Rating Rationale
September 26, 2017 | Mumbai
Metropolis Healthcare Ltd
'CRISIL AA-/Stable' assigned to bank debt and NCD
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.150 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Assigned)
 
Rs.250 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA-/Stable (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale
CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL AA-/Stable' rating to the non-convertible debentures and proposed long-term loan facility of Metropolis Healthcare Ltd (MHL; part of the Metropolis group).

The rating reflects a leading position in the Indian diagnostic services market, supported by an established brand and strong reach, and healthy operating efficiency, driven by robust cash flow generation and low working capital requirement. The rating also factors in a strong financial risk profile because of a robust capital structure and comfortable liquidity, and the proven track-record of the promoters. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to high, albeit reducing, revenue contribution from the business-to-business (B2B) segment, large debt-funded acquisition, market fragmentation, and moderate entry barriers in the diagnostics industry. 

Revenue grew at a healthy compound annual rate of 15% over the three fiscals through 2017 driven by strong testing-sample volume growth and periodic price revisions. The operating margin has remained at 25-27% during this period and is expected to gradually improve, driven by process optimisation and economies of scale. The operating margin improved to 29.3% for first four months of fiscal 2018 while revenue growth was sustained at 14% year-on-year for the same period. During fiscal 2018, the company plans a debt-funded acquisition of Rs 600 crore (around 60% debt-funded). This, along with steady increase in sales volume, shall lead to increase in revenue by around 25% in fiscal 2018, while an organic annual revenue growth of around 14% is expected thereafter. Healthy revenue growth, strong and steady profitability and dividend out-flow going forward being maintained at similar level as fiscal 2017, will lead to strong net cash accruals of over Rs 100 crore annually over the medium term and will help maintain strong debt protection metrics in spite of MHL planning to contract debt to part fund the proposed acquisition.
Analytical Approach

* For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of MHL and its 18 subsidiaries (collectively referred to as Metropolis group) as all these entities are in the same line of business, have strong operational and financial linkages, and are under a common management. The subsidiaries have been acquired over the years as part of MHL's strategic inorganic expansion.
* Goodwill arising from mergers/on consolidation has been amortised over a period of 10 years, given the strong local brand of the acquired entities and expectation of returns being spread over a longer tenure.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in the Indian diagnostic services market with a strong brand and reach: The Metropolis group is among the top three diagnostic chains in India with revenue of Rs 584 crore in fiscal 2017 and a large, established pan-India network of 135 pathology labs and over 5000 pick-up points (includes patient service centres).

* Healthy operating efficiency driven by low working capital requirement: International and national laboratory accreditations, servicing customers through a hub-and-spoke model, strong quality controls, and continuous process improvement through an in-house research and development setup, contribute to healthy operating efficiency. Furthermore, working capital requirement is low as reflected in a receivable cycle of under two months and minimal inventory. This resulted in a strong operating margin and return on capital employed of 27% and 53%, respectively, for fiscal 2017.

* Strong financial risk profile: The networth was moderate at Rs 336 crore as on March 31, 2017, and debt protection metrics healthy, backed by substantial cash accrual and negligible debt. Liquidity is comfortable because of unencumbered cash and equivalents of Rs 170 crore as on March 31, 2017.

* Proven track-record of the promoters: The founder, Dr Sushil Shah, is a pathologist and has industry experience of over three decades. His daughter, Ms Ameera Shah, played a key role in driving growth through a prudent mix of organic and inorganic expansion, while availing minimal debt for funding acquisitions.

Weaknesses
* Large debt-funded acquisition: The group plans a large acquisition of around Rs 600 crore during fiscal 2018, with funding mix of Rs 350 crore debt, Rs 200 crore equity issue to shareholders of the acquisition target, and Rs 50 crore internal funds. This is expected to impact key financial metrics to an extent; however, the leverage and debt protection metrics should remain adequate. Also, there are no other large debt-funded capex or acquisition plans over the medium term. 

* High, albeit reducing, revenue contribution from the B2B segment: Revenue contribution from this segment was high at 64% in fiscal 2017 (down from 69% in fiscal 2015), resulting in a longer receivables cycle. Debtors greater than six months as on March 31, 2017, were around 10% of revenue for fiscal 2017.

* Exposures to risks related to market fragmentation and moderate entry barriers: The diagnostics industry has moderate entry barriers on account of modest capital intensity, resulting in the emergence of a large number of diagnostic centres. This has led to high fragmentation with large diagnostic chains facing intense competition from hospital-based and standalone centres, which together comprise a dominant share (about 85%) of the industry.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Metropolis group will, over the medium term, maintain its leading market position in the healthcare services industry, supported by its established brand name and widespread network, and will maintain a strong financial risk profile backed by healthy cash accrual.

Upside scenario
* Higher-than-expected revenue growth while maintaining healthy profitability
* Faster deleveraging of the balance sheet leading to debt/EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) reducing to below 0.75 time
* Efficient working capital management

Downside scenario
* Material decline in the operating margin and/or large, debt-funded acquisition, leading to deterioration in debt/EBITDA to above 2.5 times
* Slower-than-anticipated debt reduction due to contracting of large debt for acquisitions, capital expenditure or other reasons
* Higher-than-expected dividend outflow

Any future equity issuance or changes in shareholding pattern will also be key credit monitorables.

About the Group

MHL, the flagship company of the Metropolis group, was founded in 1981 by Dr Sushil Shah as a sole proprietorship under the name Dr Sushil Shah's Pathology Laboratory. The firm was reconstituted as a public limited company with the current name in 2001. Ms Ameera Shah is the present managing director. The company provides diagnostic services and operates a chain of diagnostic centres across eight countries. As on March 31, 2017, the private equity investor, Carlyle Group LP, held 31.5% stake in the company while the rest was held by the Shah family.

The company serves around 70 lakh patients and undertakes 1.5 crore tests annually through over 4500 tests and test combination offerings. These include screening, diagnostic, prognostic, and disease monitoring tests along with some offerings that support clinical trials. As on June 30, 2017, it had a reference lab in Mumbai, 135 laboratories, 1571 collection centres, and over 5000 pick-up points across India, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and Mauritius. It has 18 subsidiaries as on date. The reference lab is accredited by College of American Pathologists (CAP) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

For fiscal 2017, on a provisional basis, consolidated profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 116 crore on net sales of Rs 584 crore (PAT of Rs 82 crore on net sales of Rs 524 crore in fiscal 2016).

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. Cr. 585  524 
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 116  82 
PAT Margins % 19.8 15.6
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0.00  0.03 
Interest coverage Times 1072.12  196.49 

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 Facility Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Non-convertible debentures* NA NA NA 250 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Proposed long-term bank loan facility NA NA NA 150 CRISIL AA-/Stable
*Not yet placed
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  250  CRISIL AA-/Stable    --    --    --    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  150  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.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 150 CRISIL AA-/Stable -- 0 --
Total 150 -- Total 0 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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