Rating Rationale
July 06, 2020 | Mumbai
Syngene International Limited
Long-term rating upgraded to 'CRISIL AA+/Stable'; short-term rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.300 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL AA/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
The common independent director on the boards of CRISIL and Syngene International Limited did not participate in the rating committee meeting and the rating process for these instruments.
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Syngene International Limited (Syngene) to 'CRISIL AA+/Stable' from 'CRISIL AA/Positive' and reaffirmed its short term rating at 'CRISIL A1+'
 
The rating upgrade reflects the sustained improvement in operating performance, driven by healthy revenue growth and operating profitability. For fiscal 2020, revenue had grown by  by 10% on the back of strong performance in the high-margin discovery services segment. Operating profitability improved to 31% in fiscal 2020 from 29% in fiscal 2019, supported by commercialisation of the company's active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facility at Mangalore (Karnataka) in the last quarter, and cost-control measures including overhead and travelling costs. The company's operating performance could be impacted by lower execution in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 because of lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic. Addition of clients and increasing scope of existing contracts from an established clientele will ensure steady revenue growth of 15-20% over the medium term.
 
Out of the total planned capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 1,400 crore, the company has completed about 55% of work and started operations at its API facility in Mangalore and Hyderabad Research Centre. The balance capex of Rs 650 crore for the expansion of its research facility in Bengaluru and Phase 2 in Hyderabad is expected to be completed in fiscal 2021. With the commercialisation of facilities and ramp-up in operations expected in fiscal 2021, financial risk profile is expected to remain healthy with improving debt protection metrics and prudent capital structure.  
 
The ratings continue to reflect Syngene's established market position in contract research backed by a strong clientele, and healthy financial risk profile. The ratings also factor the benefits the company derives from being a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd ('CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), India's leading bio-pharmaceutical company. These strengths are partially offset by the risk related to stabilisation and scale-up of recently completed capex, and exposure to intense competition and regulatory risks.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has factored in strong operational, financial and managerial support from Biocon, and has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Syngene and its subsidiary, Syngene USA Inc.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established market position in contract research
Syngene is a leading contract research organisation (CRO) in India. It offers integrated services across the drug discovery and development value chain, and provides research services in medicinal chemistry and biology to innovator pharmaceutical companies. The company's established market position is reflected in its large clientele of over 360 companies, including 8 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical majors such as Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMS; rated 'A+/Stable/A-1+' by S&P Global Ratings [S&P]), Baxter International Inc (Baxter; 'A-/Stable/A-2' by S&P) and Amgen Inc (Amgen; rated 'A-/Stable/A-1' by S&P). Syngene has dedicated R&D (research and development) centres for BMS, Amgen, Baxter and Herbal Life. Revenue growth of 10% in fiscal 2020 was driven by strong performance across all businesses and continued growth momentum in Discovery Services. The revenue contribution from Discovery Services segment increased to 32% in fiscal 2020 from 29% in fiscal 2019.
 
* Strong parentage
Syngene is a 70.24% subsidiary of Biocon and is likely to receive need-based financial support from the parent. Business operations of both the companies differ: Biocon manufactures and markets biopharmaceutical formulations, while Syngene undertakes contract research for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutrition, agrochemical, animal health and consumer goods companies. Syngene will continue to account for one-third of the consolidated revenue and profit of Biocon, backed by healthy growth in revenue and higher operating profitability. The contribution to the parent's operating profit was higher at 45%in fiscal 2018 due to subdued performance of Biocon's other segments. However, in fiscal 2020, Biocon's biopharmaceutical sales and profitability improved and Syngene accounted for 32% of revenue. 
 
* Healthy financial risk profile
Adjusted gearing was 0.14 time as on March 31, 2020, and should remain stable over the medium term. Debt protection metrics were healthy, with interest coverage ratio of  22 times in fiscal 2020. With the completion of the large capex by the end of fiscal 2021, capex plans are expected to be moderate. The operating margins are expected to sustain at 31-33% over the medium term driven by ramp up in the facilities in Bangalore and Mangalore and effective cost control measures. The financial risk profile will be supported by healthy internal accruals and liquidity. The capital structure is expected to improve gradually over the medium term, with healthy accretion to reserves.
 
Weaknesses
* Moderate risks related to stabilisation and scale-up of recently completed capex
Syngene has completed and commercialised about 55% of the planned capex in fiscal 2020. This was incurred towards its API manufacturing facility in Mangalore and new research centres at Hyderabad. The capex is being funded through internal accrual and liquid surplus. APIs will be sold to innovators to meet their commercial requirements for launching new molecules. The balance capex of Rs 650 crore for the expansion in research facility at Bengaluru and Phase 2 of Hyderabad is expected to be completed in fiscal 2021. Syngene will remain exposed to risks related to stabilisation and ramp-up in production and services at the recently commercialised facilities. Any time or cost overruns in the balance capex or subdued demand in API segment will remain the key monitorables.
 
* Susceptibility to regulatory changes and increasing competition
The contract research industry is highly fragmented on account of low entry barriers. Several large pharmaceutical players globally are outsourcing contract research activities to India. Hence, more CROs may enter the fray, thereby increasing competition, and constraining pricing flexibility of established players such as Syngene. Additionally, there is competition from CROs based in China, Eastern Europe and others, which may have a broader portfolio of services. Furthermore, competition will continue from captive R&D centres and newer smaller entities with specific focus towards a therapeutic area. Nevertheless, the company benefits from its wide range of service offerings and strong clientele. It also has early-mover advantage and long-tenure contracts with its customers, thus partially offsetting the competitive intensity.
Liquidity Strong

Syngene has strong liquidity, driven by expected cash accrual of Rs 700-800 crore each in fiscals 2021 and 2022, and healthy cash and equivalent of Rs 1000 crore as on March 31, 2020. This will be sufficient to cover debt repayment obligation of Rs 367 crore and Rs 50 crore in fiscals 2021 and 2022, respectively, and annual capex of Rs 650-700 crore. The company has average bank limit utilisation of 50% for past 12 month ended March 2020.  The unutilised bank limit is adequate to meet incremental working capital needs over the next year. Syngene is expected to maintain liquidity of atleast Rs. 500 cores on a sustained basis.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Syngene's business risk profile will benefit from expansion of its client base, and increase in time and scope of existing contracts.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Sustained revenue growth of 20% led by improvement in the discovery and development ser* vices, and sustained  operating profitability above 35%
* Prudent working capital management and healthy capital structure
Improvement in capital structure with gearing below 0.1 times on a sustained basis
 
Downward factors
* Lower-than-expected revenue growth with sharp reduction in operating profitability below 27% on a sustained basis
* Weakening of the capital structure due to stretch in working capital cycle or large debt-funded capex  
* Deterioration in Biocon's credit profile or change in stance of financial support, in case of any exigency

About the Company

Syngene is one of India's leading CROs. The company offers research services in medicinal chemistry and biology in early stages of drug discovery, through process development and contract manufacturing of biotherapeutics for human trials. It offers integrated discovery and development services across multiple technology platforms, including small molecules, large molecules, antibody-drug conjugates and oligonucleotides. It has 362 clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutrition, animal health, consumer goods and specialty chemicals industries, including 8 of the top 10 global pharma companies. It has a team of over 4,000 scientists.
 
As of March 2020, Biocon held 70.24% of the shareholding of Syngene. Syngene is listed on the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd and Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/For the period ended March 31 2020 2019
Revenue Rs crore 2012 1826
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 412 332
PAT margin % 20.5 18.2
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.32 0.42
Adjusted interest coverage Times 20.18 18.91

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 cr)
Complexity levels Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Letter of credit & bank guarantee NA NA NA 5.0 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 5.0 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Packing credit in foreign currency NA NA NA 200 NA CRISIL A1+
NA Packing credit in foreign currency* NA NA NA 10 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Buyer's credit NA NA NA 80.00 NA CRISIL AA+/Stable
*Fully interchangeable with cash credit.
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Name Extent of consolidation Rationale
Syngene USA Inc. 100% Subsidiary
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  295.00  CRISIL AA+/Stable/ CRISIL A1+      19-07-19  CRISIL AA/Positive/ CRISIL A1+  31-05-18  CRISIL AA/Positive/ CRISIL A1+  14-02-17  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  CRISIL AA/Stable/ CRISIL A1+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  5.00  CRISIL A1+      19-07-19  CRISIL A1+  31-05-18  CRISIL A1+  14-02-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
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
Buyer`s Credit 80 CRISIL AA+/Stable Buyer`s Credit 35 CRISIL AA/Positive
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 5 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee 18.5 CRISIL A1+
Overdraft 5 CRISIL A1+ Overdraft 5 CRISIL A1+
Packing Credit in Foreign Currency 200 CRISIL A1+ Packing Credit in Foreign Currency 181.5 CRISIL A1+
Packing Credit in Foreign Currency* 10 CRISIL AA+/Stable Packing Credit in Foreign Currency* 60 CRISIL AA/Positive
Total 300 -- Total 300 --
*Fully interchangeable with cash credit.
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
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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