Rating Rationale
March 30, 2019 | Mumbai
Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.93.41 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.63.41 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities of Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LPL; part of the Lincoln group) reflect the extensive experience of the group's promoters in the pharmaceutical industry, and its established market position and healthy financial risk profile and liquidity. These strengths are partially offset by a working capital intensive operations, exposure to risks related to unfavourable regulations, and intense competitive pressure.

CRISIL had migrated the rating on the bank facilities of LPL to 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' from 'CRISIL BBB+/Negative/CRISIL A3+ Issuer Not Cooperating ' through its release dated March 12, 2019.

The migration reflects strengthening of the group's financial risk profile, with networth and gearing improving to Rs 215 crore and 0.32 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2018, from Rs 130 crore and 0.6 time as on March 31, 2016. The improvement has been on back of improved profitability (to 15.4% in fiscal 2018 from 11.3% the previous fiscal) and equity infusion of Rs 30.3 crore (in FY17). Profitability has picked up because of higher revenue contribution from- products manufactured in house, better margin products, increased revenue from higher margin markets. Further, the increasing exports revenue (around 54% in 9MFY19 against 32% in 9MFY18) has led to even better operating margin in current financial year and shall support the margins over medium term. The group's debt protection metrics have been strengthened, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 10.4 times and 0.55 time, respectively, in fiscal 2018. Financial risk profile is expected to consolidate further, mainly due to healthy accruals and the absence of any major capital expenditure (capex). Liquidity is comfortable supported by healthy accrual, liquid investments, and moderate bank limit utilisation.
 
Previously, CRISIL had put the outlook of ratings on Negative through its release dated February 25, 2016, owing to expected pressure on the scale and profitability, on account of ban by Tanzanian Drug Authority, for one of the group's largest selling product. The group has however successfully managed that disruption and continues to supply to Tanzania (~7% of topline). The group's export reach is wider now and it has around 1000 product approvals up by around 50% over last three years. These shall ensure that the dependence on any single product or customer or country remains low and impact of regulatory issues, if any, does not adversely impact the overall performance of group.
 
Lincoln group's business profile has further consolidated and is underpinned by an established market position, widespread geographic reach, and healthy customer and product base continue to support the group's business risk profile. Group exports its products to more than 50 countries, and none of the export country or customer contributes more than 10% to topline. Also, presence in more than 15 therapeutic segments reduces dependence on individual segments. Although working capital requirement is likely to remain large-driven by exports (requiring longer credit and increased inventory stocking)-it is estimated to moderate from the peak levels of fiscal 2018 and remain steady over the medium term. Any stretch in working capital cycle, or a product ban or large unanticipated capex will remain key rating sensitivity factors.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of LPL, Lincoln Parenteral Ltd (Lincoln Parenteral), and Zullinc Healthcare Ltd (ZHL). This is because the companies, collectively referred to as the Lincoln group, are in the same line of business, and have common promoter and management team. They also support each other in the event of an exigency, and have significant transactions. Furthermore, LPL holds the entire stake in ZHL, and 98.58% stake in Lincoln Parenteral.

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Extensive experience of the promoters: Benefits from the promoters' experience of more than three decades should continue to support business risk profile.
 
* Established market position: The group has presence in more than 15 therapeutic segments and exports to more than 50 countries. Revenue was 360 crore as on March 31, 2018.
 
* Healthy financial risk profile: Financial risk profile is healthy, with networth and gearing of Rs 215 crore and 0.32 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2018. Debt protection metrics are comfortable, too, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of 10.16 times and 55%, respectively, in fiscal 2018.
 
Weaknesses
* Large working capital requirements: Operations are working capital intensive and should remain so over the medium term, as the group is focusing on exports. Gross current assets were seven months as on March 31, 2018, driven, in turn, by debtors and inventory of 121 and 54 days, respectively. Credit received from suppliers relieves some of the pressure on working capital.
 
* Exposure to risks related to regulations and intense competitive pressure: Susceptibility to regulatory risk with regards to pharmaceutical formulations, and intense competition persists. The group needs to continuously comply with stringent quality and pricing norms. Also, with increasing export base, regulatory requirements of a wider base of countries need to be met as well.
Liquidity

The group has comfortable liquidity profile backed by healthy accruals, liquid investments, and moderate bank limit utilization. Net cash accrual is expected at Rs 55-60 crore per annum in the medium term, as against yearly maturing debt of less than Rs 5 crore. Further, the group has liquid mutual fund investment of around Rs.12 cr apart from usual cash bank balance of around Rs. 6-7 cr. Current ratio was healthy at 2 times. Utilisation of bank limit of Rs 53 crore averaged a moderate 58% in the 12 months through January 2019. The liquidity shall remain comfortable over medium term backed by healthy accruals and absence of any major capex.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Lincoln group will benefit over the medium term from healthy export growth, improving operating margin, comfortable financial risk profile, and the absence of any large capex. The outlook may be revised to Positive if there is sharp and sustainable rise in scale coupled with steady profitability and capital structure. The outlook may be revised to negative if the group's scale of operations and/or profitability declines significantly or stretched working capital cycle or large capex adversely impacts the liquidity profile.

About the Group

LPL was set up as a partnership firm in 1979 and reconstituted as a public limited company in January 1995. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. LPL manufactures and sells pharmaceutical formulations related to respiratory, genitourinary, and musculoskeletal systems, alimentary tract and metabolism, and anti-infectives among others.
 
Lincoln Parenteral was incorporated in 1991 and manufactures dry powder, liquid injectibles, and syrup variants at its facilities in Ahmedabad (Gujarat).
 
ZHL trades in and markets pharmaceutical products.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31   2018 2017
Operating income Rs crore 361 360
Reported profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 35.9 29.6
PAT margins % 9.6 7.8
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.32 0.38
Interest coverage Times 10.2 6.9

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. Crs) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 2 CRISIL A2+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 45 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Export Packing Credit NA NA NA 8 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 10 CRISIL A2+
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 5 CRISIL A2+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 15.71 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Rupee Term Loan NA NA Mar-2020 7.7 CRISIL A-/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation
LPL Fully consolidated
Lincoln Parenteral Ltd Fully consolidated
Zullinc Healthcare Ltd Fully consolidated
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  76.41  CRISIL A-/Stable  12-03-19  CRISIL A-/Stable  30-08-18  CRISIL BBB+/Negative (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  27-09-17  CRISIL BBB+/Negative (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  25-02-16  CRISIL BBB+/Negative  CRISIL BBB+/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  17.00  CRISIL A2+  12-03-19  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  30-08-18  CRISIL BBB+/Negative/ CRISIL A3+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  27-09-17  CRISIL BBB+/Negative/ CRISIL A3+ (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  25-02-16  CRISIL BBB+/Negative/ CRISIL A3+  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A3+ 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Bank Guarantee 2 CRISIL A2+ Bank Guarantee 2 CRISIL A2+
Cash Credit 45 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 32 CRISIL A-/Stable
Export Packing Credit 8 CRISIL A-/Stable Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A2+
Letter of Credit 10 CRISIL A2+ Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1.16 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 5 CRISIL A2+ Rupee Term Loan 9.58 CRISIL A-/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15.71 CRISIL A-/Stable Standby Letter of Credit 3 CRISIL A-/Stable
Rupee Term Loan 7.7 CRISIL A-/Stable Standby Line of Credit 3.75 CRISIL A-/Stable
-- 0 -- Supplier Line of Credit 1.92 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 93.41 -- Total 63.41 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Framework for Assessing Information Adequacy Risk
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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