Rating Rationale
July 31, 2020 | Mumbai
BRD Securities Limited
Rating migrated to 'CRISIL B/Stable'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.20 Crore (Reuced from Rs.50 Crore)
Long Term Rating CRISIL B/Stable (Migrated from 'CRISIL BB-/Stable; ISSUER NOT COOPERATING'*)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Detailed Rationale

Due to inadequate information and in line with the Securities and Exchange Board of India guidelines, CRISIL had migrated its rating on the bank facilities of BRD Securities Ltd (BRD) to 'CRISIL BB-/Stable; Issuer not cooperating'. However, the management has subsequently started sharing the requisite information for carrying out a comprehensive review of the ratings. Consequently, CRISIL is migrating its rating on the long-term bank facility of BRD to 'CRISIL B/Stable'.
 
CRISIL has withdrawn its rating on the proposed long-term bank facility of Rs 30 crore in line with its withdrawal policy.
 
The rating action reflects significant decline in asset quality within the vehicle finance portfolio and its impact on the profitability of the company. Asset quality in the vehicle finance segment has weakened significantly with gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) increasing to 33% as on March 31, 2020, from 25% on March 31, 2019. The decline was primarily due to a significant portion of the portfolio getting affected by the floods in Kerala. The company did not have enough recoveries post floods, and as a result, it had to either provide for them or write-off the portfolio. The impact of decline in asset quality spilled over to profitability. The company reported loss of Rs 21.6 crore in fiscal 2019 owing to higher credit cost. Profitability is likely to remain low on account of increase in operating and credit costs over the medium term. Moreover, reliance on high-cost, privately placed non-convertible debentures (NCDs) has also remained high.
 
The rating also factors in BRD's established market position in north and central Kerala and moderate capital position.
 
The nationwide lockdown declared by the Government of India to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic will have a near-term impact on disbursements and collections of companies. Restrictions have been eased partially, based on classification of zones, and will be lifted further in a phased manner. Any delay in return to normalcy will exert further pressure on the collections and asset quality metrics of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
 
On the liability side, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced regulatory measures under the Covid-19 Regulatory Package, whereby lenders were permitted to grant moratorium (originally until May 31, 2020) on bank loans, which has been further extended until August 31, 2020. BRD has not availed any moratorium from its lenders. On the asset side, 70% of the borrowers have opted for moratorium.
 
In terms of liquidity, the company's position is just about sufficient with cash and equivalent of Rs 7.62 crore (including unutilised cash credit limit) as on July 28, 2020, against total debt obligation and operating expenses of Rs 5.66 crore for July, August and September 2020. CRISIL will continue to monitor the liquidity position closely. Furthermore, its ability to bring the collections back on track will remain key rating sensitivity factors.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has evaluated the standalone business and financial risk profile of BRD.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Long and established business presence in operating geography
The BRD group has been operating in Kunnamkulam, a small town in Thrissur district in central Kerala, and neighbouring districts for over three decades. Over this period, it has established its presence in several businesses, such as lending, chit funds, automobile dealership, automobile fabrication, engineering, and education. It has thus gained a good reputation and the trust of people, which helped BRD to raise funds from the public through retail placement of NCDs. The company had a portfolio outstanding of Rs 145 crore as on March 31, 2020, that comprised two-wheelers (31%), four-wheelers (28%), term loans (17%), microfinance loans (10%), personal loan (5%), demand loan (4%), gold loan (2%) and others (3%). The company has plans to increase its gold financing portfolio over the medium term.
 
* Moderate capitalisation
BRD has moderate capitalisation for the current scale of operations, with networth of Rs 38.9 crore and gearing at 3.45 times as on December 31, 2019. There has been no capital infusion in the company since the past five years. In fiscal 2019, the company wrote off Rs 23 crore on account of which there has been a decline in networth from Rs 60.1 crore as on March 31, 2018.
 
Weaknesses
* Weak asset quality
Asset quality has weakened over the past few years mainly on account of floods in Kerala; it also remains vulnerable to segments where borrower credit profiles are inherently weak. Loan overdue in excess of 90 days (90+ days past due (dpd)) increased significantly to 33% as on March 31, 2020, from 18% as on December 31, 2019. The company primarily lends to self-employed non-professionals such as drivers, traders, businessmen, fleet operators and small road transport operators. Any pressure on their cash flow due to unforeseen situations may affect their repayment capacity and lead to increase in delinquencies. In addition, asset quality in the two-wheeler segment is vulnerable on account of difficulty in repossession. Recovery of dues is also difficult on account of low resale value of vehicles.
 
In order to improve its asset quality metrics, the company is taking initiatives to improve its collection efficiency by strengthening its disbursement and collection processes. Customer quality will remain the central focus of the company before disbursing loans. Additionally, the company has made changes at the top level of management in order to improve its financial performance. However, the ability of the company to improve its delinquencies over the medium term will remain a key monitorable.
 
* Weak profitability
Profitability is weak due to the significant impact of credit cost and run-down of business in the vehicle finance segment. During the nine months through March 2020, the company had a total income of Rs 29 crore, a decrease of 35% over fiscal 2019. As far as profit is concerned, it reported profit after tax of Rs 0.33 crore, compared with loss of Rs 22 crore in fiscal 2019. Return on assets reduced to 0.2% for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 (annualised), from 1.0% in fiscal 2018 (1.5% in fiscal 2017). Given the increase in delinquent portfolio and absence of any material improvement in collections, the company is likely to have higher credit cost. Hence, profitability will remain under stress over the medium term.
 
* Limited diversity in resource profile
The company is highly dependent on privately placed NCDs. As on December 31, 2019, around 99% of the overall borrowing comprised of NCDs (66%) and sub debt (34%). The company has no major plans to raise funding from banks.
Liquidity Stretched

The company's position is just about sufficient with cash and equivalent of Rs 7.62 crore (including unutilised cash credit limit) as on July 28, 2020, against total debt obligation and operating expenses of Rs 5.66 crore for July, August and September 2020. CRISIL will continue to monitor the liquidity position closely. Furthermore, its ability to bring the collections back on track will remain key rating sensitivity factors.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes BRD will benefit from its established presence in the operating geography.
 
Rating sensitivity factors
Upward factors:
* Improvement in asset quality metrics with GNPAs below 15%
* Significant scaling up of the loan book with diversification in regional presence
* Pressure on liquidity in the event of a premature redemption of NCDs
 
Downward factors:
* Any adverse movement in asset quality with 90+dpd increasing beyond 35% and earnings profile getting impacted
* Stress on capitalisation metrics, with any significant jump in gearing while scaling up the portfolio

About the Company

Established in 1993 and headquartered in Kunnamkulam, BRD is the flagship company of the BRD group. In fiscal 2017, the company surrendered its fixed deposit acceptance licence with the RBI, and hence became a systemically not-important non-deposit-taking NBFC. It provides hire-purchase finance for two-, three-, four-, and six-wheelers. Apart from vehicle financing, the company also provides microfinance loans, loan against gold, term loans, personal loans and demand loans.

Key Financial Indicators - Standalone
As on / for the quarter / for the year ended Unit Dec-19 Mar-19
Total assets Rs crore 201.1 212.4
Total income Rs crore 29.2 44.8
Profit after tax Rs crore 0.3 -21.6
Gross NPA % 18.0 25.4
Gearing Times 3.45 4.04
Return on assets % 0.2 -9.4

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 Overdraft NA NA NA 20 NA CRISIL B/Stable
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 30 NA Withdrawn
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  20.00  CRISIL B/Stable      25-04-19  CRISIL BB-/Stable (Issuer Not Cooperating)*  30-01-18  CRISIL BB/Negative  31-01-17  CRISIL BB/Negative  CRISIL BB/Negative 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
*Issuer did not cooperate; based on best-available information
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Overdraft 20 CRISIL B/Stable Overdraft 20 CRISIL BB-/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating 
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 30 Withdrawn Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 30 CRISIL BB-/Stable/Issuer Not Cooperating 
Total 50 -- Total 50 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies

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