Rating Rationale
January 23, 2025 | Mumbai

First Business Receivables Trust

(Originator: Reliance Industries Limited)
Rating Reaffirmed

 

Rating Action

Trust Name

Details

Amount Rated (Rs.Crore)

Original Tenure (Quarterly)

Rating

Rating Action

First Business Receivables Trust

Pass-Through Certificates

Rs.875 Crore (Reduced from Rs.1,170.71 Crore)

24 (#)

Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable

Rating Reaffirmed

Note: None of the Directors on Crisil Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.

1 crore = 10 million   

Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

(#)There are 24 series of pass-through certificates (PTCs) with tenures starting from 1 quarter to 24 quarters

 

Detailed Rationale

Crisil Ratings has reaffirmed its 'Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable' rating on the existing pass-through certificates (PTCs) of Rs 875 crore of First Business Receivables Trust (FBRT). The rating on PTCs of Rs 295.71 crore has been withdrawn as these have been completely redeemed. The withdrawal is in line with the Crisil Ratings policy on withdrawal of ratings.

 

As per the transaction structure, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL; 'Crisil AAA/Stable/Crisil A1+') has assigned a part of receivables from a loan of Rs 15,600 crore extended to Reliance Corporate IT Park Ltd (RCITPL) to FBRT.

 

The loan has a charge over receivables from service users due to the borrower, RCITPL. The loan receivables are assigned in exchange of a purchase consideration paid by the trust. At its end, the trust has issued PTCs to investors for the same amount as the purchase consideration. Thus, the PTCs are serviced by payments from service users, which include RIL and its group companies, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL; 'Crisil AAA/Stable/Crisil A1+') and Reliance Retail Ltd (RRL; 'Crisil AAA/Stable/Crisil A1+'). Axis Trustee Services Ltd is monitoring the transaction on behalf of the investors.

 

RCITPL provides infrastructure, information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services across India, including from its office complex in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, to RIL, RJIL and RRL, for which it has entered service agreements for 13 years. The service fee under the service agreement is credited to a trust-controlled account (collection and payout account) five business days prior to the payout date to PTC investors. RCITPL acts as a collection and servicing agent to ensure the fees are received in time. Furthermore, the trust has full recourse on RCITPL, which is RIL's wholly owned step-down subsidiary, to ensure timely payment to investors.

 

Moreover, the service agreement is non-terminable during the term of the PTCs and no set-off is available to service users regarding the service fee. Payments towards actual operating cost incurred by the service provider (RCITPL) are payable by service users and are separate from the service fee. Further, any other factor related to the services rendered by RCITPL, including deficiency in services or disputes and any unforeseen future liabilities, does not have any impact on the service fee payable.

 

The rating continuous to factor in the sound legal structure of the transaction, the strong credit profile of the borrower, RCITPL, to which the trust has full recourse for timely payments, and the healthy credit profiles of the borrower's counterparties, namely RIL, RJIL and RRL.

 

Analytical Approach

Crisil Ratings has considered the credit risk profiles of the borrower (RCITPL) and service users (RIL, RJIL and RRL) and legal risk of transaction and has also applied the criteria for notching up ratings based on parent support to the borrower.

 

Also, Crisil Ratings has analysed collection performance since the issuance of the PTCs.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

  • Strong credit quality of the borrower, RCITPL, and its strategic importance to RIL

The borrower has a strong credit profile, given its importance to the RIL group. RCITPL provides infrastructure, IT and IT-enabled services to RIL and its group entities across India, including from the group’s principal corporate office (10.4 million sq ft) complex in Ghansoli.

 

The complex also has an area available for further development of about 11.6 million sq ft. This is strategically important to the group as it has the capacity to house more than 50,000 employees of RIL and its group entities, and houses the network operating centre for RIL’s digital services operations under RJIL. RIL has lent its name to RCITPL and has provided an undertaking to the trustee that it shall maintain at least 51% shareholding in RCITPL over the tenure of the PTCs. Furthermore, RIL has complete management control of RCITPL and the large market value of its real estate ensures strong economic incentive for the parent to provide need-based support.

 

  • Sound credit quality of service users - RIL, RJIL and RRL

The PTCs are serviced through service fees paid by RIL (66% of receivables), RJIL (29%) and RRL (5%), all of which have strong credit profiles. RIL has strong competitiveness in the global oil refining business, leadership in the domestic petrochemicals industry and exceptional financial flexibility. RRL is India's largest retail entity by revenue, scale and profit, while RJIL is India's largest telecom service provider by revenue market share. The non-terminable nature of the business service agreements mitigates the counterparty risk.

