Rating Rationale
May 28, 2018 | Mumbai
AAVAS Financiers Limited
Rating upgraded to 'CRISIL A+/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.557 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL A+/Stable (Upgraded from 'CRISIL A/Stable')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the long-term facilities of AAVAS Financiers Limited (AAVAS) to 'CRISIL A+/Stable' from 'CRISIL A/Stable'.

The rating upgrade reflects AAVAS's strengthened financial risk profile reflected in comfortable capitalisation supported by recent capital infusion and better-than-industry-average earnings profile. These strengths are, partially offset by limited track record of operations albeit growing, coupled with moderate seasoning of the loan book. 

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has assessed the standalone credit risk profile of AAVAS. 

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Comfortable capital position: The networth was Rs 1098 crore as on March 31, 2018 following the recent capital infusion of Rs 400 crore. The promoters had also infused Rs 300 crore in fiscal 2017. The Tier-I and overall capital adequacy ratios were healthy at 55.9% and 61.6%, respectively. The gearing (adjusted for securitisation), low at 3.2 times as on March 31, 2018 (4.2 times as on March 31, 2017), is expected to increase gradually to ~6 times over the medium term and thereafter be at 7-8 times on a steady state .

* Better than industry earnings profile: In-line with fiscal 2017, the return on managed assets ratio was 2.4% for fiscal 2018. Profitability is supported by an above-average net interest margin (NIM); total income (net of interest expenses) was 6.9% for fiscal 2018. NIM is likely to gradually reduce because of increasing competition, which should be partially offset by improvement in operating efficiency with increase in scale of operations. Operating expense (as a percentage of manged assets) stood at 3.2% for fiscal 2018 and has increased from 2.7% for fiscal 2017 primarily on account of branch expansion. The earnings profile, however, remains susceptible to any increase in credit costs given the high growth in loan book and the inherently modest credit risk profile of borrowers. Nevertheless, the earnings profile should be sustained over the medium term.

Weakness
* Limited track record of operations coupled with moderate seasoning of loan book: The Company started operations in March 2012 and has a limited track record with an overall assets under management (AUM) of Rs 4073 crore as on March 31, 2018. However, the company is among the key players in the affordable segment in the tier-2 - tier-4 market. Although operations have expanded across the country, Rajasthan and Maharashtra continue to account for a sizeable portion at 66%.

Given that the loan book has grown primarily in recent years (compound annual rate of 69% over the three years ended March 31, 2018), seasoning remains moderate. Nevertheless, AAVAS has strong credit underwriting and risk systems, a conservative loan-to-value ratio of 50% on total portfolio, and adequate processes and collection mechanism, as reflected in the gross non-performing asset ratio of 0.34% as on March 31, 2018. However, the company's ability to manage asset quality as the book scales up will remain a monitorable.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes AAVAS will continue to benefit from its strengthened financial risk profile. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' if revenue increases and asset quality and earnings are stable. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of a significant deterioration in asset quality or profitability.

About the Company

AAVAS commenced operations in March 2012; the company obtained a license for its housing finance business from National Housing Bank in August 2011. It caters to the housing finance needs of small families in rural and semi-urban areas. It had AUM of Rs 4,073 crore as on March 31, 2018. While Rajasthan remained the largest contributor, at 46% of the AUM, operations have been gradually expanded and now cover seven states. The company had 165 branches as on March 31, 2018.

AAVAS was incorporated as AU Housing Finance Ltd; a wholly owned subsidiary of Au Financier. In April 2016, Au Financier divested a majority stake in favour of Kedaara Capital and Partner Group to fulfil the requirement for converting itself to a small finance bank. Currently, the shareholders are Kedaara Capital (51.18%), Partners Group (34.83%), Au Financiers (7.09%), and the management team (6.9%) on fully diluted basis.

For fiscal 2018, AAVAS reported profit after tax of Rs 92.9 crore on a total income of Rs 457.2 crore as against Rs 57.9 crore and Rs 314.0 crore the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Total assets Rs. Cr. 3817 2451  
Total income (excl interest expense) Rs. Cr. 457 314
Profit after tax Rs. Cr. 93.0 57.9
Gross NPA %  0.34 0.79 
Gearing (including securitisation) Times 3.2 4.2 
Return on managed assets %  2.4 2.3 

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL 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)
Rating assigned  with outlook
NA Cash Credit & Working Capital Demand Loan NA NA NA 40.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 1 NA NA 21-Jan-21 22.43 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 2 NA NA 31-Aug-20 20.84 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 3 NA NA 16-Jun-20 20.20 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 4 NA NA 30-Jun-21 25.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 5 NA NA 14-Dec-19 18.28 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 6 NA NA 30-Jan-19 10.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 7 NA NA 30-Sep-20 15.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 8 NA NA 31-Mar-22 20.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 9 NA NA 30-Apr-20 40.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 10* NA NA 30-Sep-15 3.60 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 11* NA NA 10-Oct-17 15.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 12 NA NA 21-Dec-20 8.21 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 13 NA NA 31-Jul-23 10.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 14 NA NA 31-Dec-20 22.12 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 15* NA NA 31-Oct-17 15.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 16 NA NA 06-Aug-21 15.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 17 NA NA 29-Aug-18 8.50 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 18 NA NA 31-Aug-19 14.50 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 19* NA NA 13-Dec-16 19.87 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 20 NA NA 16-Apr-21 23.39 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 21* NA NA 31-Jan-18 34.25 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 22 NA NA 31-Mar-22 30.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 23 NA NA 30-Nov-19 14.35 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 24 NA NA 30-Apr-22 25.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 25 NA NA 03-Oct-19 34.81 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 26** NA NA 31-Aug-19 15.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Term Loan 27** NA NA 30-Jun-20 15.00 CRISIL A+/Stable
NA Proposed long-term bank loan facility NA NA NA 1.62 CRISIL A+/Stable
*CRISIL is awaiting independent confirmation of redemption before withdrawing ratings on these facility
**Subordinated term loan
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST    --    --  18-01-17  Withdrawal  15-04-16  CRISIL A1+/Watch Developing  20-10-15  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1 
                    15-04-15  CRISIL A1   
                    10-04-15  CRISIL A1   
                    18-02-15  CRISIL A1   
Non Convertible Debentures  LT    --    --  18-01-17  Withdrawal  15-04-16  CRISIL A/Watch Developing  20-10-15  CRISIL A/Positive  CRISIL A-/Stable 
                    15-04-15  CRISIL A-/Positive   
                    10-04-15  CRISIL A-/Positive   
                    18-02-15  CRISIL A-/Stable   
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  557.00  CRISIL A+/Stable      18-01-17  CRISIL A/Stable  15-04-16  CRISIL A/Watch Developing  20-10-15  CRISIL A/Positive  CRISIL A-/Stable 
                    15-04-15  CRISIL A-/Positive   
                    10-04-15  CRISIL A-/Positive   
                    18-02-15  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 40 CRISIL A+/Stable Cash Credit & Working Capital demand loan 40 CRISIL A/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1.62 CRISIL A+/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 1.62 CRISIL A/Stable
Term Loan^ 515.38 CRISIL A+/Stable Term Loan^ 515.38 CRISIL A/Stable
Total 557 -- Total 557 --
^Includes Rs.30 crore of subordinated term loan
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

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