Rating Rationale
February 17, 2020 | Mumbai
Paushak Limited
Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.40 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A-/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of Paushak Limited (Paushak).
 
The rating continues to reflect the company's established market position in the phosgene-based specialty chemicals market, its strong operating efficiency, and healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by the moderate scale of operations and exposure to implementation and demand risks, associated with the large capital expenditure (capex).
 
Revenue of Rs 109 crore was reported for the first nine months of fiscal 2020, a year-on-year growth of 8%.  Growth is likely to be in the range of 7-8%, over the medium term, led by improved realisations as the current capacity is almost fully utilised. Operating margin is likely to sustain around 27-30% over the medium term (32% for the first nine months of fiscal 2020). Capex of Rs 120 crore, to increase capacities, has commenced in fiscal 2020, with about Rs 25 crore expended till date. The capex was earlier expected to commence in fiscal 2019; but was delayed because the plants were redesigned to optimise the efficiencies. Capex is expected to be largely funded with internal accrual. Timely execution of capex and successful ramp-up will be a key rating monitorable.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position in the speciality chemicals industry: Paushak has an established market position, backed by its presence of over four decades in the phosgene-based intermediates segment. The company derives revenue from chloroformates, isocynates, specialty chemicals, carbonates and phosgene gas. These products have a wide range of applications across industries such as pharmaceuticals and agro-chemicals. Revenue has grown by 8% to Rs 109 crore in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, from Rs 101 crore in the corresponding period of last fiscal. With some part of the production capacities likely to be commercialised by September ' December 2020, ramp up in scale is expected from fiscal 2022 onwards. With the management's focus on enhancing capacities and capitalising on improved demand, growth is expected to gather momentum over the medium term.
 
* Strong operating efficiency: Paushak's strong operating efficiency is aided by its backward integrated operations, which have led to strong operating margin (32% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020, and 29% in fiscal 2019), and return on capital employed (RoCE; expected at 20% for fiscal 2020). The company is one of the few players licenced to manufacture phosgene gas, which involves government restrictions. RoCE is expected to sustain around 18% through the capex cycle. Further, the working capital cycle is moderate with receivables and inventory of 86 and 66 days as on March 31, 2019, respectively.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Networth has grown steadily, aided by accretion to reserves, and is expected to be healthy at Rs 200 crore as on March 31, 2020. Absence of debt in the past, led to comfortable debt protection metrics. Planned capex of Rs 120 crore, to be incurred over the next few years, will be largely funded via internal accrual, and surplus cash equivalents of around Rs 50 crore as on September 30, 2019.
 
Weaknesses:
* Moderate scale of operations: Despite being in existence for over four decades, the company operates on a moderate scale. Growth momentum has picked up in the past 18 months, driven by diversification of customer base, and revenue is likely to be around Rs 150 crore for fiscal 2020. Apart from the pharmaceutical sector, the company now caters to other sectors such as agro-chemicals and performance-based materials. Timely execution of capex will be critical for a faster growth momentum.
 
* Exposure to risks related to the large capex: Paushak is undertaking large capex of about Rs 120 crore over fiscals 2020-2022. This will be mainly to expand existing capacities, and increasing the phosgene capacity by upto three times. The company faces implementation risk as capex is significantly higher than the current gross block, and is in the initial stages. Capex commenced in fiscal 2020, as against earlier expectation of fiscal 2019. Till date, Rs 25 crore of capex has been carried out, and Rs 75-80 crore is likely to be incurred in fiscal 2021, and the balance in the following year.  Any significant cost or time overrun remains a rating sensitivity factor. However, CRISIL derives significant comfort from its promoters' experience in successfully executing large capex in group companies.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is marked by a cash equivalents surplus of about Rs 50 crore as on September 30, 2019, and low bank limit utilisation. Expected cash accrual of over Rs 30 crore, per fiscal, is expected to suffice to cover the incremental working capital requirement. Capex of Rs 120 crore, to be incurred over the next three fiscals, will also be largely funded via internal accrual.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Paushak will continue to benefit from its established market position, diverse product profile and strong operating efficiency.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Improvement in product mix
* Higher-than-expected revenue growth of 12% over the medium term, and sustenance of healthy operating profitability
* Sustenance of healthy financial risk profile
 
Downward factors
* Decline in operating margin to below 20%
* Time or cost overruns in capex, or debt-funded acquisition, weakening key credit metrics
About the Company

Incorporated in 1972, Paushak is managed by Mr Chirayu Amin and his family members, promoters of Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'). Paushak manufactures phosgene-based specialty chemicals, used in the pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals and performance-enhancement industries.
 
Paushak is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. As on December 31, 2019, the promoters and their group entities held a 66.71% stake, and the balance was with the public.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, profit after tax (PAT) and operating income was Rs 28.54 crore and Rs 109 crore, respectively as against Rs 29.27 crore and Rs 101 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore. 140 104
PAT * Rs crore. 39 21
PAT Margin % 28.9 28.5
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0 0
Interest coverage Times 378 316
*Includes exceptional profit from sale of land of Rs 10.15 crores

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 Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 11.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 9.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 20.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  40.00  CRISIL A-/Stable          17-12-18  CRISIL A-/Stable    --  -- 
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
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 20 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 20 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Working Capital Facility 9 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Working Capital Facility 9 CRISIL A-/Stable
Working Capital Facility 11 CRISIL A-/Stable Working Capital Facility 11 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 40 -- Total 40 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Chemical Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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