Rating Rationale
December 17, 2018 | Mumbai
Paushak Limited
'CRISIL A-/Stable' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.40 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL A-/Stable' rating to the long-term bank facilities of Paushak Limited (Paushak).

The rating reflects an established market position in the phosgene-based specialty chemicals market, strong operating efficiency, and a healthy financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by moderate scale of operations and exposure to implementation and demand risks associated with the large capital expenditure (capex).

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position:
Paushak has an established market position for more than four decades in the phosgene-based intermediates. It derives revenues from chloroformates, isocynates, specialty chemicals, carbonates and phosgene gas. These products have wide range of applications across pharmaceutical, agro-chemicals and others. In the last two years, the managerial bandwidth has been expanded by hiring personnel at senior and mid-management levels. Consequently, the revenue improved by over 50% to Rs 104 crore in fiscal 2018; and the company has reported Rs 63 crore in the first six months of fiscal 2019. With the management focus on enhancing capacities and capitalising on improved demand, Paushak is likely to maintain revenue growth momentum over the medium term.

* Strong operating efficiency: Paushak's strong operating efficiency emanate from its backward integrated operations leading to strong operating profitability (28% in the first six months of fiscal 2019 and 27% in fiscal 2018, respectively) and return on capital employed (RoCE; 27% in fiscal 2018). The company is backward integrated and is one of the few companies licenced to manufacture phosgene gas as there are government restrictions on it. Due to volatile raw material prices and moderate scale, the margin has fluctuated between 19-25% during fiscals 2013 and 2017. With higher growth in the recent past, the operating margin has improved to over 25% and is expected to remain at similar levels over the medium term. RoCE is expected to remain healthy at about 15% through the capex cycle. Further, the working capital cycle is moderate with debtors and inventory of 90 and 70 days, respectively.

* Healthy financial risk profile:
The networth has steadily risen through accretion to reserves and is expected at a healthy Rs 120 crore as on March 31, 2019. Absence of debt in the past led to comfortable debt protection metrics. The company has plans to incur Rs 120 crore capex over next few years that will be partly funded by debt. Nevertheless, both gearing and interest cover is expected to remain comfortable at about 0.4 times and over 5-6 times, respectively through the capex cycle.

Weaknesses
* Moderate scale of operations:
Paushak has a moderate scale of operations at Rs 104 crore for fiscal 2018, despite being in existence for over four decades. The revenue remained range-bound between Rs 65-80 crore in three years ended fiscal 2017. The growth momentum has picked up in last one and half years through diversification of customer base. It was largely supplying to pharmaceutical sector but has recently diversified its presence to other sectors including agro-chemicals and performance-based materials. Sustenance of its growth momentum and consequent increase in scale will be critical.

* Exposure to risks related to the large capex: Paushak is embarking on large capex of about Rs 120 crore to be executed over fiscals 2019-2021. The capex is largely towards expansion of existing capacities, including increasing phosgene capacity by upto three times. The company is exposed to implementation risks as the capex significantly higher than the current gross block and is in the initial stage of implementation. Any significant cost or time overrun will remain a rating sensitivity factor. However, CRISIL derives significant comfort from the experience of the promoters in successfully executing large capex in group companies.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Paushak will continue to benefit from its established market position, diverse product profile and strong operating efficiency. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if there is significant improvement in revenue and cash accruals, most likely led by stabilisation of its expanded capacities. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if cash accrual is lower-than-expected because of a decline in profitability or there are significant time and cost overruns in the capex.

Liquidity: Adequate
Liquidity profile is marked by low bank limit utilisation, liquid surplus of about Rs 35 crore as of September 2018. The cash accruals are expected to be over Rs 30 crore annually and will be sufficient as against incremental working capital requirements and annual repayment for debt that is expected to be contracted. The capex of Rs 120 crore will be incurred over three fiscals and is expected to be partially debt-funded. Paushak's liquid surplus and annual cash accruals will suffice for its capex, term debt repayments and working capital requirements.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1972, Paushak is led by Mr Chirayu Amin and his family members, the promoters of Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd (rated CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+). Paushak manufactures phosgene-based specialty chemicals which have applications in pharmaceuticals, agro-chemicals and performance-enhancement industries.
 
Paushak is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange. As on September 30, 2018, 66.44% stake was held by the promoters and promoter group entities, and rest by others.
 
For the six months ended September 30, 2018, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 22.0 crore on operating income of Rs 62.9 crore, against Rs 8.7 crore and Rs 38 crore, respectively, for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs crore. 104 67
PAT Rs crore. 30 12
PAT Margins % 20.7 16.4
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 0 0
Interest coverage Times 316 297

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 Working capital facility NA NA NA 11.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed working capital facility NA NA NA 9.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed long term bank loan facility NA NA NA 20.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  40.00  CRISIL A-/Stable    --    --    --    --  -- 
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
Working Capital Facility 11 CRISIL A-/Stable -- 0 --
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 20 CRISIL A-/Stable -- 0 --
Proposed Working Capital Facility 9 CRISIL A-/Stable -- 0 --
Total 40 -- Total 0 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Chemical Industry
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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