Rating Rationale
December 24, 2020 | Mumbai
Wellness Forever Medicare Private Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.137.17 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.122.17 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A2 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BBB+/Stable/CRISIL A2' ratings on the bank facilities of Wellness Forever Medicare Private Limited (WFMPL).
 
The ratings continue to reflect established regional market position and the extensive experience of its promoters in the pharmacy segment, wide product range, established supplier relationship and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition and geographical concentration in revenue and to risks associated with stabilisation of new outlets.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths: 
* Established market position and extensive experience of the promoters: Benefits from the promoters' experience of over three decades and the strong market position for the ''Wellness Forever'' brand in Mumbai and nearby regions should continue to support the business. The company has expanded its stores to other locations in Maharashtra and states such as Karnataka and Goa and currently have 184 outlets across these states. Revenue has steadily increased to Rs 870.79 crores in fiscal 2020 from Rs 330.21 crores in fiscal 2016. The company plans to expand by adding new stores over the next 2 years.
 
* Wide product range and established supplier relationship: The product profile is diversified with more than 20000 stock keeping units (SKUs) for pharma products and 10000 SKUs for non-pharma products such as skin care products, nutritional products and other daily need items. This helps in mitigating intensifying competition in the pharmaceutical retail business and hence maintaining operating margins of around 4-4.5% in last three fiscals ended fiscal 2020. Also, the management has established strong relationship with a large number of suppliers and setup a central distribution centre at Bhiwandi, Maharashtra which enables efficient inventory management.
 
* Strong financial risk profile: Networth is strong at Rs 187.27 crore and total outside liabilities to adjusted networth comfortable at 0.75 times as on March 31, 2020. The capital structure is low supported by capital infusion from investors over the past four fiscals. The interest coverage and net cash accruals to total debt (NCATD) is adequate at 3.84 times and 0.28 times, respectively in fiscal 2020. Financial risk profile is expected to remain strong over the medium term owing to controlled reliance on external debt.
 
Weaknesses:
* Exposure to risks associated with stabilisation of new outlets: WFMPL plans to add more than 500 stores by fiscal 2025, and its future performance will be dependent on its ability to leverage on its brand image to maintain growth while sustaining margins. Moreover, the company operates most of its outlets on company owned company operated (COCO) model, wherein growth is gradual and the break-even levels are reached only after the store is able to attract optimal volumes, which will depend on its ability to position itself in the locality and attract loyal clients. Over the medium term, the company is looking to increase its outlets on the franchise based model.
 
* Industry competition and geographical concentration in revenue: The pharmacy business has low entry barriers, consequently there are a large number of unorganised players and e-commerce portals in the industry. Therefore, players such as WFMPL have to provide periodic discounts and attractive schemes in order to stave-off competition. Aggressive expansion by existing competitors and emergence of new players may impinge upon the profitability and revenue of WFMPL. The company is also exposed to geographical concentration in revenue, since majority of its stores are in Maharashtra which generates 75% of revenues.
Liquidity Adequate

WFMPL has adequate liquidity driven by expected cash accruals of more than Rs 24 crore and Rs 30 crore in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2022; against long term repayment obligations of Rs 6.5 crore each fiscal. Cash and cash equivalents were Rs 20.4 crore as on March 31, 2020. Fund based limits of Rs 93 crore was utilized to the tune of 65% on an average over the 12 months ended September 2020. Further the company has capex plans to set-up additional outlets and additional warehouses. CRISIL expects internal accruals, cash & cash equivalents and unutilized bank lines, and equity infusion from investors to be sufficient to meet its repayment obligations as well as incremental working capital requirements.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes WFMPL will continue to benefit from its established presence in the pharmacy retail distribution segment.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Upward factors
* Revenue growth and stable margins resulting in cash accruals of more than Rs 30 crore
* Sustained financial risk profile while maintaining working capital cycle
 
Downward factors
* Large debt funded capex impacting the gearing to more than 1.5 times
* Decline in revenues or margins impacting the cash accruals
About the Company

WFMPL, incorporated in 2008, is promoted by Mr Ashraf Biran, Mr Gulshan Bakhtiani, and Mr Mohan Chavan. The promoters are the majority stakeholders in the company, while balance stake is owned by individual investors.
 
The company operates more than 180 pharmacies across Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, and Karad (Maharashtra), Goa and Karnataka, under the brand, Wellness Forever.  It also owns a 1 lakh sq ft distribution centre in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020* 2019
Revenue Rs.Cr 870.79 683.25
Profit After Tax (PAT) Rs.Cr 11.25 8.00
PAT Margins % 1.3 1.2
Adjusted Debt/Adjusted Networth Times 0.45 0.70
Interest coverage Times 3.84 3.02
*Provisional numbers

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 Complexity levels Issue size
(Rs cr)
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA NA 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Long Term Loan NA NA Dec-2023 NA 23.17 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Proposed Non Fund based limits NA NA NA NA 6 CRISIL A2
NA Term Loan NA NA Dec-2024 NA 15 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA NA 23 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
NA Working Capital Facility NA NA NA NA 50 CRISIL BBB+/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  131.17  CRISIL BBB+/Stable  26-11-20  CRISIL BBB+/Stable      12-12-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2    --  -- 
        15-01-20  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2               
        08-01-20  CRISIL BBB+/Stable/ CRISIL A2               
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  6.00  CRISIL A2  26-11-20  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 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Cash Credit 20 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Long Term Loan 23.17 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Long Term Loan 23.17 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Proposed Non Fund based limits 6 CRISIL A2 Proposed Non Fund based limits 6 CRISIL A2
Term Loan 15 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Working Capital Demand Loan 23 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Working Capital Demand Loan 23 CRISIL BBB+/Stable Working Capital Facility 50 CRISIL BBB+/Stable
Working Capital Facility 50 CRISIL BBB+/Stable -- 0 --
Total 137.17 -- Total 122.17 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Criteria for rating trading companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings

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