
Associate Director
CRISIL Ratings Limited
D:+91 79 4024 4531
nilesh.agarwal1@crisil.com


Jinagna Dixit Shah
Senior Rating Analyst
CRISIL Ratings Limited
B:+91 79 4024 4500
Jinagna.Shah@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL Ratings. However, CRISIL Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About CRISIL Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of CRISIL Limited, an S&P Global Company)

CRISIL Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).
 
CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited ('CRISIL'). CRISIL Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").
 
For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL. For further information on CRISIL's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') that is provided by CRISIL Ratings Limited ('CRISIL Ratings'). To avoid doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as CRISIL Ratings providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL Ratings and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the report. In preparing our report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Ratings are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold or sell any securities/instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL Ratings assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL Ratings may disseminate its opinions and analysis. The rating contained in the report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way. CRISIL Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains.

Neither CRISIL Ratings nor its affiliates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, 'CRISIL Ratings Parties') guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the report, and no CRISIL Ratings Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the report. EACH CRISIL RATINGS PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Ratings Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. Public ratings and analysis by CRISIL Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its website, www.crisilratings.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee - more details about ratings by CRISIL Ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL Ratings and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL Ratings has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL Ratings does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on in its reports. CRISIL Ratings has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to:
https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html.

Rating criteria by CRISIL Ratings are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL Ratings public website, www.crisilratings.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL Ratings, you may contact the CRISIL Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without prior written consent from CRISIL Ratings.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL Ratings Limited. CRISIL Ratings is a wholly owned subsidiary of CRISIL Limited.

 

 

CRISIL Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on CRISIL Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html