Rating Rationale
November 21, 2017 | Mumbai
Saraca Laboratories Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.71 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 Saraca Laboratories Limited (Saraca).

The ratings continue to reflect its established market position in the Ranitidine active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing business, robust customer base, and comfortable financial risk profile because of healthy gearing and debt protection metrics. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to risks related to product substitution, intense competition, and to volatility in raw material prices.

Revenue registered 18% growth in fiscal 2017, driven by strong demand for Ranitidine across geographies. Hence, operating margin remained at 13-14%, despite higher raw material costs during fiscal 2017. Steady demand for Ranitidine and established customer relationship are expected to lead to a steady revenue growth of 5-6% while operating margin will remain high, over the medium term. Adjusted gearing was healthy at 0.11 time as on March 31, 2017, and should remain at a similar level given nil debt-funded capital expenditure (capex) plans over the medium term. Liquidity is strong due to no external term debt obligation and moderate utilisation of working capital limit.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL's ratings on Saraca are based on a standalone assessment of its credit risk profile.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in Ranitidine API and robust customer profile: Saraca is one of the largest producers of Ranitidine in India, with a US Food and Drug Administration-approved manufacturing facility in Hyderabad and WHO-Good Manufacturing Practices compliant unit in Vishakhapatnam. Clientele in the domestic market includes GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cadila Healthcare Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), J B Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (rated 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), and Shasun Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

* Adequate financial risk profile: Networth was moderate at Rs 126 crore as on March 31, 2017, driven by steady accretion to reserves. Gearing remained comfortable at 0.11 time and is expected to sustain over the medium term given no major capex. Debt protection metrics were also robust, with net cash accrual to total debt and interest coverage ratios of 2.50 times and 22.31 times, respectively, for fiscal 2017.

Weaknesses
* Product concentration and susceptibility to adverse regulatory changes: Nearly 83% of revenue comes from sale of Ranitidine API. Also, top five customers accounted for around 45% of total turnover in fiscal 2017. Any substitution of the product will adversely affect sales, even if established client relationship partially offsets this risk.

* Exposure to intense competition and volatility in raw material prices: Low capital requirement and technical intensity, and easy availability of process chemistry skills have resulted in entry of many players in the API manufacturing business. Profitability has also been susceptible to volatility in raw material prices and power shortage problems in the past, and hence, will remain key monitorables.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Saraca's business risk profile will remain strong over the medium term, backed by established market position in Ranitidine API and increasing geographical diversity in revenue. Financial risk profile should remain comfortable due to steady cash accrual and no debt-funded capex. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' in case of a significant and sustained scale up in operations backed by customer diversification across geographies, while prudently managing working capital and maintaining financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if operating performance declines because of inability to maintain competitive position, or financial risk profile weakens because of sharp increase in working capital requirement or debt-funded capex.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1988 and promoted by Mr Subba Reddy and Mr P S Reddy, Saraca manufactures a single API, Ranitidine, used in drugs to treat peptic ulcer. The company has two facilities, one each in Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam, which have a combined manufacturing capacity of 3120 tonne per annum. Saraca sells in both the domestic and global markets (USA, Canada, Iran, and Bangladesh).

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs. cr. 339 286
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. cr. 26 23
PAT Margins % 7.5 8.0
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.11 0.27
Adjusted interest coverage Times 22.31 16.32

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 15.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Bill discounting* NA NA NA 2.5 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Export packing credit* NA NA NA 22.5 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 25.0 CRISIL A2+
NA Standby line of credit NA NA NA 5.0 CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Bank guarantee NA NA NA 1.0 CRISIL A2+
*Fully interchangeable among cash credit, export packing credit, and bill discounting limits
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  45  CRISIL A-/Stable    No Rating Change  03-08-16  CRISIL A-/Stable  04-12-15  CRISIL BBB+/Positive  18-09-14  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST   26 CRISIL A2+   No Rating Change  03-08-16  CRISIL A2+    No Rating Change  18-09-14  CRISIL A2  CRISIL A3+ 
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
Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A2+ Bank Guarantee 1 CRISIL A2+
Bill Discounting* 2.5 CRISIL A-/Stable Bill Discounting* 2.5 CRISIL A-/Stable
Cash Credit* 15 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Credit* 15 CRISIL A-/Stable
Export Packing Credit* 22.5 CRISIL A-/Stable Export Packing Credit* 22.5 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of Credit 25 CRISIL A2+ Letter of Credit 25 CRISIL A2+
Standby Line of Credit 5 CRISIL A-/Stable Standby Line of Credit 5 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 71 -- Total 71 --
*Fully interchangeable among cash credit, export packing credit, and bill discounting limits
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
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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