Rating Rationale
September 17, 2019 | Mumbai
Vital Laboratories Private Limited
Ratings downgraded to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.250 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A-/Stable')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Downgraded from 'CRISIL A2+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Vital Laboratories Private Limited (Vital) to 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' from 'CRISIL A-/Stable/CRISIL A2+'.
 
The downgrade reflects weakening of the business risk profile due to higher-than-expected decline in operating margin to 15.2% in fiscal 2019 from 24.5% in fiscal 2018. This was on account of interruption in operations at one of the units for three months and significant increase in prices of raw materials and decline in realization of key products. This has led to deterioration in interest coverage (to 2.8 times in fiscal 2019 from 8.9 times in fiscal 2018).  The operating margins are expected to remain at similar levels going forward, leading to lower cash accruals in fiscal 2020 than earlier expectations, and hence reduced cushion between accruals and repayments.  
 
The ratings continue to reflect promoters' extensive industry experience along with their established relationships with customers and its above-average financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by its working capital-intensive nature of operations, and susceptibility to product concentration risk and raw material price fluctuations.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Promoters' extensive industry experience and established relationships with customers:
Vital has been active in the API manufacturing segment since 1998, and its promoters have over 25 years of relevant industry experience. On the back of constant upgrades in production facilities, it has obtained approvals from various regulatory authorities and has established strong relations with customers. Its customers consist of companies like Sun Pharma, Aristo Pharma, Cipla Limited, Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited, etc. It has a large customer base with over 800 clients and its top 5 customers contribute to around 22.5% of total sales. This has led to increase in revenue to Rs 371 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 241 crore in fiscal 2016.
 
* Above-average financial risk profile
Vital's capital structure is marked by a robust net worth of Rs 188.1 crore and comfortable gearing and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth ratios of 1.1 time and 1.68 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2019 (0.93 times and 1.41 times, respectively, a year ago). Capital structure is expected to remain at similar levels, supported by accruals to fund incremental working capital. The debt protection metrics were adequate marked by interest cover of about 2.8 times and Net-cash-accruals-to-total-debt ratio of about 0.14 times in fiscal 2019. Debt protection metrics are expected to improve over the medium term backed by better profitability and reduced debt.
 
Weaknesses:
* Working capital-intensive operations:
Vital's operations are working capital intensive as reflected in gross current assets (GCAs) of 201-286 days for past three fiscals ended March 2019, backed by inventory of 175-200 days and receivables of 96-110 days. The year-end inventory is higher as raw materials (agricultural products, such as herbs and plants derivatives) are procured during the harvesting season to meet full-year requirement. The working capital requirement is partially funded by creditors to 100-120 days.
 
* Susceptibility to product concentration risk and raw material price fluctuations
In fiscal 2019, around 75% of Vital's revenue was derived from its top 5 products in anti-malarial, anti-spasmodic and vitamins segments. The high reliance on few products exposes the revenue and profitability of the business to changes in its prices and material costs. Further, Vital's primary raw materials comprise of various herbs and plant derivatives imported from Australia and China. The prices of raw materials depend on the monsoons and availability of crops, and therefore may fluctuate. The operating margin has remained volatile at 13.6-24.6% in the four fiscals through 2019. CRISIL believes that the Vital's operating margin will remain susceptible to any sharp changes in raw material prices over the medium term.
 
Liquidity: Adequate
Liquidity is adequate, marked by expected cash accrual of over Rs 37-43 crore annually in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2021, against term debt obligations of Rs 23.5 crore in fiscal 2020 and Rs 15 crore in fiscal 2021. It had cash and bank balance of Rs 35.8 crores as on March 31, 2019. Utilisation of fund-based limit of Rs 123 crore (enhanced from Rs 88 crore in April 2019) averaged 75% over the 12 months through April 2019. CRISIL expects internal accruals, cash & cash equivalents and unutilized bank lines to be sufficient to meet its incremental working capital requirements.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Vital will continue to benefit from extensive experience of promoters and established relationships with reputed pharmaceutical companies over the medium term.

Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Significant improvement in scale of operations & operating profitability, leading to net cash accruals of more than Rs. 45 crores on a sustainable basis
* Improvement in working capital cycle with GCA of below 200 days, leading to stronger financial risk profile

Downward factors
* Decline in revenues or operating profitability (below 12%), leading to reduced cushion between accruals and repayment
* Larger than expected debt funded capex or stretch in working capital cycle, weakening the financial risk profile.

About the Company

Vital, incorporated in 1999 by Mr. Rajiv Bajaj and family, manufactures bulk drugs/active pharmaceutical ingredients, and caters primarily to anti-malarial, anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic and vitamins segments. It has two manufacturing facilities at Vapi, Gujarat.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2019* 2018
Revenue Rs crore 371.2 354.8
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs crore 17.4 42.7
PAT Margins Percentage 4.7 12.0
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 1.1 0.9
Interest coverage Times 2.8 8.9

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 123 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 52 CRISIL A2
NA Term loan NA NA Jun-2023 16.50 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Term loan NA NA May-2023 30.50 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Term loan NA NA Feb-2023 28.00 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  198.00  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      07-08-18  CRISIL A-/Stable  31-08-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  25-11-16  CRISIL BBB/Positive  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
                03-07-17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  52.00  CRISIL A2      07-08-18  CRISIL A2+  31-08-17  CRISIL A2  25-11-16  CRISIL A3+  CRISIL A3+ 
                03-07-17  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
Cash Credit 123 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 95 CRISIL A-/Stable
Letter of Credit 52 CRISIL A2 Letter of Credit 62 CRISIL A2+
Term Loan 75 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Proposed Cash Credit Limit 15 CRISIL A-/Stable
-- 0 -- Proposed Letter of Credit 3 CRISIL A2+
-- 0 -- Term Loan 75 CRISIL A-/Stable
Total 250 -- Total 250 --
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
The Rating Process
Understanding CRISILs Ratings and Rating Scales

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

Vinay Rajani
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1835
M: +91 91 676 42913
B: +91 22 3342 3000
vinay.rajani@ext-crisil.com

Rahul Guha
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4097 8320
rahul.guha@crisil.com


Ankita Gupta
Associate Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4097 8104
ankita.gupta@crisil.com


Prayag Sinha
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
Prayag.Sinha@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