Rating Rationale
July 07, 2020 | Mumbai
HDFC Securities Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.300 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.1500 Crore Commercial Paper (Enhanced from Rs.1000 Crore) CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of HDFC Securities Limited (HDFC Securities).
 
The ratings continue to reflect HDFC Securities' strategic importance to, and strong expectation of support from, its parent: HDFC Bank Ltd (HDFC Bank; rated 'CRISIL AAA/CRISIL AA+*/Stable'). The ratings also factor in HDFC Securities' comfortable capitalisation. These strengths are partially offset by susceptibility to risks associated with capital market-related businesses.
 
The nationwide lockdown from March 25 till May 31, 2020 declared by the Government of India to contain the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) is expected to have a near to medium term impact on the economy. This is expected to have an impact on market trading volumes which could have an impact on revenues of stock broking companies. Furthermore, the aftermath of Covid-19 entails a speculative future for the economy and industries going forward, which will remain a key monitorable. The uncertainty surrounding the future could lead to volatility in the market as seen in last few months. The volatility can also lead to margin pressures for customers of NBFCs lending against capital market instruments.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has factored in support that HDFC Securities is expected to receive from HDFC Bank. This is because HDFC Securities and HDFC Bank have business, managerial, and operational linkages, and a common brand.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Expectation of support from HDFC Bank
HDFC Securities is an important subsidiary of HDFC Bank, as it complements the bank's product offerings by providing a platform for services related to capital markets and financial products' distribution to the latter's customers. These services not only strengthen the business franchise of the bank, but also support its efforts towards increasing low-cost retail deposit base. The company also helps strengthen the bank's relationships with its clients. Furthermore, there exists strong operational and managerial integration between HDFC Bank and HDFC Securities. The latter benefits significantly from the well-spread retail franchise and nationwide branch infrastructure of the parent. The bank shares its robust technology platform and risk management practices with the company. Moreover, some of the senior management personnel of HDFC Securities, including the managing director and chief executive officer, are on deputation from HDFC Bank. HDFC Securities also has board representation from HDFC Bank. The bank is committed to providing both funding and capital assistance to the company on an ongoing basis to support the latter's business growth over the medium term. The strong operational, managerial, and financial linkages, and significant holding and shared brand name, imply a strong moral obligation on HDFC Bank to support HDFC Securities both on an ongoing basis and in the event of distress.
 
* Comfortable capitalisation
Capitalisation is comfortable, with net worth of Rs 1,248 crore as on March 31, 2020. Gearing is low at 0.6 times as on March 31, 2020 and has remained negligible over the years since borrowings are utilised to meet the margin requirements at exchanges. The company has raised Rs 691 crore of commercial paper as on March 31, 2020 to fund the short term margin funding book. Consequently, gearing may increase but will remain low over the medium term. Net worth should remain adequate for current and planned scale of operations. Capitalisation is also supported by strong parentage of HDFC Bank, which is expected to infuse capital in the company as and when needed.
 
Weakness
* Exposure to risks associated with capital market-related businesses
The company's key broking business remains exposed to economic, political, and social factors that drive investor sentiments. Given the cyclical nature of the business, brokerage volumes and earnings are highly dependent on the level of trading activity in capital markets. This makes earnings and profitability volatile.
Liquidity Superior

Liquidity is comfortable due to the agency nature of business and healthy cash and cash equivalents of Rs 1877 crore (including FDs) and unutilised bank lines of Rs 565 crore as on May 31, 2020, against Rs 400 crore CP repayments coming due till Sep-2020. The company also benefits from support from the HDFC group.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes HDFC Securities will continue to benefit from the strong financial, managerial, and operational support from HDFC Bank. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if there is significant weakening of the HDFC Bank's credit risk profile, a change in the extent of the bank's ownership of HDFC Securities, or diminution in support from the parent.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Downward Factor
* Downward change in the credit risk profile of HDFC Bank by 1 notch could have a similar rating change on HDFC Securities.
* Any material change in the shareholding or support philosophy of HDFC Bank impacting the quantum and timing of support.

About the Company

HDFC Securities, a subsidiary of HDFC Bank, was incorporated in fiscal 2001 as a joint venture between HDFC Ltd and HDFC Bank; Indocean e-Securities Holdings Ltd (Indocean) later joined as a venture capitalist. HDFC bank has increased its stake in HDFC Securities over a period. It held 96.6% stake in HDFC Securities as on March 31, 2020. HDFC Securities had a network of 267 own branches as on May 31, 2020; it also has an effective internet and call centre model.
 
HDFC Securities offers broking services, both in cash equity and derivatives market segments, including the currency derivatives division. The retail broking segment accounted for about 95% of total broking income in fiscal 2020. Income from broking activities was Rs 565 crore, and constituted around 66% of total revenue in fiscal 2020. The company also distributes third-party products, such as mutual funds, insurance, bonds, fixed deposits, initial public offerings, and non-convertible debentures. In fiscal 2019, it started margin trading (total portfolio outstanding at Rs 350 crore as on May 31, 2020). Furthermore, the company is one of the largest non-bank distributors for HDFC Life. HDFC Securities caters mainly to the customers of HDFC Bank and is among the equity brokerage firms with the largest retail client base; it had over 24.1 lakh customers as on May 31, 2020. The company remains a strong player in the cash segment; however, its presence in the futures and options market continues to be small.
 
For the year ended March 31, 2020, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 384 crore on total income of Rs 862 crore, against Rs 330 crore and Rs 771 crore, respectively, in the previous fiscal.

*Tier I bonds (Under Basel III).

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2020 2019
As per   Ind-As Ind-As
Total assets Rs crore 2771 2037
Total income Rs crore 862 771
PAT Rs crore 384 330
Gross NPA % Nil Nil
Adjusted gearing (for NBFCs) Times 0.6 Nil
Return on assets % 16.0 17.7

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 level Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Long Term Bank Facility* NA NA NA 200 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 100 NA CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 1500 Simple CRISIL A1+
*Limits interchangeable between funded and non-funded facilities
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
Commercial Paper  ST  1500.00  CRISIL A1+  27-01-20  CRISIL A1+  16-05-19  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
        22-01-20  CRISIL A1+               
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  300.00  CRISIL AAA/Stable  27-01-20  CRISIL AAA/Stable  16-05-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  13-03-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable      CRISIL AAA/Stable 
        22-01-20  CRISIL AAA/Stable               
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST    --  22-01-20  CRISIL A1+  16-05-19  CRISIL A1+  13-03-18  CRISIL A1+      CRISIL A1+ 
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
Long Term Bank Facility* 200 CRISIL AAA/Stable Long Term Bank Facility* 200 CRISIL AAA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 100 CRISIL AAA/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 100 CRISIL AAA/Stable
Total 300 -- Total 300 --
*Limits interchangeable between funded and non-funded facilities.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Securities Companies
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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