Rating Rationale
May 06, 2019 | Mumbai
Alacrity Securities Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.23 Crore (Enhanced from Rs.13 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL BB-/Stable/CRISIL A4+' ratings on the bank facilities of Alacrity Securities Limited (Alacrity).
 
The ratings continue to reflect the extensive experience of the promoters in the equity broking business, and Alacrity's adequate capital position. The strengths are partially offset by the company's modest market position and exposure to customer and geographic concentration risk.
 
Profitability is weak due to the inherent volatility in capital markets. Alacrity reported net loss of Rs 1.7 crore in the first half of fiscal 2019, primarily driven by loss in the proprietary trading business.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of Alacrity. Networth has been adjusted for exposure to proprietary trading activities; total exposure is estimated at 25% of the networth in fiscal 2019.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Extensive experience of the promoters
Benefits from the promoters' experience of over two decades, and a loyal, even though small, client base should continue to support the business. Furthermore, the promoters have been managing the company conservatively and do not intend to venture into unrelated businesses.

* Adequate capitalisation
Alacrity is adequately capitalised for its current scale of operations, with adjusted networth of Rs 15.6 crore (vis-Ã' -vis reported networth of Rs 24.8 crore) and comfortable adjusted gearing of 0.6 time as on September 30, 2018. The adjusted networth excludes funds apportioned for proprietary trading and investments made in group companies. Accrual to networth is lower on account of weak earnings, but need-based equity support may be expected from the promoters both on an ongoing basis and in the event of distress.
 
Weaknesses:
* Modest market position, with a small client base and exposure to customer and geographic concentration risk
Alacrity has a marginal market share of around 0.0004% in the equity broking space in India (in terms of volumes of cash and derivatives at the Bombay Stock Exchange [BSE] and National Stock Exchange [NSE] in fiscal 2019). The market share has steadily declined from 0.03% in fiscal 2008. Furthermore, the top 20 clients account for almost over 90% of the total broking revenue, leading to customer concentration risk. Additionally, the company has a single branch in Mumbai, which limits its geographic reach, thereby constraining scale of operations. Alacrity will remain a marginal player in its targeted business segments over the medium term.
 
* Modest earnings profile
Earnings profile is modest because of low accretion to reserve and high operating expenses. Return on networth is -13.0% for H1FY19 (Loss on account of proprietary trading) compared to the 2.7% for fiscal 2018. Income derived from broking remained stable at Rs 1.2 crore in fiscal 2019 as against Rs 1.1 crore in fiscal 2017. Cost to income ratio has, however, increased in the last couple of years because of stagnant operating expenses and declining broking income. Since around 80% of the operating expense is fixed, Alacrity has very little flexibility in controlling its operating cost during any downturn.
 
Earnings profile will, likely, remain modest over the medium term, given the low and concentrated revenue profile with high fixed operating costs and exposure to volatility in returns from proprietary trading.
Liquidity

The company maintains a liquid cash position  of Rs 1.5-2.0 crore at any point of time. The promoters of the company are willing to infuse capital in the company during times of necessity. 

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Alacrity will maintain adequate capitalisation over the medium term. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if the company improves its market position and earnings profile. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if a considerable decline in the company's capital position or earnings profile, or significant increase in its exposure to proprietary trading weakens key credit metrics.

About the Company

Incorporated in 1994, Alacrity is in the retail equity broking business and actively sundertakes proprietary trading. The company has one branch in Kandivali. It was founded by Mr Himanshu Mehta and Ms Nalini Prabhu (ex-State Bank of India employee). The latter moved out of the company in 2003. Mr Mehta is also engaged in other businesses, such as trading in steel and arranging of funds for companies.
 
Alacrity has two associate companies-Pooja Equiresearch Pvt Ltd and Odyssey Corporation Ltd-which are independent and have no financial or operational synergies with Alacrity. In fiscal 2014, Alacrity released an initial public offering of 6 lakh shares at a price of Rs 15 (premium of Rs 5). The shares were listed on the small and medium enterprises segment of the Bombay Stock Exchange in August 2013.
 
In the half year ended September 2019, the company reported net loss of Rs 1.7 crore. Gearing weakened to 0.6 time from 0.3 times as on March 31, 2018 due to increased borrowings.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit Sep 18 2018 2017
Total assets Rs crore 53.5 40.8 35.7
Total income Rs crore 1.6# 4.5 3.0
Profit after tax Rs crore -1.7 0.7 0.5
GNPA % NA NA NA
Adjusted Gearing Times 0.6 0.3 0.3
Return on networth % -13.0 2.7 1.9
#excluding profit on sale of Investments

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 Overdraft NA 11.7 NA 11 CRISIL BB-/Stable
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 11.5 CRISIL A4+
NA Proposed Long Term
Bank Loan Facility
NA NA NA 0.5 CRISIL BB-/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  11.50  CRISIL BB-/Stable      26-04-18  CRISIL BB-/Stable  23-01-17  CRISIL BB-/Stable      CRISIL BB-/Stable 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  11.50  CRISIL A4+      26-04-18  CRISIL A4+  23-01-17  CRISIL A4+      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 11.5 CRISIL A4+ Bank Guarantee 6 CRISIL A4+
Overdraft 11 CRISIL BB-/Stable Overdraft 4 CRISIL BB-/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility .5 CRISIL BB-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 3 CRISIL BB-/Stable
Total 23 -- Total 13 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Securities Companies

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