 

  • Healthy payment structure, along with waterfall mechanism, ensuring timely debt servicing

Service fees must be credited by users to the collection and payout account five business days prior to the due date (T). This provides sufficient time for the collection and payout agent to ensure timely payment to PTC holders. Also, under a waterfall mechanism, payment of interest and principal repayment to PTC holders will be prioritised, with only residual amount in the collection and payout account paid to the borrower.

 

The assigned loan receivables are aligned with payouts to PTC holders and have a fixed interest and repayment schedule for their entire door-to-door tenure, mitigating the risk of mismatch in cash flow.

 

Weakness

  • RCITPL was earlier providing several services to the RIL group and its related entities through its platform, projects and services undertaking, such as project execution and operations and maintenance (O&M) for telecom towers/optical fibre infrastructure. These businesses were demerged into another group entity in September 2019. RCITPL currently provides infrastructure, IT and IT-enabled services to the RIL group and related entities across India and holds related real estate assets of the group. After the demerger, the business of RCITPL has a smaller scale both in terms of revenue and profitability. Nevertheless, the entity continues to be strategically important to the RIL group.

Liquidity: Superior

Liquidity is supported by the financial flexibility derived from being part of the RIL group.

 

Outlook: Stable

Crisil Ratings believes FBRT will continue to be benefit from the strong credit profiles of service users and borrower, along with the sound legal structure of the transaction.

Rating Sensitivity Factors

Downward Factors

  • Weakening in the credit quality of the borrower
  • Deterioration in the credit quality of the service user(s), particularly RIL, by one notch
  • Non-adherence to the key transaction terms envisaged at the time of the rating

About the Originator
RIL is one of India's largest private sector companies with diverse interests, including petrochemicals, oil refining, and upstream oil and gas exploration and production. RIL has strong competitiveness in the global oil refining and petrochemicals business, arising from its integrated business model with superior complexity index of 21.1 for its Jamnagar site, which makes it among the most complex sites in the world. RIL has also established its presence in the consumer-facing business space by providing retail and digital services, which are principal growth drivers. RRL is India's largest retail entity by revenue while RJIL has become India's largest telecom service provider by revenue market share. The group is in the process of establishing itself in the green energy space.

Key Financial Indicators

  Particulars

Unit

FY24

FY23

Revenue

Rs crore

914,472

891,311

Profit after tax (PAT)

Rs crore

79,020

74,088

PAT margin

%

8.5

8.2

Interest coverage

Times

7.7

7.9

Total debt/adjusted networth*

Times

0.5

0.5

*Debt including deferred spectrum payments and lease liabilities

Any other information: Not Applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
Crisil Ratings` 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.

Crisil Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the Crisil Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)

ISIN

Type of Instrument

Date of Allotment

Coupon Rate (%) (p.a.p.m)

Maturity Date

Amount
(Rs.Crore)

Complexity

Level

Outstanding
Rating

INE0BTV15212

PTCs

30-Dec-19

8.59

01-Apr-25

244.00

Highly complex

Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable

INE0BTV15220

PTCs

30-Dec-19

8.59

01-Jul-25

249.00

Highly complex

Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable

INE0BTV15238

PTCs

30-Dec-19

8.59

01-Oct-25

254.00

Highly complex

Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable

INE0BTV15246

PTCs

30-Dec-19

8.59

01-Jan-26

128.00

Highly complex

Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable

 

Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn 

ISIN

Type of Instrument

Date of Allotment

Coupon Rate (%) (p.a.p.m)

Maturity Date

Amount
(Rs.Crore)

Complexity

Level

Outstanding
Rating

INE0BTV15196

PTCs

30-Dec-19

0

01-Oct-24

149.52

Highly complex

Withdrawn

INE0BTV15204

PTCs

30-Dec-19

0

01-Jan-25

146.19

Highly complex

Withdrawn

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2025 (History) 2024  2023  2022  Start of 2022
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
PTCs LT 875.0 Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable   -- 17-07-24 Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable 28-07-23 Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable 27-07-22 Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable
      --   -- 19-01-24 Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable 31-01-23 Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable 31-01-22 Crisil AAA (SO) /Stable --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs rating methodology for ABS transactions
Evaluating risks in securitisation transactions - A primer
Meaning and applicability of SO and CE symbol
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk

