Rating Rationale
July 02, 2020 | Mumbai
Fortune Integrated Assets Finance Limited
Rating removed from 'Watch Developing'; Rating reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.600 Crore (Reduced from Rs.1000 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Negative (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has removed its rating on the long-term bank facilities of Fortune Integrated Assets Finance Limited (FIAFL; part of the Investment Trust of India Ltd [ITI]) from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications' and assigned a 'Negative' outlook.  The rating has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A-'. CRISIL has also withdrawn Rs 400 crore of bank loan ratings as requested by the client and is in line with the CRISIL's withdrawal policy
 
Earlier on April 03, 2020, CRISIL had placed the long-term ratings on 'Watch with Developing Implications'. This was on account of likely deterioration in the asset quality of the ITI group (earlier known as Fortune Group), including FIAFL, with collections being affected. At the same time, CRISIL was also monitoring the incremental fund raising by the group to assess the liquidity position. The watch resolution follows clarity on some of these aspects.
 
The long-term rating has now been placed on a 'Negative' outlook on account of CRISIL's expectation that collections and asset quality of the ITI group will remain under pressure amidst the current uncertain macro-environment on account of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Furthermore, the group caters to borrower segments with modest credit profile and relatively under-banked customers whose cash flow is more vulnerable to the level of economic activity. Also, the group's fresh fund raising has remained low.
 
The nationwide lockdown declared by the Government of India to contain the spread of Covid-19 has impacted disbursements and collections of financial institutions. Though the lockdown was eased from the first week of June, any delay in return to normalcy will increase the pressure on collections and asset quality of companies. Additionally, any change in the payment discipline of borrowers can affect delinquency levels. On the liability side, the Reserve Bank of India announced regulatory measures under 'Covid-19 - Regulatory Package', whereby lenders are permitted to grant moratorium on bank loans.
 
CRISIL understands that FIAFL has availed moratorium on the principal component of term loan for the month of June, July and August 2020. On the asset side, the company has selectively offered moratorium to its borrowers and as on May 31, 2020, approximately 70% customers (74% of the portfolio by value) had availed the same.
 
The rating on FIAFL continues to reflect the expectation of strong support from the ITI group and the company's adequate capitalisation. These strengths are partially offset by vulnerable asset quality and limited diversity in the resource profile.
 
FIAFL has been in regular touch with their borrowers educating them about the features of moratorium and is also on track in reducing their exposure towards corporate loans. Company is also in talks with new lenders for raising fresh funds, and progress on this front as well as how the asset quality pans out in near term will remain key rating monitorable.
 
Earlier, FIAFL was a subsidiary of ITI [formerly Fortune Financial Services (India) Ltd], a holding company of the ITI Group. In 2015, Mr Sudhir Valia, the promoter of the ITI group, and his family members increased their stake in FIAFL to around 75%. FIAFL operates primarily in the three-wheeler passenger and commercial vehicle financing segments. Total outstanding asset under management (AUM, including securitisation) declined to Rs 915 crores as on March 31, 2020, compared to Rs 1,634 crores as on March 31, 2019. As on March 31, 2020, the vehicle finance portfolio was Rs 694 crores (around 76% of the total outstanding portfolio), with corporate loan and priority debt forming the remaining Rs 92.72 crores (around 10.13% of the total outstanding portfolio).

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has analysed the standalone credit risk profile of FIAFL and factored in the strong support from the ITI group on an ongoing basis and in the event of distress. This is because FIAFL and the ITI group have common promoters and high operational, management, business, and financial linkages. CRISIL believes the ITI group will continue to provide support to FIAFL considering the strategic importance of the entity and high moral obligation on account of common promoters and shared name.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Benefits from linkages with the ITI group
FIAFL is strategically important for execution of the ITI group's plan of scaling up the retail financing business. The company derives benefits from being a part of the ITI group. FIAFL and other group companies have common shareholders and directors. Mr Chintan Valia, the son-in-law of Mr Sudhir Valia, is the managing director of FIAFL. Mr Sudhir Valia and his family together hold a 75% stake in FIAFL, while the remaining 25% is held by ITI Ltd, the holding company of the ITI group. There are common directors on the boards of FIAFL and other ITI group companies. FIAFL also has operational linkages with other group companies. FIAFL should continue to receive operational and managerial support from the group on an ongoing basis and funding support in the event of distress.
 
* Adequate capitalisation
Capitalisation remains adequate. Networth and gearing stood at Rs 415 crores and 1.6 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2020. Networth coverage for net non-performing assets (NPAs) was moderate at 7.1 times as on March 31, 2020. Given the expected support from the ITI group and factoring in the company's growth plans, gearing should remain well below 3 times in medium term.
 
Weaknesses
* Vulnerable asset quality
Asset quality deteriorated in fiscal 2020, with the gross NPA ratio increasing to 6.4% (Rs 58.8 crores in absolute terms) as on March 31, 2020, from 3.82% as on March 31, 2019. Though this is partly attributed to the decline in outstanding loan book during the said period, asset quality remains vulnerable due to the weak credit risk profile of borrowers in the vehicle segment, as their cash flow is highly sensitive to minor business disruptions. CRISIL also notes that during the period of Jan-Mar'2020, FIAFL had sold a large NPA account amounting to Rs 48.25 crores (~5% of total advances). Furthermore, performance of the portfolio and its impact on profitability given the current macro-environment and with more than 50% of the portfolio under moratorium will remain a key monitorable in near term.
 
FIAFL had commenced priority debt funding in fiscal 2018; it constitutes corporate loans extended to projects that are financially distressed. These are mostly real estate projects, acquired by Suraksha Asset Reconstruction Pvt Ltd, an asset reconstruction company majority held by the promoters of the ITI group. Though management is consciously reducing exposure here, priority debt still forms 10.13% of the total portfolio as on March 31, 2020, though in absolute numbers it has reduced to Rs. 92.72 crores as on March 31, 2020 from Rs.158.16 crores as on March 31, 2019 (10% of the portfolio as on March 31, 2019). As such borrowers are already in default, priority debt carries much higher risks than regular loans. Any delay in the revival of businesses will adversely affect their cash flow and, in turn, the repayment ability. Besides, these exposures are chunky in nature. Management plans to continue to reduce this exposure.
 
* Limited diversity in the borrowings profile
As on March 31, 2020, the company had total borrowings (including securitisation) of Rs 862 crores from a couple of banks and promoters, out of which 18% were from group companies, while 23% were in the form of securitisation. As the company plans to scale up its business, it is critical that it diversifies its borrowings profile, with funding from multiple avenues, such as new bank borrowing and from capital markets, as well as multiple investors (mutual funds and debt investors). The group is in talks with some new lenders for raising fresh funds, and progress on this front will remain a key monitorable.
Liquidity Adequate

Liquidity is largely supported by the strong financial flexibility of the promoters in infusing capital in the event of distress. Apart from expected scheduled collections from performing assets, the group (aggregate of all lending entities) had liquidity of around Rs 95 crores in the form of cash and cash equivalents, and including unutilised bank lines as on June 15, 2020, vis-a-vis upcoming debt obligation of around Rs 72 crores (for the lending entities) until October 31, 2020. This factors in the moratorium availed by FIAFL on the principal component of term loan for the month of June, July and August 2020. On the asset side, over 70% of the borrowers (by value) extended by the group have availed moratorium as on May 31, 2020.

