Rating Rationale
November 01, 2018 | Mumbai
Zim Laboratories Limited
Ratings upgraded to 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.116 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BBB-/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL BB+/Positive')
Short Term Rating CRISIL A3 (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A4+')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its ratings on the bank facilities of Zim Laboratories Limited (Zim) to 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable/CRISIL A3' from 'CRISIL BB+/Positive/CRISIL A4+'.
 
The upgrade reflects CRISIL's belief that Zim's business risk profile will improve over the medium term driven by increased revenue from commercialisation of registered products and addition of products. Revenue is expected to grow 11-12% annually over the medium supported by higher export contribution. For the three months through June 2018, revenue grew 10% over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Operating profit before depreciation, interest, and tax (OPBDIT) margin was 11.05% for the three months through June 2018, and is expected to sustain at 12-13% over the medium term backed by higher realisations for exports. The upgrade also factors in steady improvement in financial risk profile over the medium term, supported by steady cash accrual, moderate capital expenditure (capex), and adequate capital structure and debt protection metrics.
 
The ratings reflect the company' long track record in the formulations, pelletisation, taste-masking, and granulation segments of the pharmaceutical industry, and diversified revenue. The ratings also factor in adequate financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by working capital-intensive operations and modest scale of operations in the intensely competitive industry.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of Zim as the wholly owned subsidiary, Zim Laboratories FZE, does not have any significant operations.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Long track record in the formulations, pelletisation, taste-masking, and granulation segments:
Presence of more than three decades in the pharmaceutical industry has enabled the promoters to come up with innovative drug delivery systems. The company has expertise in oral dosage formulations and uses novel new drug delivery systems (NDDS), such as sustained release, modified release, taste-masking, palletisation, and fast-dissolving dosage forms. Furthermore, it is commercialising its registered products and launching new products. Business performance will benefit from the promoters' experience and new product launches.
 
* Diversified revenue
With focus on increasing presence in semi-regulated geographies, share of direct export in revenue increased to 64% in fiscal 2018 from 40% in fiscal 2014. Zim now exports to 43 countries. It is leveraging its drug delivery technologies which are therapy agnostic, and has launched more than 70 products in various countries and is in the process of further launching more products. It was largely present in the pre-formulations segment in the international market, and has steadily increased presence in the formulations market also.
 
* Adequate financial risk profile:
Financial risk profile is supported by adequate capital structure and debt protection metrics. Gearing was 0.64 time as on March 31, 2018, and is expected below 0.6 time over the medium term, supported by moderate capex plan and steady cash accrual. Debt protection metrics remain adequate, reflected in interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratio of 4.03 times and 0.32 time, respectively, for fiscal 2018.
 
Weaknesses
* Modest scale of operations in highly fragmented and competitive industry: The pharmaceutical formulations industry has several players and is intensely competitive. Zim's modest scale (revenue of Rs 272 crore in fiscal 2018) limits bargaining power compared to established and large players. However, presence in the NDDS segment has enabled the company to partially offset competitive pressure. Also, it undertakes regular research and development to improve product offerings, and thereby, bargaining power.
 
* Working capital intensive operations: Zim's operations are working capital intensive, marked by high gross current asset days of over 200 days historically and is at similar levels for fiscal 2018. In the domestic segment, it derives revenue mainly from sales to government bodies and institutions such as state government hospitals, railway boards, and municipal corporations, which normally have long payment cycle. Receivable cycle for exports is also more than 80 days. However, the management is focusing towards effectively managing its working capital cycle through higher export contribution wherein orders would letter of credit backed or on advance basis.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Zim's business risk profile will improve over the medium term supported by increased contribution from export and new product launches. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if there is a significant and sustained increase in revenue and profitability along with improvement in the financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if revenue or profitability declines significantly, or if the financial risk profile weakens due to a stretch in working capital cycle or large, debt-funded capex.

About the Company

Zim, incorporated in 1984, manufactures small formulation dosages encompassing tablets, powders, capsules, and pellets in sustained and controlled release forms. Zim was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on June 11, 2018. The promoters held 33.52% stake in the company while Mauritius-based private equity fund AA India Development Capital Fund, held 22.12% shares, as on September 30, 2018. Mr Zakir Vali, father-in-law of promoter Mr Anwar Daud, holds 17.68% stake.
 
For the three months through June 2018, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 2.68 crore and net sales stood at Rs 69.9 crore, against Rs 2.16 crore and Rs 63.5 crore, respectively, in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2018 2017
Revenue Rs cr 272 235
Profit after tax Rs cr 18 19
PAT margin % 6.7 7.9
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.64 0.69
Interest coverage Times 4.03 3.88

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 65.00 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA External Commercial
Borrowings
NA NA Nov-2020 29.11 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Long-Term Loan NA NA Mar-2021 4.87 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Proposed Long-Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 4.02 CRISIL BBB-/Stable
NA Letter of Credit NA NA NA 5.0 CRISIL A3
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 8.0 CRISIL A3
*Fully interchangeable with pre-shipment and post-shipment.
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  103.00  CRISIL BBB-/Stable      31-10-17  CRISIL BB+/Positive  26-07-16  CRISIL BB+/Negative  11-08-15  CRISIL BBB/Stable  CRISIL BBB/Stable 
            17-05-17  CRISIL BB+/Stable           
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  13.00  CRISIL A3      31-10-17  CRISIL A4+  26-07-16  CRISIL A4+  11-08-15  CRISIL A3+  CRISIL A3+ 
            17-05-17  CRISIL A4+           
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
Bank Guarantee 8 CRISIL A3 Bank Guarantee 8 CRISIL A4+
Cash Credit* 65 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Cash Credit* 65 CRISIL BB+/Positive
External Commercial Borrowings 29.11 CRISIL BBB-/Stable External Commercial Borrowings 29.11 CRISIL BB+/Positive
Letter of Credit 5 CRISIL A3 Letter of Credit 5 CRISIL A4+
Long Term Loan 4.87 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Long Term Loan 4.87 CRISIL BB+/Positive
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4.02 CRISIL BBB-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 4.02 CRISIL BB+/Positive
Total 116 -- Total 116 --
*Fully interchangeable with pre-shipment and post-shipment.
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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