Rating Rationale
July 29, 2020 | Mumbai
Andhra Pradesh State Financial Corporation
Rating removed from 'Watch Negative'; Rating Reaffirmed 
 
Rating Action
Rs.200 Crore 9.48% Bond Series V/2012* CRISIL B+/Stable (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
Rs.166.4 Crore Bonds Series VII & VIII/2014* (Reduced from Rs.208 Crore)  CRISIL B+/Stable (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Amounts outstanding as on March 31, 2020
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has removed its rating on the bonds issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Financial Corporation (APSFC) and guaranteed by the erstwhile unified Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) from 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications' and has reaffirmed the rating at 'CRISIL B+' and assigned a 'Stable' outlook.
 
The rating on bonds of Rs 41.6 crore has been withdrawn (See Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn for details) as the bond have been partially redeemed. The rating action is in line with CRISIL's policy on withdrawal of ratings.
 
CRISIL had earlier placed the rating on 'Watch with Negative Implications', citing uncertainties related to any potential dispute between states of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana, over sharing liabilities towards the rated debt, and the subsequent impact on debt servicing.
 
The rating action factors in APSFC's track record in managing funds at the respective AP and Telangana divisions in a centralised manner which is being overseen by APSFC management. Further, both the divisions are aware of their share of cash flow generating assets and liabilities, and have been servicing the debt accordingly. As per the management, both the divisions can utilise each other's funds from respective pooled accounts if required, with an approval from the board, on which they have a joint representation. While clarity on bifurcation of assets and liabilities is still pending, it is not going to impact cash flows significantly. The company has adhered to the T-structure and has serviced the rated bonds within the due date, as confirmed by the trustee.
 
The rating factors in the company's standalone credit risk profile, which is supported by an adequate capital position, but constrained by weak asset quality, tightening liquidity because of curtailed borrowings, and limited diversity in exposure.

Analytical Approach

The rating is based on APFSC's standalone assessment, and has been arrived at after combining its business and financial risk profiles. While the erstwhile unified GoAP has extended an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee on full principal and interest payment with a trustee-administered payment structure, this has not been factored into the rating, given that liabilities of respective states are being funded mostly through their own cash flows.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strength
* Adequate capital position
APSFC's capital position is supported by its steady internal accrual.  Networth stood at Rs 724 crore as on March 31, 2019, compared to Rs 636 crore in the previous fiscal. Furthermore, networth coverage of net non-performing assets (NPAs) also improved to 4.3 times as on March 31, 2019, from 3.6 times a year earlier. Gearing was also comfortable at 1.9 times as on March 31, 2019. Capital adequacy ratio has grown to 31.5% in the first half of fiscal 2020, from 25.1% during the same period in the previous fiscal.
 
Weaknesses
* Modest asset quality
Asset quality remains modest, with stable gross NPAs of 9.3% and net NPAs of 5.4% as on March 31, 2019. Furthermore, restructured assets stood at Rs 125 crore as on March 31, 2019. Weakening of asset quality is driven by the company's exposure to the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, which was severely impacted by the downturn. APSFC's exposure to borrowers with a relatively weaker credit profile, makes asset quality vulnerable.
 
* Modest, albeit improving, earnings profile
Though profitability has improved, it remains modest, particularly on account of high credit cost over the last few fiscals and contraction in loan book since 2014. Profit of Rs 89 crore and return on assets of 3.3% were reported for fiscal 2019, against Rs 59 crore and 2.1%, respectively, for fiscal 2018. Credit cost remained elevated at 3.9% in fiscal 2019, compared to 4.2% in fiscal 2018.
 
* Curtailed borrowings partly mitigated by diverse resource profile
Borrowings have been steadily declining since 2014, to Rs 1,399 crore as on March 31, 2019 (Rs 1,648 crore, a year earlier), with nil refinancing or fresh borrowings in fiscal 2019. However, the resource profile is diversified, with 49.2% as non-statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) bonds (guaranteed by the state government), 37.8% as debt from banks, and 13% as refinance from Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). After SIDBI's policy to limit its exposure to state financial corporations (SFCs), a proportion of bank debt in the company's resource base has increased. Also, the company has not issued any capital instruments since 2014, as formalities pertaining to the division of the state are pending completion.
Liquidity Poor

Cash and bank balance was around Rs 16 crore, while overdraft facility from Andhra Bank was Rs 70 crore, of which around Rs 9.4 crore was utilised as on June 30, 2020.  The centralised pool at respective AP and Telangana divisions has accumulated around Rs 27 crore till June 30, 2020. Total debt obligation in fiscal 2021, is around Rs 411 crore, which is likely to be serviced, using funds available in the centralised pool, collections, current cash balance, and other income.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes APSFC will continue to adhere to defined T-structures for bonds, and that liquidity at AP and Telangana divisions will be better managed to ensure timely servicing of debt.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factors
* Sustained decline in NPA below 5%
* Steady build-up of adequate liquidity on a sustained basis

Downward factors
* Any delay in servicing of liabilities
* Non-adherence to the T-structure for bonds.

About the Company

APSFC is a term-lending institution, incorporated in 1956, for promoting small and mid-sized industries in AP, under the provisions of the State Financial Corporation Act, 1951. In fiscal 2019, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 89 crore on total income of Rs 457 crore, against PAT of Rs 59 crore and total income of Rs 439 crore, in the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators (APSFC's Standalone Financials)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Total assets Rs crore 2664 2773
Total income Rs crore 457 439
Profit after tax Rs crore 89 59
Gross NPA % 9.26 9.27
Gearing Times 1.9 2.6
Return on assets % 3.3 2.1

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 Issue size
(Rs.Crore)
Complexity levels Rating assigned with outlook
INE695F09425 APSFC NON-SLR BONDS
SERIES -V 2012*
29-Feb-2012 9.48% 28-Mar-2022 200 Complex CRISIL B+/Stable
INE695F09441 APSFC NON-SLR BONDS
SERIES -VII 2014*
29-Jan-2014 9.75% 24-Mar-2024 46.4
 
Complex CRISIL B+/Stable
INE695F09458 APSFC NON-SLR BONDS
SERIES -VIII 2014*
25-Mar-2014 9.85% 28-Mar-2024 120
 
Complex CRISIL B+/Stable
*Amounts outstanding as on March 31, 2020
 
Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn 
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity Date Issue Size
(Rs.Cr)
Complexity levels
INE695F09441 Bonds 29-Jan-2014 9.75% 24-Mar-2024 11.6 Complex
INE695F09458 Bonds 25-Mar-2014 9.85% 28-Mar-2024 30 Complex
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
Bond  LT  366.40
29-07-20 
CRISIL B+/Stable  30-04-20  CRISIL B+/Watch Negative  07-11-19  CRISIL B+/Watch Negative  23-11-18  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative  27-11-17  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative 
        31-01-20  CRISIL B+/Watch Negative  14-08-19  CRISIL B+/Watch Negative  21-08-18  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative  24-08-17  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative   
            14-05-19  CRISIL BB(SO)/Watch Negative  24-05-18  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative  07-06-17  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative   
            19-02-19  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative  23-02-18  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative  23-02-17  CRISIL BB+(SO)/Watch Negative   
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
Rating Criteria for Banks and Financial Institutions
Rating Criteria for State Governments

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