Rating Rationale
July 02, 2020 | Mumbai
United Petro Finance Limited
Long-term rating removed from 'Watch Developing'; Ratings reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.300 Crore (Reduced from Rs.500 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL A-/Negative (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1 (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 United Petro Finance Limited (UPFL; 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 reaffirmed its short term rating at 'CRISIL A1'. CRISIL has also withdrawn Rs.200 crore of bank loan ratings as requested by the client and is in line with the CRISIL's withdrawal policy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.
 
On the asset side, UPFL has selectively offered moratorium to its borrowers and as on May 31, 2020, approximately 34% customers (50.2% of the portfolio by value) had availed the same. On the liabilities side, UPFL has not availed moratorium.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the ITI group's diversified business and earnings profile with presence across credit, capital market, asset management, and insurance segments. The ratings also factor in comfortable capitalisation. These strengths are partially offset by weak credit risk profile of the borrowers, short track record of operations in key segments, and susceptibility to the inherent risk of volatility in capital market-related businesses of the group.
 
Group 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. The group 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.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings of UPFL, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of ITI (formerly, Fortune Financial Services India Ltd), the holding company, and its subsidiaries. In addition, the business and financial risk profiles of its associate company, FIAFL, has also been combined. This is because of high operational, managerial, business, and financial integration, including a common source of capital, of all the companies, collectively referred to as the ITI group.

Please refer Annexure - Details of Consolidation, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Comfortable capitalisation
Capitalisation of the group (including Fortune integrated asset finance and Fasttrack Housing Finance) remains comfortable as reflected by networth of Rs 941 crore and gearing of 1.2 times as on March 31, 2020. In addition, CRISIL has factored in the strong financial flexibility of the promoter, Mr Sudhir Valia. Besides the financial sector, Mr Valia has an established presence in real estate development and construction through his companies. The strong financial flexibility of the promoter is reflected in the robust capitalisation of the ITI group and in regular debt fund infusion in various group companies (aggregating around Rs 312.54 crore as on March 31, 2020; this has reduced from earlier levels give contraction in the portfolio). Capitalisation is likely to remain comfortable, over the medium term, with gearing expected at below 5 times, given the continued financial support from the promoter. 
 
* Diversified presence of the ITI group in capital market and lending segments
The group has a diversified business presence in the financial services space, including retail and commercial finance, retail broking (which includes equity and commodity), and institutional broking, depository participant service, third-party financial products distribution, investment banking, and asset and fund management.
 
In the capital markets segment, the group has an established presence in the institutional broking space through a subsidiary, Antique Stock Broking Ltd. Furthermore, the investment banking division is well established in the pharmaceuticals industry. In the lending segment, the group has a pool of diversified asset classes such as vehicle finance, education finance, small and medium enterprise (SME) loans, nano loans, loans against shares, corporate loans, and priority debt funding. The group has recently entered the gold loan financing business. The lending business saw a dip in assets under management (including securitisation) from Rs 2,674 crore as on March 31, 2019 to Rs 1,538 crore as on March 31, 2020, resulting from the cautious decisions taken by the management to go slow on disbursements and preserve liquidity given the on-going liquidity environment for non-banks.
 
Weaknesses
* Weak borrower profiles of the group in key lending segments
For most of the retail lending segments, the group caters to borrower profiles having modest credit profile and are relatively under-banked, such as three-wheeler finance, SME loans, and nano loans, which exposes the group to significant asset quality challenges  as even a small disruption in the cash flow of borrowers increases the probability of default. Impact on collections, asset quality and earnings amid the current uncertain macro-environment on account of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak will remain a key rating monitorable.
 
Additionally, the group lends to companies in financial distress in the form of priority debt funding. These loans are given to companies which have been acquired by Suraksha ARC Ltd, a promoter-owned asset reconstruction company. Priority debt formed around 5% of total advances of the group as on March 31, 2020. Since borrowers are already in default, the priority debt carries much higher risks than regular loans. Furthermore, such loans are lumpy in nature with the largest being around 14% of the group's networth.
 
* Short track record of the group's operations in key segments
The ITI group has established its presence over the past few decades in the capital market segment as it acquired existing institutional broking (Antique Stock Broking Ltd; acquired in 2014) businesses. However, the track record in the lending segment has been shorter. The group first entered the three-wheeler financing business in 2013 through FIAFL. In addition, the business model is undergoing a change with a shift to direct lending from the partnership model. The small business loans segment initiated by UPFL has only been in existence since 2015 when the business loan lending practice was started, and picked up momentum after the ITI group acquired 40% shareholding of UPFL in fiscal 2016. The company has also recently started its gold loan portfolio. The loans offered by the group in other segments such as the nano, education, and health loans are in a fairly nascent stage of operations. The business models in the lending segments are in various stages of evolution. The efficacy of these business models will need to be evaluated over a longer period.
 
* Exposure of the group to inherent risks of volatility in capital market-related businesses
Volume and earnings in the broking segment depend on the level of trading activity in capital markets, which are volatile and driven by economic and political factors, and investor sentiments. Global factors also influence the fortunes of these markets. Furthermore, the Indian securities space has become increasingly competitive, with the presence of a few entrenched players and the entry of foreign broking entities. The ability to establish a market position in the retail segment, given such a competitive scenario, is critical for the ITI group's business risk profile. Also, dependence on equity markets for revenue will continue. The business risk profile of the broking segments in the group will, therefore, remain susceptible to uncertainties inherent in capital market-related businesses.
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 crore 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 crore (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 50% of the borrowers (by value) extended by the group have availed moratorium.

