Rating Rationale
May 22, 2018 | Mumbai
Torque Pharmaceuticals Private Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.60 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB/Stable/CRISIL A3+' ratings on the bank facilities of Torque Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd (Torque).
 
The company's revenue is likely to grow 8-10% over the medium term because of expected improvement in the external preparations segment due to strong brand recognition on account of established dealer network and brand promotional activities. With revenue growth and healthy operating profitability, aided by diversification in product portfolio and geographical reach, net cash accrual should be adequate, leading to sufficient liquidity.
 
CRISIL will monitor the outcome of the complaint filed by the Indian Association of Dermatologists Venereologists and Leprologists in August 2015 regarding advertisement and sale of Torque's steroid-based creams, No Scars and UB Fair, as over-the-counter products. CRISIL believes that as the complaint is limited to one depot in Maharashtra and the products account for less than 15% of Torque's revenue, the company's business risk profile will not be affected significantly.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Established position in the pharmaceuticals industry and healthy operating efficiency
Benefits from the promoters' experience of three decades, diverse product portfolio, well known brands such as Torex cough syrup, Ketomac shampoo and Hemoplus health tonic and an established distribution network across 25 states should support the business. Revenue rose 8% in the three fiscals through March 2018, to Rs 328 crore, driven by growth in the external preparations segment, and its strong presence in the domestic market. The product portfolio contains oral liquids, external preparations, tablets, injections, capsules, eye/ear drops, and dry syrups. However, profitability declined over the three fiscals through March 2016, mainly on account of merger of cotton spinning unit and growing marketing expenses.
 
* Above-average financial risk profile
Total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratio was healthy at 1.8 time as on March 31, 2018, because of significant accretion to reserve. Debt protection metrics were comfortable, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to adjusted debt ratios at 4.3 times and 0.24 time, respectively, in fiscal 2018. Financial risk profile should improve with healthy accretion to reserve supported by the absence of major capital expenditure (capex) over the medium term.
 
Weakness
* Working capital-intensive operations
Gross current assets were high at 165 days as on March 31, 2018, driven by moderate debtors & inventory days estimated at 100 & 47 days respectively. The moderate inventory days due to increasing product range and for keeping ample raw material stock for each. Though a part of working capital requirement is met through payables of 90 days, working capital debt is sizeable. Effective working capital management will remain a rating sensitivity factor.
 
* Exposure to intense competition
Despite being operational for three decades, Torque faces competition from large players such as Cipla, Dr Reddy's, and GlaxoSmithKline, which have considerable market share and have a competitive edge because of higher volumes, integrated operations, and renowned brands. Though Torque has scaled up operations over the past four years, competition constrains its operating profitability. Besides, the Indian market is susceptible to government control, which affects pricing power. For instance, regulations to widen the basket of drugs under the essential drugs list will affect Torque's profitability. Also, unlike larger players, Torque lacks backward integration into active pharmaceutical ingredients. Though Torque will maintain strong revenue growth, backed by continuous capacity expansion and new products, it will continue to face competition from larger players.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Torque will continue to benefit from its established position in the pharmaceuticals industry supported by a wide product portfolio and geographically diversified revenue profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if revenue growth is stable and improvement in working capital management or profitability results in high net cash accrual. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if litigation leads to significant decline in revenue, or if any large debt-funded capex, or stretch in working capital cycle weakens financial risk profile, especially liquidity.

About the Company

Torque was set up as a partnership firm in 1985 with a plant in Dera Bassi, Punjab. In 1994, it was reconstituted as a private limited company. Torque manufactures formulations in the form of liquid, ointments, injections, eye drops, tablets, capsules, and lotions at its facilities in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, and Dera Bassi.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2017 2016
Revenue Rs cr 302.29 263.66
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs cr 9.74 7.65
PAT margin % 3.2 2.90
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.65 0.71
Interest coverage Times 4.2 3.7

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 Bill Discounting NA NA NA 5.7 CRISIL A3+
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 27 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Loan Against Property NA 8.60 31-Mar-23 10.55 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA 9.45 31-Mar-21 2.95 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA 14.5 31-Mar-19 3.00 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA 15.0 31-Mar-19 5.00 CRISIL BBB/Stable
NA Term Loan NA 10.75 31-Mar-23 5.8 CRISIL BBB/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  60.00  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+      27-02-17  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+      05-11-15  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+  CRISIL BBB/Stable/ CRISIL A3+ 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --    --    --    --    --  CRISIL A3+ 
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
Bill Discounting 5.7 CRISIL A3+ Bill Discounting 5.7 CRISIL A3+
Cash Credit 27 CRISIL BBB/Stable Cash Credit 27 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Loan Against Property 10.55 CRISIL BBB/Stable Proposed Term Loan 10.55 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Term Loan 16.75 CRISIL BBB/Stable Term Loan 16.75 CRISIL BBB/Stable
Total 60 -- Total 60 --
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 Approach to Recognising Default
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
The Rating Process

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