Rating Rationale
July 15, 2022 | Mumbai
Nissan Renault Financial Services India Private Limited
Rating reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+ '
 
Rating Action
Rs.400 Crore Commercial PaperCRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL A1+’ rating to the Rs 400 crore commercial paper programme of Nissan Renault Financial Services India Private Limited (NRFSI).

 

The rating continues to factor in NRFSI’s strategic importance to its ultimate parent, Nissan Motor Company Limited (NMCL; rated BBB-/Negative/A-3 by S&P Global Ratings) and its strong moral obligation to support the Indian subsidiary, both on an ongoing basis and in the event of distress. The expectation of support is based on majority ownership in NRFSI, the shared brand, and strong operational linkages. The ratings also factor in the adequate liquidity policy and comfortable capitalisation. These strengths are partially constrained by small scale of operations with limited track record of operations.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL Ratings has factored in the support that NRFSI is expected to receive from its ultimate parent, NMC.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

* Strategic importance to, and expectation of strong support from, ultimate parent, NMCL

NRFSI, a joint venture between Nissan International Holdings B.V, a wholly owned subsidiary of NMCL and RCI Banque, a wholly owned subsidiary of Renault S.A. (Renault). NMC and Renault also have an alliance at the global level. NMCL ultimately holds 70% and Renault ultimately holds the remaining 30% in NRFSI. NMC and Renault have infused equity capital of Rs 497 crore and Rs 213 crore in NRFSI so far and will likely infuse further capital to support NRFSI’s growth plans as and when required. NMCL, being the majority shareholder, controls the day-to-day operations of NRFSI while Renault participates in strategic decision making. Being the captive financier of Nissan, -, and Renault vehicles in India, NRFSI receives significant financial, operational and managerial support from NMCL, given the strategic role it plays in strengthening Nissan and Renault’s market share and sales in India. NMCL views India as a key market, as reflected in its presence across manufacturing, sales and marketing and financing in the country. NRFSI’s risk management policies, systems, and processes are in line with those globally approved by NMCL. NRFSI also benefits from NMCL’s global linkages with foreign banks operating in India Nissan group companies have also invested in NRFSI Long Term Funds (Group Loans)-. CRISIL believes that the ownership, shared brand, and strong operational integration lead to a high moral obligation on NMCL to support NRFSI.

 

* Comfortable capitalisation

Capitalisation remains comfortable, with a net worth of Rs 1016.1 crore as on March 31, 2022. The shareholders have infused Rs 710 crore so far and will likely infuse further capital over the medium term to support NRFSI’s growth. Gearing was 2.3 times as on March 31, 2022 (2.5 times as on March 31, 2021) and is expected to increase over the medium term as the portfolio grows, albeit stay under 3 times.

 

Weakness:

* Relatively small player in the overall finance market, with limited track record of operations

NRFSI’s portfolio consists of vehicle loans, with a majority to self-employed customers in retail portfolio along with providing funding to dealers. NRFSI is a relatively small player in the overall vehicle finance market. It started its operations in Oct 2014. Its loan portfolio stood at around Rs 3,467 crore as on March 31, 2022 (around Rs 3,318.1 crore as on March 31, 2021). Around 93% of the portfolio comprised financing of new cars and the remaining was largely dealer financing, personal loans to the group employees and used car loans.

 

NRFSI gross non-performing assets (NPAs) remained broadly stable at 2.2% as on March 31, 2022, as against 2.3% as on March 31, 2021. In terms of collections, collections efficiencies remained in the range of 93%-96% across months post the second wave of covid-19 and stood at 95% for the month of March 2022. Nevertheless, asset quality metrics are susceptible to economic risks and therefore, the ability of the company to maintain asset quality as the company scales up its operations would be demonstrated only over a longer term.

Liquidity: Strong

NRFSI has strong liquidity profile driven by expectation from Nissan Motor Company to provide need-based and on-going support, in case of any exigencies. On standalone basis, as on March 31, 2022, NRFSI has cumulative negative gaps in 15 to 30 days and 2 to 3 months buckets. The same is due to the repayments under group loan. However, the company has got the -NMCL approval to roll over the group loan for next three years. As on June 30, 2022, the company had cash and cash equivalents of Rs 76 crore and unutilized bank lines of Rs 1196 crore, against this it had debt repayments of Rs 298.25 crore for the next six months.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Downward factors

  • Downward revision in the S&P Global rating of NMC by 2 notches or higher
  • If there is a significant diminution in the stake held by, or the support expected from, NMC.

About the Company

NRFSI is a joint venture between Nissan International Holdings B.V, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nissan Motor Company Limited and RCI Banque S.A, a wholly owned subsidiary of Renault S.A. The company was incorporated in October 2013 and received its NBFC licence in July 2014. NRFSI finances Nissanand Renault - branded vehicles in India by extending retail credit, dealer financing and Insurance & Services.             

 

Nissan Motor Company Limited, headquartered in Japan, is a leading international automaker with a presence in over 160 countries. Nissan reported a consolidated net profit of JPY215.5 billion on net sales of JPY8.4 trillion during FY2021 (year ending March 31, 2022).

Key Financial Indicators

As on/for the period/ for the year ended

Units

March 31, 2022

March 31, 2021

Total assets

Rs crore

3,477.6

3,378

Total income

Rs crore

367.6

321

Profit after tax

Rs crore

71.1

29

Gross NPA

%

2.17

2.3

Gearing

Times

2.3

2.5

Return on assets

%

2.1

0.8

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. The CRISIL Ratings' complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL Ratings' 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 crore)

Complexity Levels

Rating outstanding with outlook

NA

Commercial Paper

NA

NA

7-365 days

400

Simple

CRISIL A1+

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2022 (History) 2021  2020  2019  Start of 2019
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper ST 400.0 CRISIL A1+   -- 20-07-21 CRISIL A1+ 14-07-20 CRISIL A1+ 30-12-19 CRISIL A1+ CRISIL A1+
      --   --   -- 12-05-20 CRISIL A1+ 29-10-19 CRISIL A1+ --
      --   --   -- 06-04-20 CRISIL A1+ 04-09-19 CRISIL A1+ --
      --   --   --   -- 28-02-19 CRISIL A1+ --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.

   

Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance 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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