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
* Substantial and sustained improvement in market position of the group across business segments
* Improvement in overall asset quality on a sustained basis with gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) falling below 3%

Downward factors
* Deterioration in the overall asset quality leading to weakening of the earnings profile of the group with overall return on assets (RoA) falling below 1.5% on a continuous basis
* Continued funding access challenges for the non-banking sector with limited fundraising by the group.

About the Company

UPFL is an NBFC registered in Kerala that commenced financing small-ticket business loans in 2015. The ITI group had acquired 40% of the shareholding in fiscal 2016. At present, the group collectively holds 78.24% in UPFL. The company provides loans of Rs 1-50 lakh with a tenure of 12-15 months depending upon the profile of the borrowers, who are generally SME businesses, self-employed, or small business owners. The company has developed a proprietary digital decision support system, and analytics platform called DEXTER to decide the eligibility of the borrower or loan parameters. It operates from 32 locations across India.
 
Total Asset under Management (AUM) stood at Rs 344 crore as on March 31, 2020 (Rs 286 crore as on March 31, 2019). Delinquencies increased in fiscal 2020 of the current fiscal as reflected by GNPAs increasing to 6.1% as on March 31, 2020 from 2.75% as on March 31, 2019.
 
Earnings have remained comfortable over the past three years with RoA above 2%. However, in the current fiscal, it has been impacted because of increase in credit cost with a sharp increase in GNPA ratio, decline in book and higher operating cost as the company widens its geographic reach. Consequently, profit after tax (PAT) for fiscal 2020, stood low at Rs 0.6 crore (0.1% RoA) compared to RoA of 3.8% in previous fiscal.
 
About the Group
The ITI group, promoted by Mr Sudhir Valia, was initially engaged in capital market businesses of retail and institutional broking, apart from investment banking. In 2013, the group diversified into lending businesses. It is present in both retail and wholesale financing. In the retail loan segment, it offers products such as vehicle loans (Rs 694 crore as on March 31, 2020), small business loans (Rs 316 crore), nano loans (Rs 79 crore), education loans (Rs 6 crore), gold loans (Rs 34 cr) and home loans/LAP (Rs 125 crore). Under the wholesale umbrella, it has corporate loans and group companies Rs 264 crore as on March 31, 2020.

Key Financial Indicators - UPFL
As on/For the year ended March 31 Unit 2020 2019
Total assets Rs crore 302 518
Total income Rs crore 103 147
Profit after tax Rs crore 0.6 15.2
Gross NPA % 6.13 2.75
Gearing* Times 1.6 5.2
Return on assets % 0.1 3.8
*includes off balance sheet items
 
Key Financial Indicators - Group
As on/For the year ended March 31 Unit 2020 2019
Total assets Rs crore 2488 3508
Profit after tax Rs crore 23 105
Gross NPA % 7.1 3.4
Gearing Times 1.2 2.2
*Above numbers are for the consolidated group and FIAFL, Gross NPA ratio is for FIAFL, UPFL, Fortune Credit Capital Limited (FCCL) and Fasttrack HF

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 Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan NA NA NA 100 NA CRISIL A1
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 75 NA CRISIL A1
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 125 NA CRISIL A-/Negative
 
Annexure - Details of Rating Wihdrawn 
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs.Crore) Complexity Level
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 200 NA
 
Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated
Entity consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
ITI Ltd Full Parent
Fortune Credit Capital Ltd (FCCL) Full Subsidiary
United Petro Finance Ltd (UPFL) Full Subsidiary
Fortune Integrated Assets Finance (FIAFL) Full Associate
ITI Securities Broking Ltd Full Subsidiary
Intime Multi Commodity Company Full Subsidiary
Antique Stock Broking Ltd Full Subsidiary
ITI Alternate Funds Management Full Subsidiary
ITI Growth Oppurtunities LLP Full Subsidiary
ITI Asset Management Ltd Full Subsidiary
ITI Capital Ltd Full Subsidiary
Distress Asset Specialist Ltd Full Subsidiary
ITI Mutual Fund Trustee Private Full Subsidiary
IRC Credit Management Services Full Subsidiary
ITI Nirman Ltd Full Subsidiary
ITI Gilts Ltd Full Subsidiary
ITI Management Advisors Ltd Full Subsidiary
Fortune Management Advisors Ltd Full Subsidiary
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  300.00  CRISIL A-/Negative/ CRISIL A1  03-04-20  CRISIL A-/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A1  27-12-19  CRISIL A-/Stable/ CRISIL A1  29-10-18  CRISIL A-/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
Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 100 CRISIL A1 Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 100 CRISIL A1
Overdraft 75 CRISIL A1 Overdraft 75 CRISIL A1
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 125 CRISIL A-/Negative Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 325 CRISIL A-/Watch Developing
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 200 Withdrawn -- 0 --
Total 500 -- Total 500 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Krishnan Sitaraman
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 8070
krishnan.sitaraman@crisil.com


Subhasri Narayanan
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 3403
subhasri.narayanan@crisil.com


Bhargav Mehta
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
B:+91 22 3342 3000
Bhargav.Mehta@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. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is a leading agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 1,00,000 customers.
 
We are 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

About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets 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 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY
 
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 forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). 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 the jurisdiction of India only. 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 providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. 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 or its associates may have other commercial transactions with the company/entity.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party 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.

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’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: https://www.crisil.com/en/home/our-businesses/ratings/regulatory-disclosures/highlighted-policies.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL