Rating Rationale
April 08, 2020 | Mumbai
NeuroGen Brain And Spine Institute
Rating removed from 'Watch Developing' ; Rating Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.22 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB/Stable (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has removed its rating on the bank facilities of NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute (NBSI) from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications' and has reaffirmed the rating at 'CRISIL BB' while assigning a 'Stable' outlook.
 
CRISIL had placed its rating on the long term bank facilities of NBSI on watch on March 17, 2020, following the inability of the company to meet its debt obligations due to the imposition of moratorium on deposits with yes Bank. This impacted company's ability to service debt in a timely manner despite having the cushion in liquidity and willingness to repay the debt. The firm had unsecured loans with Yes Bank.
 
Subsequently, the debt obligations have been paid post the lifting of moratorium of Yes Bank.
 
CRISIL has taken cognizance of the restrictions on economic activity, due to the spread of Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). This `may impact the firm performance in fiscal 2021 as against CRISIL's earlier expectations. Impact of Covid-19 related restrictions applicable post April 14th, 2020 will remain a key monitorable.
 
The rating continues to reflect the extensive experience of Neurogen Group's proprietor in the healthcare industry and comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by modest scale of operations and geographical concentration in revenue.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of NBSI and Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute Pvt Ltd (NBSIPL), together referred to as 'the Neurogen group'. This is because both the companies are in the same line of business, work under a common management, and have strong operational linkages and financial linkages.
 
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:
* Established presence in the neurology segment and proprietor's extensive experience:  
Neurogen Group specialises in treating neurological disorders and spine injuries, and attracts patients from all over the world. The proprietor, Dr Alok Sharma, has been practicing medicine for over two decades and has good reputation in Mumbai in the neurological segment.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile:
Networth was strong at Rs 23.42 crore as on March 31, 2019, gearing and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth was moderate at 1.15 times and 1.69 times respectively. It is estimated at 0.63 times and 0.97 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2020. Debt protection metrics were adequate, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios of 12.44 times and 0.57 times, respectively, for fiscal 2019; estimated at similar levels for fiscal 2020. Financial risk profile is expected to remain steady over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to intense competition and geographical concentration: Operations are limited to Navi Mumbai, which exposes the firm to intense competition. Furthermore, the opportunity for entering new markets is limited because of the established presence of other large hospitals in those regions. The image-sensitive nature of the healthcare industry aggravates risks relating to geographical concentration.
 
* Modest, though improving, scale of operations: Despite demand-driven growth, scale remains modest, with revenue of Rs 96.58 crore in fiscal 2019 (Rs 43.55 crore in fiscal 2017). It is estimated at Rs. 85 crore in fiscal 2020. The scale is modest due to single site operations, however is expected to improve going forward with addition of new site leading to high capacity.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is adequate with annual net cash accrual of over Rs 12-13 crore in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021 to meet debt obligation of Rs 6.50 crore and Rs 4.00 crores, respectively. Cash and cash equivalents were Rs 7.75 crore as on March 31, 2019. CRISIL expects internal accruals and cash & cash equivalents to be sufficient to meet its repayment obligations as well as incremental working capital requirements.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Neurogen group will continue to benefit over the medium term from its established market position.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
* Growth in revenue and sustained profitability leading to net cash accrual of over Rs 15.
* Improvement in financial risk profile, reflected in gearing of below 1 time.

Downward Factors
* Decline in revenue or profitability resulting in net cash accrual of under Rs 6 crore.
* Weakening of financial risk profile owing to debt-funded capital expenditure or larger working capital requirement.

About the Firm

Set up in 2008 as a proprietorship firm by Dr Alok Sharma, Neurogen Group operates a super-specialty hospital of 75 bed in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. It specialized in providing medical services relating to neurological disorders and spinal injuries.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs. Cr. 96.58 57.59
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. 14.00 5.97
PAT Margin % 14.50 10.36
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 1.15 1.62
Interest coverage Times 12.44 7.54

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 Term Loan NA NA Jun-2020 12 CRISIL BB/Stable
NA Proposed Term Loan NA NA NA 10 CRISIL BB/Stable
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Names of Entities Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute Full Common management and same business
Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute Pvt Ltd Full Common management and same business
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  22.00  CRISIL BB/Stable  17-03-20  CRISIL BB/Watch Developing  24-12-19  CRISIL BB/Stable  17-08-18  CRISIL BB-/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  01-03-17  CRISIL BB-/Stable  CRISIL B/Stable 
            08-03-19  CRISIL BB-/Stable           
            22-02-19  CRISIL BB-/Stable           
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
Proposed Term Loan 10 CRISIL BB/Stable Proposed Term Loan 10 CRISIL BB/Watch Developing
Term Loan 12 CRISIL BB/Stable Term Loan 12 CRISIL BB/Watch Developing
Total 22 -- Total 22 --
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
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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