Ramkumar Uppara
Media Relations
Crisil Limited
M: +91 98201 77907
B: +91 22 6137 3000
ramkumar.uppara@crisil.com

Sanjay Lawrence
Media Relations
Crisil Limited
M: +91 89833 21061
B: +91 22 6137 3000
sanjay.lawrence@crisil.com


Manish Kumar Gupta
Senior Director
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 6137 3000
manish.gupta@crisil.com


Anand Kulkarni
Director
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 22 6137 3000
anand.kulkarni@crisil.com


LOVISH GUPTA
Manager
Crisil Ratings Limited
B:+91 124 672 2000
LOVISH.GUPTA@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper/magazine/agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to Crisil Ratings. However, Crisil Ratings alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites and portals.


About Crisil Ratings Limited (A subsidiary of Crisil Limited, an S&P Global Company)

Crisil Ratings pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, we set the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible/convertible/partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 33,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. We have also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including ratings for municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs).

Crisil Ratings Limited ('Crisil Ratings') is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Crisil Limited ('Crisil'). Crisil Ratings Limited is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI").

For more information, visit www.crisilratings.com 

 



About Crisil Limited

Crisil is a leading, agile and innovative global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. 

It is India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions with a strong track record of growth, culture of innovation, and global footprint.

It has delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers through businesses that operate from India, the US, the UK, Argentina, Poland, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It is majority owned by S&P Global Inc, a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com

Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE
 
Crisil respects your privacy. We may use your contact information, such as your name, address and email id to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from Crisil. For further information on Crisil's privacy policy please visit www.crisil.com.



DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer is part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale ('report') provided by Crisil Ratings Limited ('Crisil Ratings'). For the avoidance of doubt, the term 'report' includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the report. The report is intended for use only within the jurisdiction of India. This report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the report is to be construed as Crisil Ratings provision or intention to provide any services in jurisdictions where Crisil Ratings does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities. Access or use of this report does not create a client relationship between Crisil Ratings and the user.

The report is a statement of opinion as on the date it is expressed, and it is not intended to and does not constitute investment advice within meaning of any laws or regulations (including US laws and regulations). The report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe to any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind to enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the report pertains. The recipients of the report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the report in any way.

Crisil Ratings and its associates do not act as a fiduciary. The report is based on the information believed to be reliable as of the date it is published, Crisil Ratings does not perform an audit or undertake due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and/or relies on for preparation of the report. THE REPORT IS PROVIDED ON “AS IS” BASIS. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS, CRISIL RATINGS DISCLAIMS WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, ERROR-FREE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, NON-INTERRUPTION, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR INTENDED USAGE. In no event shall Crisil Ratings, its associates, third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

The report is confidential information of Crisil Ratings and Crisil Ratings reserves all rights, titles and interest in the rating report. The report shall not be altered, disseminated, distributed, redistributed, licensed, sub-licensed, sold, assigned or published any content thereof or offer access to any third party without prior written consent of Crisil Ratings.

Crisil Ratings or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the entity to which the report pertains or its associates. Ratings are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by Crisil Ratings. Crisil Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors.

Crisil Ratings has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for managing conflict of interest. For more detail, please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html. Public ratings and analysis by Crisil Ratings, as are required to be disclosed under the Securities and Exchange Board of India regulations (and other applicable regulations, if any), are made available on its websites, www.crisilratings.com and https://www.ratingsanalytica.com (free of charge). Crisil Ratings shall not have the obligation to update the information in the Crisil Ratings report following its publication although Crisil Ratings may disseminate its opinion and/or analysis. Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee.  Rating criteria by Crisil Ratings are available on the Crisil Ratings website, www.crisilratings.com. For the latest rating information on any company rated by Crisil Ratings, you may contact the Crisil Ratings desk at crisilratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

Crisil Ratings uses the prefix 'PP-MLD' for the ratings of principal-protected market-linked debentures (PPMLD) with effect from November 1, 2011, to comply with the SEBI circular, "Guidelines for Issue and Listing of Structured Products/Market Linked Debentures". The revision in rating symbols for PPMLDs should not be construed as a change in the rating of the subject instrument. For details on Crisil Ratings' use of 'PP-MLD' please refer to the notes to Rating scale for Debt Instruments and Structured Finance Instruments at the following link: https://www.crisilratings.com/en/home/our-business/ratings/credit-ratings-scale.html