Rating Rationale
July 04, 2018 | Mumbai
Aishwarya Lifesciences
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.125 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.75 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Aishwarya Lifesciences (ALS; part of the Aishwarya group) at 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'.

The ratings on the bank facilities of ALS continue to reflect benefits derived from association with Alkem Laboratories Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), diversified product portfolio leading to healthy growth in operating income, and a healthy financial risk profile because of comfortable debt protection metrics and networth. These rating strengths are partially offset by customer concentration in revenue, though this has reduced, an average capital structure.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ALS, Aishwarya Healthcare (AHS), and Celebrity Biopharma Ltd (CBL). This is because all the three companies, together referred to as the Aishwarya group, have the same management, shareholders, brand name, and marketing network. Also, there are financial linkages among them.

CRISIL has treated unsecured loans of Rs. 25.95 crore from the promoters of Aishwarya Group as on 31st March 2018 as neither debt nor equity.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Benefits derived from association with Alkem Laboratories Ltd (Alkem)
The Aishwarya group has been obtaining operational support from Alkem, run by Mr. Samprada Singh, relative of the Aishwarya group's promoter, Mr. Niraj Kumar Nir. Also, Alkem continues to be the major customer of the group, contributing around 40 per cent to the group's sales in fiscal 2018. Alkem's contribution has, however, come down from the previous high levels of 70 per cent previously. The Aishwarya group's products, mainly water for injections (WFI), are in the anti-bacterial/anti-infective areas, in which Alkem's sales are concentrated. The presence of the group in these therapeutic areas not only ensures offtake for its products, but also provides reliable supplier base for Alkem. It is thus a mutually beneficial relationship.

* Diversified product portfolio
Aishwarya group has a diversified product portfolio which includes water for injections (WFI), intravenous fluids (IV), powder injections, nasal spray, respules, eye and year drops and other such formulations. Post-acquisition of Celebrity Biopharma Limited (CBL), the group's product portfolio has expanded even more as it manufactures and sells the products of CBL which are generic drugs under the same brand Aishwarya. Diversifying the product portfolio has resulted into strengthening its market position in the pharmaceutical industry. There has been a year on year revenue growth of 38 per cent through fiscal 2018 because of this diversification in the recent past and CRISIL expected level of revenue growth to continue over the medium term.

* Healthy debt protection metrics and net worth
The Aishwarya group's financial risk profile remains healthy. The Aishwarya group started operations in 2006-07 with partners' capital of Rs.1.8 crore. Over the years the networth of the group improved marked by healthy accretion to reserves and as on March 2018 stood at around Rs. 86.0 crore. Though the group has modest scale of operations, robust operating margin of more than 20 per cent and low interest costs result in strong accretions. The debt protection metrics of the company stood healthy marked by interest coverage of around 5 times for fiscal 2018 in line with the past marked by healthy operating margins and moderate remained on short term borrowings. CRISIL believes the Aishwarya group's net worth will continue to grow over the medium term on the back of healthy accretions and continuous improvement in scale of operations.

Weaknesses
* Moderate capital structure
The group started operations with a high gearing due to debt-funding of initial capex. However, over the past six years, on the back of strong accrual, the group has repaid its term debt and advances from Alkem. In fact, the group was prepaying its term debt till 2010 when it started utilizing its accruals for funding capex of ALS. However in fiscal 2017 and 2018 the group expanded its plans and built a new plant in Sikkim to expand its business and also avail the various exemptions extended by the government. The total project cost was around Rs. 82.0 crore and the plant was commissioned in the month of November 2017. The project was funded in the debt to equity ratio of 2:1. This led to leverage or total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio increasing to around 3 times as on March 2018. However going forward as the plant further stabilizes and revenue ramp ups along with no further capex plans, leverage is expected to moderate below 2 times over the medium term.

* Customer concentration in the group's revenue profile
The group is presently dependent on Alkem for sale, identifying the products and defining the manufacturing process. Though the group's indigenous R&D unit has initiated the process of identifying generics which would give higher margins, CRISIL believes that the group will reap substantial benefits from this initiative only in the long term. Moreover, the group derived 40 per cent of its revenue from sale to Alkem. Though Alkem's contribution to revenue has declined from 70 per cent due to increase in sale under own brand, it is expected to remain high at around 40 per cent.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes revenue growth will remain healthy over the medium term because of planned diversification of the product base and established customer relationship. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of significant diversification in the customer base while revenue and profitability are as expected. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if the capital structure weakens because of incremental working capital requirement, significant decline in operating margin, or large debt-funded capital expenditure (capex).

About the Group

AHC was established by Mr Neeraj Kumar and others in 2006. It manufactures intravenous infusion fluids packaged in nipple-head cap infusion bags of up to 100 millilitre (ml); it also manufactures glass vial injections, eye drops, ear drops, and nasal sprays. In 2009, the promoters set up a partnership firm, ALS, which manufactures intravenous infusion fluids packaged in nipple-head cap infusion bags of up to 500 ml. It has also started manufacturing intravenous fluids packaged in eurocap infusion containers of up to 500 ml, and is setting up capacity to manufacture infusion bags of 500-1000 ml. During fiscal 2015, the management acquired CBL which manufactures generic drugs. 

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 Unit 2017 2016
Revenues Rs crore 213.24 187.12
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 10.95 16.31
PAT Margins % 5.13 8.71
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 2.03 1.55
Interest coverage Times 4.5 5.1

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 30.00 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA    Long Term Loan NA NA Jul-2019 22.00 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 2.40 CRISIL A2
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 70.60 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
 
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  122.60  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      16-06-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  05-10-16  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  27-10-15  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  CRISIL BBB+/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2.40  CRISIL A2      16-06-17  CRISIL A2  05-10-16  CRISIL A2  27-10-15  CRISIL A2  CRISIL A2 
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
Bank Guarantee 2.4 CRISIL A2 Bank Guarantee 2.4 CRISIL A2
Cash Credit 30 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 30 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Long Term Loan 22 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Long Term Loan 22 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 70.6 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Proposed Term Loan 20.6 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Total 125 -- Total 75 --
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 Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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