Rating Rationale
November 23, 2017 | Mumbai
IPCA Laboratories Limited
Ratings reaffirmed 
 
Rating Action
Rs.5 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper  CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL's ratings on the debt programmes of IPCA Laboratories Limited (Ipca) continue to reflect its established position in the domestic formulations segment, presence in diverse therapeutic segments, and integrated operations. The ratings also factor in strong financial risk profile, with robust capital structure and healthy debt protection metrics. These rating strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations, exposure to intensifying competition in the pharmaceutical industry, and susceptibility of performance to regulatory changes in the domestic and international markets.
 
Revenue grew 8% year-on-year in fiscal 2017, led by healthy growth in the domestic formulations segment (14% against 8% in fiscal 2016). Export revenue, on the other hand, witnessed sedate growth of around 8% largely due to currency volatility in key markets. Contribution of institutional anti-malarial and US businesses was minimal pending remediation of regulatory issues raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). Operating margin, which declined to around 11% in fiscal 2016 following lower revenue and high remediation costs, improved to 14% in fiscal 2017 on the back of healthy revenue growth. CRISIL expects overall revenue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11% over the medium term, driven by healthy growth in domestic markets. Operating profitability too, is expected to improve to around 15-16% in this period supported by healthy growth and absence of significant remediation costs. Resolution of the import alert issued by US FDA will remain a key rating monitorable.
 
Ipca has a strong financial risk profile marked by a healthy capital structure and debt protection metrics. Networth was Rs 2440 crore as on March 31, 2017 while gearing was around 0.30 times. Debt protection metrics for fiscal 2017 were also healthy, reflected in the interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) ratios of around 19 times and 0.48 time, respectively. Absence of any large debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) and steady accrual are likely to keep the financial risk profile strong over the medium term.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Ipca and its subsidiaries because of their high operational and financial linkages.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in domestic formulations with presence in diverse segments: Ipca has an established position in the domestic formulations market and is among India's leading pharmaceutical companies. Product portfolio has been expanding in the fast-growing therapeutic segments, such as pain management, cardio vascular (CVS), anti-diabetic, and dermatology. The domestic formulations segment is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 13-14% over the next 3 years.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: Financial risk profile remains strong, backed by a substantial networth of Rs 2440 crore and robust capital structure with gearing at 0.30 time, as of March 31, 2017, along with healthy debt protection metrics in fiscal 2017. In the absence of sizeable debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) plans, the financial risk profile is likely to remain stable.
 
Weaknesses
* Working capital intensive operations: Ipca's operations have high working capital intensity. Gross current assets were sizeable at around 195 days as on March 31, 2017, on account of large inventory and export receivables. The company operates in multiple geographies and has a wide product portfolio; hence, it is required to maintain substantial inventory to ensure adequate supply. Given a continuously expanding product portfolio, operations will remain working capital intensive over the medium term.
 
* Exposure to intense competition and regulatory changes: Around 75% of revenue is derived from sales of drugs in the CVS, anti-diabetic, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and anti-malarial segments. These segments are intensely competitive because of the presence of a large number of players.  Regulatory risks were manifested in the US FDA action in fiscal 2015; three manufacturing facilities located at Ratlam, Indore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) (both in Madhya Pradesh), and Piparia (Silvassa) received import alerts. This also affected the company's institutional anti-malarial business, thereby leading to a deterioration in the business risk profile. The company has since then completed a majority of the remediation and is awaiting re-inspection by the regulator.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that Ipca's business risk profile is likely to improve over the medium term led by high double-digit growth in the domestic segment, gradual diversification of revenue profile, and sustenance of operating margin at 15-16% over the medium term.
 
Upside scenario
* Healthy revenue growth at 14-16%
* Diversification of revenue profile with commencement of global fund business and significant increase in revenue from other markets, including from US markets.
* Operating profitability above 16% and healthy financial risk profile.
 
Downside scenario
* Decline in profitability to below 14% due to intensifying competition
* Weakening of capital structure and debt protection metrics on account of large debt-funded capex or acquisition, or stretch in working capital cycle.

About the Company

Ipca, set up in 1949, manufactures formulations, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and drug intermediates. Its product range includes anti-malarial, pain management, anti-emetic, antibiotic, analgesic, anti-diabetic, and cardiovascular medicines; and formulations for cough and cold therapy, skin problems, and problems with the central nervous system. The company is one of India's largest suppliers of bulk drugs, such as atenolol (anti-hypertensive), chloroquine and artemisinin derivatives (anti-malarial), furosemide (diuretic), and pyrantel salts (anthelmintic).

For six months ended September 2017, on standalone basis, net profit was Rs 76.2 crore on operating income of Rs 1577 crore, against net profit of Rs 102.5 crore on revenue of Rs 1739 crore for the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. cr. 3211 2906
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. cr. 195 93
PAT Margins % 6.2 3.2
Adjusted debt/Adjusted networth Times 0.29 0.38
Interest coverage Times 17.76 9.17

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
INE571A07035 Non-convertible debentures 12-Dec-2012 9.25% 12-Dec-2017 5.00 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Commercial paper NA NA 7-365 days 50.00 CRISIL A1+
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  CRISIL AA-/Stable    No Rating Change  28-06-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable  21-09-15  CRISIL AA/Negative    No Rating Change  CRISIL AA/Stable 
Commercial Paper  ST  50   CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+ 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --  30-06-17  Withdrawal  28-06-16  CRISIL AA-/Stable  21-09-15  CRISIL AA/Negative    No Rating Change  CRISIL AA/Stable 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
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 rating short term debt

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