Rating Rationale
December 21, 2017 | Mumbai
Inogent Laboratories Private Limited
Ratings on non-guaranteed facilities continues on 'Watch Positive'  
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.142 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (Continues on 'Rating Watch with Positive Implications')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL's ratings on the non-guaranteed bank facilities of Inogent Laboratories Pvt Ltd (Inogent; part of the GVK Bio group) remain on 'rating watch with positive implications' while the rating on the guaranteed facilities has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable'.
 
CRISIL had placed the ratings on watch on July 13, 2017, on the expectation of an improvement in the company's credit risk profile given the plans of its parent, GVK Biosciences Pvt Ltd (GVK Bio; 'CRISIL A+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), to merge the two entities. The merger would be subject to approvals from various stakeholders and regulators and the management expects to close the deal in the early part of fiscal 2019.
 
CRISIL is monitoring developments in this regard and will remove the ratings from watch and take a final rating action once the transaction is complete in all respects.
 
The rating on the guaranteed instruments is reaffirmed as it already reflects the credit risk profile of the guarantor and parent, GVK Bio, and will be unaffected by the merger.
 
The ratings reflect improvement in operating performance supported by sustained growth in the custom chemical synthesis (CCS) business, and an adequate financial risk profile. The ratings also factor in strong and timely financial and operational support from GVK Bio. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and large capital expenditure (capex) over the medium term.
 
CRISIL's rating on the Rs 85-crore long-term loan facility is based on the strength of the unconditional and irrevocable guarantee extended by GVK Bio. The rating reflects the strength of the guarantor, and is supported by GVK Bio's undertaking to meet Inogent's debt obligation within seven calendar days of the due date, if the latter is unable to do so.

Analytical Approach

* For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has applied its criteria for notching up ratings for parent support to factor in the strong linkages with GVK Bio.
* CRISIL has treated unsecured loans extended by GVK Bio as neither debt nor equity as they are likely to remain in the business and have no fixed obligation.

 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Improved operating performance: Healthy growth in the niche, high-margin CCS business led to overall revenue growth of 14% fiscal-on-fiscal in 2017. This segment has value addition and its contribution is estimated at 50% of total revenue in fiscal 2017, up from 25% in fiscal 2012. Sustained growth in revenue (expected at 20% over the next three fiscals) will further enhance operating performance.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile: The capital structure is comfortable and debt protection metrics adequate. The networth was Rs 72 crore as on March 31, 2017, driven by healthy profitability and cash accrual. With the increase in networth and modest debt, gearing improved to 0.54 time from 1.05 times as on March 31, 2015.
 
* Strong operational and financial linkages with GVK Bio: The parent will continue to provide strong, need-based, and timely support over the medium term. Both companies have a common management and all strategic decisions, with respect to operations, are centralised. Unsecured loans of Rs 60 crore (as on March 31, 2017) extended by the parent support the financial risk profile.
 
Weaknesses
* Working capital-intensive operations: Gross current assets are estimated at 157 days as on March 31, 2017, because of receivables and inventory of 93 and 59 days, respectively. The company caters to established innovator pharmaceutical companies, with the top 10 customers accounting for 60% of revenue. Focus on export has resulted in sizeable working capital requirement. Inventory tends to be high as the company has to deal in several new molecular entities to cater to varied customer requirements.
 
* Exposure to delays in setting up the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility: The company plans to set up an API manufacturing facility in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, with capacity of 87 kilolitre. The project cost is estimated at Rs 143 crore, of which, Rs 65-70 crore was incurred in fiscal 2017 and the remaining will be spent in fiscal 2018. The company will avail a debt of Rs 55 crore for the project while the balance will be funded through internal cash accrual and inter-corporate deposits from GVK Bio. The facility is expected to be commissioned by the end of fiscal 2018. Commissioning of the project without significant time and cost overruns, and optimum utilisation of the additional capacity, will be key rating sensitivity factors.
 
Outlook for the guaranteed facility: Stable
The outlook is based on the 'Stable' outlook on the rating of the guarantor, GVK Bio. The rating will remain sensitive to any change in CRISIL's ratings on GVK Bio.
About the Company

Inogent was incorporated in Hyderabad in 2005. The company offers a mix of contract research organisation (CRO) services, such as process research development (PRD), and CCS. It also manufactures APIs and API intermediates. Its business model complements that of GVK Bio, as Inogent has modern technologies to manufacture new molecular entities in large quantity. Its services help GVK Bio provide end-to-end and integrated services across the value chain, from drug discovery to commercial manufacturing.

About the Guarantor
GVK Bio, incorporated in 2000, is an integrated CRO, and provides drug discovery and development services to pharmaceutical companies. The company offers patent services, medicinal chemistry services, scale-up technologies, formulation and analytical services, and collaborative research programmes.

GVK Bio is one of India's leading CROs and has over 200 customers, including 17 of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies. The company has more than 1500 employees, with facilities in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi.

Key Financial Indicators (Inogent)

Particulars

Unit

2017

2016

Revenue

Rs. Cr.

197

174

Profit After Tax

Rs. Cr.

24

12

PAT Margins

%

11.8

6.6

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

0.54

0.42

Interest coverage

Times

9.75

5.97

 
Key Financial Indicators (GVK Bio)

Particulars

Unit

2017

2016

Revenue

Rs. Cr.

357

349

Profit After Tax

Rs. Cr.

61

55

PAT Margins

%

16.6

14.7

Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth

Times

0.14

0.16

Interest coverage

Times

42.13

38.48

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 crore) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Working capital facility% NA NA NA 55 CRISIL A/Watch Positive
NA Term loan 18-Jul-16 NA 30-Jun-24 12.97 CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable
NA Proposed term loan NA NA NA 57.03 CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable
NA Letter of credit * NA NA NA 15.0 CRISIL A1/Watch Positive
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 2.0 CRISIL A1/Watch Positive
* Interchangeable with buyer's credit
% Interchangeable with letter of credit/buyer's credit to the extent of Rs 20 crore
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  125  CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable/ CRISIL A/(Watch) Positive  13-07-17  CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable/ CRISIL A/Watch Positive  29-06-16  CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable/ CRISIL A/Stable  25-06-15  CRISIL A/Stable  17-12-14  CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable  CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable 
                    08-08-14  CRISIL A+(SO)/Positive   
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  17  CRISIL A1/(Watch) Positive  13-07-17  CRISIL A1/Watch Positive    No Rating Change  25-06-15  CRISIL A1    No Rating Change  CRISIL A1+(SO) 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 2 CRISIL A1/Watch Positive Bank Guarantee 2 CRISIL A1/Watch Positive
Letter of Credit* 15 CRISIL A1/Watch Positive Letter of Credit* 15 CRISIL A1/Watch Positive
Proposed Term Loan 57.03 CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable Proposed Term Loan 57.03 CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable
Term Loan 12.97 CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable Term Loan 12.97 CRISIL A+(SO)/Stable
Working Capital Facility% 55 CRISIL A/Watch Positive Working Capital Facility% 55 CRISIL A/Watch Positive
Total 142 -- Total 142 --
% Interchangeable with letter of credit/buyer's credit to the extent of Rs 20 crore
* Interchangeable with buyer's credit
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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