Rating Rationale
August 06, 2018 | Mumbai
Bliss GVS Pharma Limited
Ratings removed from 'Watch developing'; Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.84 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Stable (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has removed its ratings on the bank facilities of Bliss GVS Pharma Limited (Bliss; part of the Bliss group) from 'Watch with Developing Implications', and has reaffirmed the ratings at 'CRISIL BBB/CRISIL A3+', while assigning a 'Stable' outlook.
 
CRISIL had, on January 31, 2018, placed the ratings on watch following the announcement of stake sale in step down subsidiary Bliss GVS Healthcare Ltd, Kenya (BGHL; contributed ~46% of the consolidated turnover in fiscal 2017). The group had entered into a definitive agreement with Mayfair Healthcare Holdings Ltd for sale of 51% shares of BGHL, for a consideration of ~ Rs 78 crore.  
 
Furthermore, Kremoint Pharma Pvt Ltd, a 70% subsidiary of Bliss, has acquired 60% stake in Eco-Rich Cosmetic India Pvt Ltd as per the announcement on April 20, 2018, with purchase consideration estimated at around Rs 70 lakh. The watch was extended on May 04, 2018, pending clarity on the Bliss group's business strategy, investment plans and capital structure over the medium term, after the divestment in BGHL.
 
The watch resolution and reaffirmation of ratings reflect CRISIL's belief that the Bliss group will use the proceeds from sale of stake in BGHL largely towards paring down debt. The management has plans towards augmenting its manufacturing capacities in India, however, CRISIL expect the same to be significantly funded out of internal accruals thereby keeping its reliance on external debt low. Further, with an intention of augmenting its scale of business, the company has started trading in active pharmaceutical ingredients through its Singapore subsidiary, Bliss GVS Clinic Healthcare Pte Ltd in African markets. CRISIL believes the company's extensive experience in African continent will help in establishing its trading business without significant working capital intensity. Further, the group will also benefit from improved liquidity on the back of proceeds received from the divestment of BGHL.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of the Bliss group's promoters in the pharmaceuticals industry, established brand portfolio in the African markets, and healthy financial risk profile because of large networth, comfortable debt protection metrics, and adequate liquidity. The strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and exposure to risks related to geographical concentration in revenue.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Bliss and its subsidiaries, together referred to as the Bliss group, because all these entities are in the same business, and have common promoters and strong operational and financial links.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Extensive experience of promoters and established brand: Three-decade long experience of the group's promoters in the pharmaceutical industry has helped them to develop brands in the African market in various therapeutic segments, and establish healthy relationship with distributors, thereby improving business risk profile. P-Alaxin, Lonart, Funbact, and Lofnac are some of the group's established brands in the anti-malarial, dermatology, and anti-inflammatory segments. Also, the Bliss group is one of the leaders in manufacturing suppositories and pessaries dosage forms, which are expected to generate stable revenue over the medium term.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Networth increased to Rs 537.6 crore as on March 31, 2018, from Rs 498.97 crore in the previous year on account of ramp up in operations; while operating margin remained steady at around 24%. Total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio was strong at 0.58 time as on March 31, 2018. Debt protection metrics also remained comfortable, with interest coverage ratio of 10.44 times during fiscal 2018. Fund inflow from stake sale in BGHL and incremental cash accrual are expected to improve liquidity over the medium term.

Weakness
* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets were 308 days as on March 31, 2018, because of stretched receivables of 134 days. Exports have a transit period of 90-100 days as well as the company offers a credit period in the range of 3-4 months to the customers. CRISIL expects the group's operations to continue to be working capital intensive over the medium term.
 
* Exposure to geographical concentration in revenue: Around 85% of total revenue comes from African countries, which exposes performance to regulatory and other policy changes. The exposure to the African region is expected to remain at similar levels with API trading business also focused towards the same region.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Bliss group would continue to benefit from extensive experience of its promoters in pharmaceutical industry, established brand portfolio in African region and swift ramp up in the API trading business coupled with healthy financial risk profile supported by sufficient liquidity. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of sustained and substantial improvement in the group's working capital cycle along with geographical diversity and scale while maintaining its profitability. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if decline in scale of operations or profitability leads to lower-than-expected cash accrual, or if capital structure weakens because of further stretch in working capital cycle or sizeable debt-funded capital expenditure. 

About the Group

Incorporated in 1984 and promoted by Mr S N Kamath and Mr Gautam Ashra, Bliss develops and manufactures pharmaceutical formulations mainly for sale in the African countries. The company sells formulations in the form of suppositories, pessaries, capsules, tablets, and syrups. At present, it manufactures more than 250 branded formulations in the anti-malarial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-biotic, anti-inflammatory, contraceptive, and anti-diabetic segments. Bliss also contract-manufactures suppositories and pessaries for Sanofi, Sun Pharma, Mankind, and Alkem. However, these clients do not have rights for exporting the products. The company has four subsidiaries i.e., Bliss GVS Healthcare Pte. Ltd., Kremoint Pharma Private Limited, Asterisk Lifesciences Limited, Bliss GVS International Pte. Ltd. and three step-down subsidiaries.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs. Cr. 815.10 799.8
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. 88.6 116.3
PAT Margins % 10.9 14.5
Adj. Debt/Adj. Net worth Times 0.20 0.52
Interest coverage Times 10.4 11.0

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 Bill Discounting NA NA NA 50 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 10 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Inland/Import Letter of Credit NA NA NA 14 CRISIL A3+
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Mar-19 10 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  70.00  CRISIL BBB/Stable  04-05-18  CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing      05-10-16  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+    --  -- 
        31-01-18  CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing               
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  14.00  CRISIL A3+  04-05-18  CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing      05-10-16  CRISIL A3+    --  -- 
        31-01-18  CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing               
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
Bill Discounting 50 CRISIL BBB/Stable Bill Discounting 40 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing 
Cash Credit 10 CRISIL BBB/Stable Cash Credit 20 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing
Inland/Import Letter of Credit 14 CRISIL A3+ Letter of Credit 8.5 CRISIL A3+/Watch Developing
Long Term Loan 10 CRISIL BBB/Stable Long Term Loan 15.5 CRISIL BBB/Watch Developing
Total 84 -- Total 84 --
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

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Amit Bhave
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 33423113
amit.bhave@crisil.com


Jumana Badshah
Associate Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 8324
Jumana.Badshah@crisil.com


Supriya Vyas
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4040 5930
Supriya.Vyas@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. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are 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

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets 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 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
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 forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of 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 providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL 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 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 or otherwise 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 Rating 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 assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL 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.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL 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 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 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. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis 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 web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING 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 a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL