Rating Rationale
September 29, 2018 | Mumbai
Solara Active Pharma Sciences Limited
'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1165 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Assigned)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' ratings on the bank facilities of Solara Active Pharma Sciences Limited (Solara).
 
The ratings reflect the company's established market position in key active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), such as Ibuprofen, Praziquantel, among others, with strong relationship with customers & suppliers. Operations in niche API segment along with higher exposure to regulated markets, supports comfortable operating margin. The ratings also factor in moderate financial risk profile marked by moderate debt protection metrics and capital structure. These rating strengths are partially offset by susceptibility of operations to regulatory changes and working capital-intensive operations.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position in key APIs, along with strong customer & 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 new product capacities, and working on other therapeutic segments. The company has a diversified customer basis, with higher exposure towards regulated markets. With its long-standing presence in the industry, the company has built strong and established relationships with its customers and suppliers.

* Comfortable operating margin: The company has comfortable margins, supported by levels of backward integration in the processes and limited competition in key APIs. Furthermore, introduction of new products is also likely to support the margin over the medium term.

* Moderate financial risk profile: Net worth was at Rs 304.2 crore as on March 31, 2018, with gearing of about 2 times. Interest coverage and net cash accruals to total debt of about 2.4 times and 12%, respectively, for fiscal 2018. In fiscals 2019 and 2020, Solara is expected to incur a capital expenditure of about Rs 200 crore, with about 75% of the quantum to be funded by term debt. However, the financial risk profile is likely to remain supported by increasing internal accrual.

Weakness:
* Large working capital requirement:
The company has large working capital requirement, as reflected in its gross current assets of 187 days as on March 31, 2018, driven by large inventory, primarily comprising high raw material inventory.

* Exposure to risks relating to strict regulations: Most of the products manufactured by the company face challenges from increase in inspections and regulatory actions by authorities, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Additionally, production of few products involve waste discharge, which needs to be treated in effluent treatment plants (ETP). Thus, the company needs to invest continuously to upgrade ETPs and bring efficiency in the process to reduce waste discharge.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that Solara will continue to benefit from the established market position in key products operating in the niche therapeutic segments. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if healthy revenue growth along with stable operating profitability leads to sustained improvement in cash accrual and capital structure. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if the financial risk profile weakens, due to decline in cash accrual, stretch in working capital cycle or larger-than-expected, debt-funded capital expenditure.

About the Company

Solara Active Pharma Sciences Ltd, came into effect from October 1, 2017. The company was formed through demerger of API business from Strides Shasun Ltd (currently named as Strides Pharma Sciences Ltd). Subsequently, Solara acquired the human API business from Sequent Scientific Ltd during the same time, which resulted in a pure play API company. The company has 5 manufacturing units with 3 units being compliant as per USFDA guidelines.

The company is listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs. Cr. 540.6 NA
Profit After Tax Rs. Cr. 0.34 NA
PAT Margin % 0.1 NA
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Net worth Times 2.08 NA
Interest coverage Times 2.37 NA

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  crore) Rating assigned with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 25 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 281.7 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Cash Term Loan NA NA Jun-2023 357.9 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Import Letter of Credit Limit NA NA NA 50 CRISIL A2
NA Inland/Import Letter of Credit NA NA NA 119 CRISIL A2
NA Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting NA NA NA 331.4 CRISIL A2
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  996.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2    --    --    --    --  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  169.00  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
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 281.7 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Inland/Import Letter of Credit 119 CRISIL A2 -- 0 --
Import Letter of Credit Limit 50 CRISIL A2 -- 0 --
Export Packing Credit & Export Bills Negotiation/Foreign Bill discounting 331.4 CRISIL A2 -- 0 --
Cash Credit 25 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Cash Term Loan 357.9 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 1165 -- Total 0 --
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

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