Outlook: Negative

The outlook revision reflects CRISIL's belief that collections and asset quality of the ITI group will remain under pressure amidst the current uncertain macro-environment on account of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Furthermore, the group caters to borrower segments with modest credit profile and relatively under-banked customers whose cash flow is more vulnerable to the level of economic activity. Also, the group's fresh fund raising has remained low.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factors
* Upward revision in CRISIL's credit view on the ITI group
* Substantial and sustained improvement in the group's market position across business segments
* Improvement in the group's asset quality on a sustained basis, with gross NPAs falling below 3%

Downward factors
* Change in the extent of the ITI group's ownership of FIAFL or weakening in expected support from the group
* Deterioration in the group's asset quality leading to weakening of the earnings profile, with overall return on assets falling below 2.0% on a continuous basis
* Continued funding access challenges for the non-banks sector, with limited fundraising by the group.

About the Company

FIAFL is a Mumbai-based non-deposit-taking systemically important non-banking financial company (NBFC) majorly operating in the three-wheeler passenger and commercial vehicle financing segments. It commenced operations in 2012. The total asset under management stood at Rs 915 crores as on March 31, 2020, of which corporate portfolio were around 10%.
 
The company reported a return on assets (ROA) above 4% over the last few fiscals. However, in the current fiscal, profitability declined due to higher provisioning / write off made in the current year which amounts to Rs. 59.54 crores as compared to Rs. 36.49 crores in the previous year. Further, during the year, company has utilized the liquidity to prepay Yes Bank Ltd loans to the extent of Rs.300 crores instead of creating fresh book which impacted the income. Consequently, profit after tax for the fiscal 2020 stood at Rs 33 crores (2.3% annualised RoA).

Key Financial Indicators (As per IND AS)
As on/For the year ended March 31 Unit 2020 2019
Total assets Rs Crores 1140 1723
Total income Rs Crores 289 338
Profit after tax Rs Crores 33 75
Gross NPA % 6.4 3.8
Gearing Times 1.6 3.3
ROA % 2.3 4.7
*Above figures are on a standalone basis

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.Crores) Complexity level Rating Assigned  with Outlook
NA Term Loan 18-Aug-2016 NA 15-Dec-2021 181.25 NA CRISIL A-/Negative
NA Term Loan 30-Mar-2017 NA 29-Sep-2022 144.58 NA CRISIL A-/Negative
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 60 NA CRISIL A-/Negative
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 0.1 NA CRISIL A-/Negative
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 100 NA CRISIL A-/Negative
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 114.07 NA CRISIL A-/Negative
 
Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Complexity level Issue Size (Rs.Crores)
NA Term Loan NA NA NA NA 85
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA NA 165
NA Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA NA 150
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  599.90  CRISIL A-/Negative  03-04-20  CRISIL A-/Watch Developing  27-12-19  CRISIL A-/Stable  03-09-18  CRISIL A-/Stable    --  -- 
        17-02-20  CRISIL A-/Stable      21-08-18  CRISIL A-/Stable       
                07-06-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable       
                09-01-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  0.10  CRISIL A-/Negative  03-04-20  CRISIL A-/Watch Developing  27-12-19  CRISIL A-/Stable  03-09-18  CRISIL A-/Stable    --  -- 
        17-02-20  CRISIL A-/Stable      21-08-18  CRISIL A-/Stable       
                07-06-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable       
                09-01-18  CRISIL BBB+/Stable       
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 .1 CRISIL A-/Negative Bank Guarantee .1 CRISIL A-/Watch Developing
Cash Credit 60 CRISIL A-/Negative Cash Credit 225 CRISIL A-/Watch Developing
Cash Credit 165 Withdrawn Term Loan 524.9 CRISIL A-/Watch Developing
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 114.07 CRISIL A-/Negative Working Capital Demand Loan 250 CRISIL A-/Watch Developing
Term Loan 325.83 CRISIL A-/Negative -- 0 --
Working Capital Demand Loan 150 Withdrawn -- 0 --
Term Loan 85 Withdrawn -- 0 --
Working Capital Demand Loan 100 CRISIL A-/Negative -- 0 --
Total 1000 -- Total 1000 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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