Rating Rationale
September 24, 2020 | Mumbai
Solara Active Pharma Sciences Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1165 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2+ (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A2')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Solara Active Pharma Sciences Limited (Solara) to 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+' from 'CRISIL BBB+/Positive/CRISIL A2'.
 
The upgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that Solara's business risk profile will improve over the medium term supported by its established market position in key active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Revenue is expected to grow at a healthy rate of 25% over the medium term while operating profitability will be at 23-25%. Revenue was Rs 348 crore and operating profitability was around 25% for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 against Rs 330 crore and 19% in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The operating profitability improved because of increased capacity utilisation and cost optimization measures.
 
The company successfully commissioned the first phase of its new plant at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Revenue growth will be supported by steady demand for its existing products and increasing sales of new products over the medium term. Capacity addition in its key product, Ibuprofen API, is expected to support the revenue growth from the second half of fiscal 2021. Operating profitability shall remain healthy supported by economies of scale in its key products and is expected to improve as the sales of high-margin, niche products increase.
 
The ratings reflect Solara's established market position in its key APIs, such as Ibuprofen and Praziquantel, and strong relationships with its customers and suppliers. The ratings also factor in the company's comfortable financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility of operations to regulatory changes, large working capital requirement, and exposure to risks related to implementation of capex and stabilisation and ramp up of the second phase of the project at Visakhapatnam.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths: 
* Established market position in key APIs, along with strong customer and supplier relationships: Solara has a strong portfolio of APIs in key therapeutic segments, with expertise in anthelmintic, anti-malaria, anti-infective and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory segments. Furthermore, it has been increasing its focus on the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory segment by adding capacity, and working on other therapeutic segments. Solara has a diversified customer basis, with more exposure to regulated markets. Its longstanding presence in the industry has helped Solara build strong  relationships with customers and suppliers. CRISIL believes Solara will continue to benefit from its established market position.
 
* Comfortable financial risk profile: Solara's networth increased to Rs 633 crore as on March 31, 2020, from Rs 399 crore as on March 31, 2019, supported by healthy accretion to reserve. Consequently, total outside liabilities to tangible networth (TOLTNW) ratio improved to around 1 time from 1.7 times. The capital structure is expected to strengthen aided by the infusion of capital of Rs 280 crore by TPG Capital and the promoters. Interest coverage improved to 3.67 times for fiscal 2020 from 2.8 times for fiscal 2019 and is expected to remain strong in fiscal 2021 supported by improved operating profitability. CRISIL believes the financial risk profile shall remain comfortable over the medium term.
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to risks related to implementation, stabilisation and ramp up of the second phase of the project at Visakhapatnam: .Solara is undertaking a greenfield project at Visakhapatnam at a cost of around Rs 250 crore, to be funded through debt and equity infusion. The first phase of the project is expected to commence operations in the second half of fiscal 2021 and the second phase is in progress. Any time or cost overrun in the project will impact the financial risk profile adversely.
 
* Exposure to risks relating to strict regulations: Most of the products manufactured by Solara face challenges of increased inspections and regulatory actions by authorities, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). Additionally, production of a few products involves waste discharge, which needs to be treated in effluent treatment plants (ETPs). Thus, Solara needs to invest continuously to upgrade ETPs and bring efficiency in the process to reduce waste discharge. There has been an observation regarding Solara's plant at Cuddalore in June 2020. However, CRISIL notes that this is not on issues of quality, but on issues related to communication protocols. This has not affected production in the plant and should not affect the business and financial risk profiles.
 
* Large working capital requirement: Solara had gross current assets of 165 days as on March 31, 2020, driven by large inventory and receivables of around 65 days and 96 days, respectively.
Liquidity Strong

Solara has healthy liquidity driven by adequate cash accrual and unencumbered cash and bank balance, albeit partially constrained by high utilisation of bank limit. The company is likely to generate cash accrual over Rs 200 crore against debt obligation of around Rs 100 crore over the medium term. Unencumbered cash and bank balance was around Rs 56 crore as on March 31, 2020.  However the bank limit of Rs 385 crore was utilised extensively at 94% on average over the 12 months through August 2020. Nevertheless, CRISIL believes Solara's liquidity will remain strong over the medium term.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Solara will continue to benefit from its established position in key products in niche therapeutic segments.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Improvement in interest coverage to more than 5.5 times
* Increase in revenue contribution of new products
 
Downward factors
* Decline in operating profitability to less than 20%
* Any time or cost overrun in the ongoing capital expenditure, adversely impacting the financial risk profile
About the Company

Established in October 2017, Solara was formed through the demerger of the API business of Strides Shasun Ltd (currently named Strides Pharma Sciences Ltd). Solara acquired the human API business from Sequent Scientific Ltd during the same time, and hence, is a pure play API company. The company is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019
Revenue Rs. Cr. 1329 1387
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs. Cr. 115 54
PAT Margin % 8.6 3.9
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 1,14 1.08
Interest coverage Times 3.67 2.96

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs  crore) Complexity Rating assigned with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 50 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 40 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Cash Term Loan NA NA Mar-2025 410.35 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting NA NA NA 169 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Import Letter of Credit NA NA NA 155 NA CRISIL A2+
NA Working capital demand loan NA NA NA 176 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
NA Proposed Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 164.65 NA CRISIL A-/Stable
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  960.00  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A2+      14-08-19  CRISIL BBB+/Positive/ CRISIL A2  29-09-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2    --  -- 
            01-02-19  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  205.00  CRISIL A2+      14-08-19  CRISIL A2  29-09-18  CRISIL A2    --  -- 
            01-02-19  CRISIL A2           
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
Bank Guarantee 50 CRISIL A2+ Bank Guarantee 75 CRISIL A2
Cash Credit 40 CRISIL A-/Stable Cash Term Loan 272 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Cash Term Loan 410.35 CRISIL A-/Stable Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting 373 CRISIL A2
Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting 169 CRISIL A2+ Import Letter of Credit Limit 142 CRISIL A2
Import Letter of Credit Limit 155 CRISIL A2+ Long Term Loan 170 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Proposed Working Capital Facility 164.65 CRISIL A-/Stable Proposed Cash Credit Limit 133 CRISIL BBB+/Positive
Working Capital Demand Loan 176 CRISIL A-/Stable -- 0 --
Total 1165 -- Total 1165 --
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 Criteria for rating short term debt

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Mohit Makhija
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
mohit.makhija@crisil.com


Kirtana Sainath
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 44 6656 3634
Kirtana.Sainath@crisil.com


Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are majority owned by S&P Global Inc., a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.
 
For more information, visit www.crisil.com 


Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as, bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible / convertible / partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
CRISIL respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address, and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL.For further information on CRISIL’s privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Report” includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the Report. The Report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This Report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Report is to be construed as CRISIL providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the Report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the Report in any way.CRISIL or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL