Rating Rationale
October 19, 2020 | Mumbai
ARKA Fincap Limited
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.500 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable
 
Rs.125 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA-/Stable
Rs.50 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA-/Stable
Rs.50 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL ratings on the bank facilities and debt instruments of ARKA Fincap Limited (Arka) continue to factor in the expectation of strong support from the parent, Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (KOEL; rated 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), because of strategic importance and strong moral obligations. The ratings also factors in adequate capitalisation for the initial stages of operations. These strengths are partially offset by the nascent stage of operations.
 
The nationwide lockdown declared by the Government of India and various state governments to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted disbursements and collections of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). The lockdown is being lifted in a phased manner and operations should continue to be affected until the pandemic subsides. Any delay in return to normalcy will exert further pressure on collections and asset quality metrics of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Additionally, any change in the behaviour of borrowers on payment discipline can affect delinquency levels. Also, while the one-time restructuring scheme announced by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will provide the necessary support to affected borrowers in the current environment, its details and operational implementation remain to be seen.
 
On the liability side, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced regulatory measures under 'Covid-19 - Regulatory Package', whereby lenders were permitted to grant moratorium on bank loans.
 
CRISIL understands that Arka has not sought moratorium from any of its lenders and continues to service its debt obligations as per schedule. On the asset side, the company had offered moratorium to some of its borrowers. Nevertheless, the company continues to maintain adequate liquidity.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has assessed the standalone credit risk profile of Arka, and factored in the support expected from parent, KOEL, given the strategic importance of Arka to the former, 100% ownership, and the strong moral and financial obligations to support it.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strategic importance to, and expectation of strong support from, KOEL
Arka derives strong support from its parent, KOEL, in the form of high strategic importance and strong moral obligations, being its wholly owned subsidiary. The financial services entity has been identified as a focus area for the parent's overall diversification plans. KOEL has already infused Rs 527 crores as on September 30, 2019, depicting strong financial support towards its subsidiary, and additional capital infusion of about Rs. 125 crores is expected in fiscal 2021. KOEL wholly owns Arka and is expected to remain the majority shareholder over the medium term. Moreover, 3 out of 7 directors on Arka's board are also on KOEL's board. Promoters of KOEL also have representation in most of the key committees of Arka, viz., credit, asset liability, IT steering, risk management, etc. Arka is expected to benefit from the Kirloskar group's expertise, especially in small and medium enterprise (SME) lending.
 
The rating also factors in the strong support from the parent KOEL, demonstrated by the articulation of its intention to support Arka by way of: (i) its intention to maintain majority shareholding in Arka in the foreseeable future, (ii) Arka, being core to overall business strategy of growth of which diversification into financial services is an integral part, and, (iii) KOEL, making it best efforts to conduct Arka's business in line with Kirloskar group's philosophy, so that it meet its financial and other obligations on a timely basis. 
 
* Adequate capitalisation for initial stages of operations
Arka benefits from funding support from the parent and has adequate capitalisation for initial stages of operations. KOEL has already infused Rs. 527 crores in the first half of fiscal 2020 and additional capital support of about Rs. 125 crores is expected by fiscal 2021. Capital support from the parent, is expected to keep capitalisation of Arka adequate (Net worth of Rs 534 crores and Capital Adequacy ratio of 86.3% as on June 30, 2020), with low gearing (0.5 times as on June 30, 2020) in the initial stages of operation.
 
Weakness
* Nascent stage of operations
As operations have only commenced in April 2019, they are still in the initial stage. The total loan book stood at Rs 799 crores as on September 30, 2020 with a mix of corporate and real estate exposure. Going ahead, Arka plans to build a loan book with a healthy mix of corporate, real estate and SME/micro-SME (MSME) segments. The company's ability to scale up operations with a healthy loan book, while maintaining its asset quality over the medium term would be a key monitorable.
Liquidity Adequate

Arka had overall borrowings stood at Rs 75 crores as on March 31, 2020. The company's liquidity is adequate with around Rs 319 crores of cash and cash equivalents and Rs 53 crores of unutilised bank lines as on September 30, 2020. Against this, outflow on account of debt repayments in next three months (Oct till Dec'20) is ~ Rs 15.42 crores. Liquidity is further supported by expectation of financial assistance from parent, in case of any requirement.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Arka will remain strategically important to KOEL and will continue to benefit from its strong support and high moral obligations from the parent over the medium term.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward Factors:
* Upward revision in the rating of its parent, KOEL, by 1 notch
* Ability to significantly scale up the loan book while maintaining asset quality, and improvement in earnings profile on a sustained basis
 
Downward Factors
* Downward revision in the rating of its parent, KOEL, by 1 notch or any material change in the shareholding or support philosophy of KOEL for Arka
* Significant and continuous deterioration in asset quality, thereby, weakening its earning profile.

About the Company

Arka is a non-deposit taking systemically important non-banking financial company (NBFC). It is promoted by the Kirloskar group, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEL. Arka was originally incorporated as Kirloskar Capital Ltd, however, the name was subsequently changed to Arka Fincap Ltd in August 2019. The company commenced its operations from April 2019. It has senior leadership and experienced management team on board and has also put in place various policies for smooth operations of its business. Arka aims to build a loan book with a mix of corporate, real estate and SME/MSME segment.
 
About KOEL
KOEL, one of the flagship companies of the Kirloskar group, manufactures and services diesel engines (primarily between 2.5-740 horsepower) and diesel generator sets (mainly between 2-1,010 kilo-volt-ampere). The company also makes diesel-, petrol-, and kerosene-based pump sets. It has manufacturing units in Pune, Kagal, and Nashik (all in Maharashtra). KOEL caters to the agriculture, power generation, and industrial sectors. On August 01, 2017, it acquired 76% stake in LGMPL, and is likely to acquire the balance stake in the next five years, in line with the share purchase agreement. KOEL has set up an NBFC business through ARKA, with equity infusion of Rs 526.5 crores until September 30, 2019. 
 
In fiscal 2020, on a standalone basis, net profit was Rs 170 crores on revenue of Rs 2,877 crores, against Rs 224 crores and Rs 3,204 crores, respectively, in the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators - Arka Fincap Ltd
As On/For the year ended Unit March 31, 2020 March 31, 2019
Total assets Rs crores 615 20
Total income Rs crores 50 0.3
PAT Rs crores 12 -8
Gross stage 3 % Nil Nil
Return on assets % 3.74 Negative
Gearing  Times 0.14 Nil

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 the instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs.Crores) Complexity level Rating Assigned with outlook
NA Term Loan* NA NA NA 240 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 110 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Working Capital Facility NA NA NA 150 NA CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7 to 365 Days 50 Simple CRISIL A1+
NA Non-Convertible Debentures* NA NA NA 125 Simple CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Non-Convertible Debentures* NA NA NA 50 Simple CRISIL AA-/Stable
*Yet to be issued
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  50.00  CRISIL A1+  25-06-20  CRISIL A1+  31-12-19  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
        29-05-20  CRISIL A1+               
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  0.00
19-10-20 
CRISIL AA-/Stable  25-06-20  CRISIL AA-/Stable    --    --    --  -- 
        29-05-20  CRISIL AA-/Stable               
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  500.00  CRISIL AA-/Stable  25-06-20  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  31-12-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
        29-05-20  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  18-12-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ 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
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 110 CRISIL AA-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 250 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Term Loan 240 CRISIL AA-/Stable Proposed Short Term Bank Loan Facility 50 CRISIL A1+
Working Capital Facility 150 CRISIL AA-/Stable Term Loan 150 CRISIL AA-/Stable
-- 0 -- Working Capital Facility 50 CRISIL AA-/Stable
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
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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