Rating Rationale
February 09, 2024 | Mumbai
 
Fredun Pharmaceuticals Limited
Ratings migrated to 'CRISIL BB+ / Stable / CRISIL A4+ '
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.85 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB+/Stable (Migrated from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable ISSUER NOT COOPERATING*')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Migrated from 'CRISIL A4+ ISSUER NOT COOPERATING*')
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
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information

 

Detailed Rationale

Due to inadequate information and in line with the Securities and Exchange Board of India guidelines, CRISIL Ratings had migrated its ratings on the bank facilities of Fredun Pharmaceuticals Limited (FPL) to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+ Issuer Not Cooperating'. However, the management has started sharing the information required for a comprehensive review of the ratings. Consequently, the bank facilities has migrated to 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+’ from 'CRISIL BB+/Stable/CRISIL A4+ Issuer Not Cooperating'.

 

The ratings reflect extensive experience of the promoters in the pharmaceutical formulations business, diversified product profile with geographical presence and moderate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by customer concentration in revenues, large working capital requirement with increasing scale of operations, exposure of the operating margin to volatility in raw material prices and stretched liquidity.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Extensive experience of the promoters: The key promoters of FBL -- Dr Daulat Medhora and Mr. Nariman Medhora – have an experience of over three decades in the pharmaceuticals formulations business and have been instrumental in research & development work and manufacturing of new products. Furthermore, Mr. Fredun Medhora (managing director) has been in the in business for over a decade. The promoters-initiated strategies to expand product categories and enhance geographical reach and are expected to continue to infuse timely need-based funding support which supports the overall business profile.

 

  • Diversified product profile and geographical reach: FPL has offerings in 23 therapeutic classes (including anti-diabetics, anti-retroviral and anti-hypertensive), with around 1100 products registered in the domestic and overseas markets. It also exports to over 46 countries in South Asia, Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States, and Latin America. The wide product basket and geographical presence provide diversity in the revenue profile. The addition of new product registrations and foray into new product categories and markets help in the consistent scaling up of operations. Revenues increased to Rs 273 crores in fiscal 2023 from Rs 96 crore in fiscal 2019 and is expected to continue to grow at a healthy pace supported by new product launches as well as healthy demand from the key customers.

 

  • Moderate capital structure: FPL’s networth stood at Rs 96 crores as on March 31, 2023, and is estimated to gradually improve in fiscal 2024 and beyond with steady accretion to reserves.  Overall, capital structure is marked by comfortable gearing and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth of around 0.30-0.50 times and 1-1.5 times estimated as on March 31, 2024 (from 0.90 time and 1.67 times, respectively, a year before). Debt protection metrics are moderate, with interest coverage and net cash accruals to adjusted debt of above 3.5-4 times and 0.25-0.30 times in fiscal 2024 (as against 3.23 times and 0.15 times, respectively, in fiscal 2023). Capital structure is expected to remain moderate over the medium term in the absence of any major debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) or acquisition plans.

 

Weakness:

  • Customer concentration in revenues: During the first half of fiscal 2024, top 5 customers accounted for around 65-70% of the total revenues exposing the company to moderate risk of customer concentration. While this risk is partially mitigated by established long-standing relationships with customers excess dependence on few customers would be key monitorable for the medium term.

 

  • Large working capital requirements: Overall operations remain working capital intensive with significant increase in gross current assets have increased to around 287 days as on March 31, 2023 primarily driven by debtors of around 46 days and inventory of around 225 days. Debtors are expected to remain moderate as the company extends a credit period 100-120 days to its customers. Inventory levels have significantly increased in fiscal 2023 and remained high as on Sept 2023, primarily on account of newer product launches for which the company maintains sufficient inventory. This has also resulted in high dependence in working capital limits. While the inventory cycle is expected to ease over the medium term, with increase in acceptances of the newly launched products in the market, efficient management of the working capital cycle amidst increasing scale of operations remains critical and would be closely monitored.

 

  • Exposure to volatility in input material prices: The operating margin has fluctuated between 8% and 11% for the four fiscals ended March 31, 2023. The Company has export-oriented business and sells its products to semi-regulated markets. Rise in key input prices, higher logistics cost and expenditure towards new product development/registration impact profitability. Further, large inventory stocking exposes the company to sharp variations in raw material prices. However, given the company’s large product basket, it limits exposure to a particular product, in case of significant price variations.

Liquidity: Stretched

While overall bank limit utilization (including PCFC limits) was moderate and averaged around 78% over the last twelve months ending November 2023, cash credit limits in one of the banks remain highly utilized close to 98-100% over the past six months straining the overall liquidity profile. However, the net cash accruals are expected to be in the range of Rs 20-25 crores which should support working capital requirements and repayment obligations of Rs 4 crores each for fiscals 2024 and 2025. Additionally, the company had cash and cash equivalents of around Rs 1-2 crores, as on September 2023. While the company is expected to raise funds in near term to fund working capital, however timely closure of the same remains a key monitorable for the medium term. Additionally, liquidity should remain supported by the timely, need-based funds extended by the promoters.

Outlook Stable

FPL will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of its promoters and its diversified product basket and customer base.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Sharp rise in topline and better operating profitability, leading to higher cash accrual 
  • Improvement in working capital cycle and bank limit utilization of below 85% aiding liquidity

 

Downward factors:

  • Decline in revenue and operating profitability, resulting in lower than expected cash accruals 
  • Further stretch in the working capital cycle with GCA above 320 days or a large, debt-funded capex weakening the liquidity

About the Company

FPL was incorporated in 1987 by Mr Nariman Medhora and his wife, Dr Daulat Medhora. The company manufactures pharmaceutical formulations such as tablets, syrups, capsules, and ointments. Product basket includes multiple therapeutic classes such as anti-diabetics, anti-retroviral and anti-hypertensive. The manufacturing unit is in Palghar, Maharashtra, and the corporate office in Mumbai.

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period ended

Unit

6 months ended Sept 30, 2023

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2022

Operating income

Rs. Crore

144.03

274.08

222.59

Reported profit after tax (PAT)

Rs. Crore

6.34

10.81

6.34

PAT margin

%

4.4

3.9

2.8

Adjusted debt/adjusted networth

Times

0.58

0.90

0.89

Interest coverage

Times

3.2

3.2

3.2

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 instrument

Date of
allotment

Coupon
rate (%)

Maturity date

Issue size
(Rs.Crore)

Complexity Levels

Rating assigned
with outlook

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

28

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

NA

Cash Credit

NA

NA

NA

35

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

NA

Packing Credit

NA

NA

NA

5

NA

CRISIL A4+

NA

Proposed Cash Credit Limit

NA

NA

NA

5

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

NA

Term Loan

NA

NA

May-2027

12

NA

CRISIL BB+/Stable

Annexure - Details of Bank Lenders & Facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Name of Lender Rating
Cash Credit 28 State Bank of India CRISIL BB+/Stable
Cash Credit 35 HDFC Bank Limited CRISIL BB+/Stable
Packing Credit 5 Saraswat Bank CRISIL A4+
Proposed Cash Credit Limit 5 Not Applicable CRISIL BB+/Stable
Term Loan 12 Saraswat Bank CRISIL BB+/Stable
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
Rating Criteria for the Pharmaceutical Industry
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition

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