Rating Rationale
November 27, 2019 | Mumbai
Malladi Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.210 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 has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' ratings on the bank facilities of Malladi Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (MDPL).
 
The ratings reflect MDPL's established position in key products across the cold and cough segment, healthy operating efficiencies, and comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by large working capital requirement and exposure to risks related to strict regulations governing the product segments.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL had earlier combined the business and financial risk profiles of MDPL, Malladi Specialities Ltd, Tantech Agri Chemicals Ltd, and Saka Marketing Services Pvt Ltd, collectively referred to as the Malladi group. However, CRISIL is currently changing the analytical approach to standalone as MDPL ceases to have any business and financial linkages with other entities.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
*Established market position and healthy operating efficiencies
Benefits derived from the promoters' experience of over four decades, their strong understanding of local market dynamics, and healthy relations with suppliers and customers should continue to support the business. MDPL is the global market leader in ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (PSE), and is also one of the largest producers of phenylephrine (PHE) in India. Operating margin was healthy at 19.5% for fiscal 2019 due to higher margin from sole contract manufacturing and higher pricing power on PSE and PHE.
 
*Healthy financial risk profile
The capital structure has been healthy, with gearing and net worth at 0.8 time and Rs.222 crore as on March 31, 2019. Gearing may further improve over the medium term, supported by healthy accretions and absence of any significant debt funded capital expenditure plans. Debt protection metrics are also healthy with interest cover and net cash accrual to total debt (NCATD) at 5.50 times and 0.33 times respectively for fiscal 2019 and is likely to be sustained in the near term.
 
Weaknesses
*Large working capital requirement
The working capital cycle is likely to remain stretched. Gross current assets (GCAs) were sizeable at 185 days as on March 31, 2019, driven by large inventory of 154 days, which is due to the long process cycle involved in manufacturing its key products. Customers are given credit of about 90 days, and most of the collections are on a timely basis.
 
*Exposure to risks relating to strict regulations
Most of the products manufactured are highly controlled by various regulators, as some of the products having narcotic nature. The process waste discharged from the production of these products needs to be treated in effluent treatment plants (ETP). Thus, the group needs to invest continuously to upgrade ETPs and enhance the waste discharge process.
Liquidity Strong

 The company had reported cash accruals of Rs 55.25 crore, against repayment obligations of about Rs 31.79 crore for fiscal 2019. Going forward, MDPL is likely to generate accruals in the range of Rs 70-85 crore and maintain adequate cushion against repayment obligation at Rs 32.2 crore. The company has moderate utilization at about 73%, on working capital limit of Rs 131.75 crore over the past 12 months, through September, 2019.

Outlook: Stable
CRISIL believes the MDPL will continue to benefit from the established presence and leadership in key products in the cough and cold segment and higher volumes from the contract manufacturing division.

Rating sensitivity factors  
Upward factors
*
Substantial increase in revenue or profitability, leading to sizeable cash accrual
* Diversification in the product and customer profile resulting in an improved business profile.
 
Downward factors
*
Steep decline in revenue or profitability by more than 500 basis points
* Further stretch in the working capital cycle.
About the Company

MDPL, founded in 1980 by the late Mr MLN Sastry, a microbiologist, manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients in the cough and cold segment, along with presence in other therapeutic segments of the pharmaceutical industry. The major products manufactured by the company include PHE, cyclene (intermediate), and PSE. Operations are currently being managed by Mr Prashant Malladi, who is the founder's son.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Operating income Rs crore 451.13 350.71
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 40.03 28.67
PAT margin % 8.9 8.2
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.75 0.90
Interest coverage Times 5.50 6.62

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 Cash Credit NA NA NA 11 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Term Loan NA NA 31-Mar-2024 73.9 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Export Packing Credit NA NA NA 90 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Inland/Import Letter of Credit NA NA NA 20.45 CRISIL A2+
NA Post Shipment Credit NA NA NA 10.25 CRISIL A2+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 4.4 CRISIL A-/Stable
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  189.55  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  27-02-19  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  26-09-18  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  27-12-17  CRISIL A-/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A2+/Watch Developing  26-05-16  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2  -- 
        06-02-19  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  11-06-18  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  03-11-17  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+       
            25-04-18  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+  22-09-17  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+       
            22-03-18  CRISIL A-/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A2+/Watch Developing           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  20.45  CRISIL A2+  27-02-19  CRISIL A2+  26-09-18  CRISIL A2+  27-12-17  CRISIL A2+/Watch Developing  26-05-16  CRISIL A2  -- 
        06-02-19  CRISIL A2+  11-06-18  CRISIL A2+  03-11-17  CRISIL A2+       
            25-04-18  CRISIL A2+  22-09-17  CRISIL A2+       
            22-03-18  CRISIL A2+/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
Cash Credit 11 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit 11 CRISIL A-/Stable
Export Packing Credit 90 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Term Loan 78 CRISIL A-/Stable
Inland/Import Letter of Credit 20.45 CRISIL A2+ Export Packing Credit 90 CRISIL A-/Stable
Post Shipment Credit 10.25 CRISIL A2+ Inland/Import Letter of Credit 20.45 CRISIL A2+
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4.4 CRISIL A-/Stable Post Shipment Credit 10.25 CRISIL A2+
Term Loan 73.9 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .3 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 210 -- Total 210 --
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 Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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