Is Mayne Pharma Group (ASX:MYX) A Risky Investment?

David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the permanent loss of capital.' So it seems the smart money knows that debt - which is usually involved in bankruptcies - is a very important factor, when you assess how risky a company is. As with many other companies Mayne Pharma Group Limited (ASX:MYX) makes use of debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company can't easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own cash flow. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

See our latest analysis for Mayne Pharma Group

What Is Mayne Pharma Group's Debt?

As you can see below, at the end of December 2021, Mayne Pharma Group had AU$378.7m of debt, up from AU$344.2m a year ago. Click the image for more detail. On the flip side, it has AU$114.7m in cash leading to net debt of about AU$263.9m.

A Look At Mayne Pharma Group's Liabilities

According to the last reported balance sheet, Mayne Pharma Group had liabilities of AU$228.9m due within 12 months, and liabilities of AU$490.1m due beyond 12 months. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of AU$114.7m as well as receivables valued at AU$214.5m due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling AU$389.7m more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

This is a mountain of leverage relative to its market capitalization of AU$476.5m. Should its lenders demand that it shore up the balance sheet, shareholders would likely face severe dilution. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Mayne Pharma Group can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Over 12 months, Mayne Pharma Group made a loss at the EBIT level, and saw its revenue drop to AU$388m, which is a fall of 11%. We would much prefer see growth.

Caveat Emptor

While Mayne Pharma Group's falling revenue is about as heartwarming as a wet blanket, arguably its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) loss is even less appealing. Indeed, it lost AU$34m at the EBIT level. When we look at that and recall the liabilities on its balance sheet, relative to cash, it seems unwise to us for the company to have any debt. So we think its balance sheet is a little strained, though not beyond repair. However, it doesn't help that it burned through AU$6.6m of cash over the last year. So to be blunt we think it is risky. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Be aware that Mayne Pharma Group is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about...

If you're interested in investing in businesses that can grow profits without the burden of debt, then check out this free list of growing businesses that have net cash on the balance sheet.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.