Rating Rationale
September 05, 2019 | Mumbai
Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited
Rated amount enhanced 
 
Rating Action
Lower Tier II Bonds Aggregating Rs.25 Crore CRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Lower Tier II Bonds Aggregating Rs.175 Crore CRISIL AA+/Stable (Withdrawn)
Rs.8000 Crore Commercial Paper (Enhanced from Rs.7500 Crore) CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the debt instruments of Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited (Chola Finance). CRISIL has also withdrawn its rating on the Lower Tier-II Bonds of Rs 175 crore as these have been redeemed, (see Annexure 'Details of rating withdrawn' for details). The withdrawal is in line with CRISIL's policy of withdrawal of ratings.

The ratings continue to factor in the strong support from the Murugappa group, the credit risk profile of which has also improved over time and a healthy market position in the vehicle finance segment. These strengths are partially offset by the average credit quality of the loan against property (LAP) portfolio.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Healthy market position in the vehicle finance segment
Chola Finance has sustained its strong market position in the vehicle financing segment which constitutes over two-thirds of the total financing business. Overall financing growth has been robust in recent years; there was a three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~23%, with assets under management (AUM) increasing to Rs 57,494 crore as on June 30, 2019 (Rs 54,279 crore as on March 31, 2019).

The commercial vehicle (CV) financing business will remain the flagship business over the medium term. The company has an established track record in catering to customer segments such as small fleet transport operators and first-time users. A strong understanding of the borrower profile helps to provide customised offerings while appropriately factoring in risks inherent in lending to the segment. The asset quality in the CV financing portfolio has also seen a marked improvement supported by strengthening of collections and recovery processes and systems. The gross non-performing advances (NPAs) ratio within the CV financing business stood at 2.09% as on June 30, 2019 as against 2.55% a year earlier.

The company has also established a moderate presence in the LAP business with AUM of over Rs 12,000 crore (around 21% of the total AUM). It is also planning to increase its presence in the housing loans segment, which will provide diversity to the business profile over time.

* Strong expectation of support from the Murugappa group
Chola Finance continues to derive significant equity and management support from the Murugappa group, which holds a majority equity stake of 52.9% in the company through Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited (46.4%) and other group entities. The group's credit risk profile has strengthened due to increasing business diversity and improving debt protection metrics. The group has, in the past demonstrated timely funding support to Chola Finance during weak liquidity conditions. It also infused equity capital of Rs 200 crore in March 2013. For over two decades, Chola Finance has been the Murugappa group's arm in financial services, a key growth engine for the group, and contributed to around 43% of the consolidated pre-tax profits of the group in fiscal 2019. The group is likely to maintain its majority equity stake in the company and continue to provide financial and managerial support whenever required.

Weakness
* Average credit quality in the LAP business
Delinquencies in the LAP portfolio remain high as reflected in the gross NPAs of 5.8% as on June 30, 2019 (6.7% as on June 30, 2018). The company is taking concrete efforts to address the credit quality challenges with higher focus on recoveries through enforcement of provisions of the Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI) and repossession of properties in case of wilful defaults. The ability to improve asset quality while continuing to grow the portfolio in mortgage finance will remain a monitorable.

Liquidity: Strong
Liquidity remains strong. The asset-liability management profile as on July 31, 2019, had positive cumulative gaps for all buckets. Debt of around Rs 10,500 crore will mature by November 2019. The company successfully raised a total of Rs 36,200 core over the last one year including Rs 4,000 crore in July 2019 in the form of commercial papers, term loans, WCDL and other instruments, and has been able to replace most of the repayments with fresh borrowings. There were total inflows of around Rs. 9,800 crore till November 2019. Further, there were unutilised bank lines of Rs 1,097 crore and cash/cash equivalents of Rs 4,999 crore (in the form of liquid callable fixed deposits) as on July 31, 2019.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Chola Finance will continue to grow and maintain its strong market position in the vehicle financing segment, while maintaining asset quality, over the medium term.

Rating Sensitivity Factor
Upward Factor
* Upward revision in CRISIL's view on the Murugappa group's credit risk profile; and/or
*Significant improvement in market position and asset quality coupled with improvement in return on managed assets (RoMA) beyond 3% on sustained basis

Downward Factor
* Downward revision in CRISIL's view on the Murugappa group's credit risk profile; and/or
* Significant and sustained deterioration in asset quality, with gross NPAs increasing beyond 5% coupled with weakening in profitability.

About the Company

Part of the Chennai-based Murugappa group, Chola Finance was incorporated in 1978. The company mainly provides vehicle financing and LAP, along with home loans, MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises) and agricultural loans. It had 999 branches across 27 states in India, with 77% presence across tier III and tier IV cities, as on June 30, 2019.

Between April 2005 and March 2010, the company operated as a joint venture between DBS Bank and the Murugappa group. In March 2010, DBS Bank sold its 37.5% equity stake to the Murugappa group. Chola Finance exited the unsecured personal loan segment in October 2008. It also exited its asset management business through a complete stake sale in DBS Chola Asset Management to L&T Finance Ltd in September 2009. The Murugappa group currently holds 52.9% equity stake in Chola Finance, of which 46.4% is held by Cholamandalam Financial Holdings Limited, a group company.

Chola Finance currently has two subsidiaries: Cholamandalam Securities Ltd and Cholamandalam Home Finance Ltd.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2020 (as per IND AS), profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 314 crore on total income (net of interest expense) of Rs 942 crore, against PAT of Rs 285 crore on total income (net of interest expense) of Rs 810 crore for corresponding period of fiscal 2019.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the quarter ended June 30  Unit 2019 2018
Total Assets Rs crore 62,420 47,980
Total income Rs crore 2,029 1,605
Profit after tax Rs crore 314 285
Gross NPA % 3.0 3.6
Adjusted gearing Times 8.8 7.8
Return on managed assets % 2.04 2.43

Any other information
Chola Finance has a comfortable financial risk profile supported by improved earnings and stable capitalisation. Profitability has improved with PAT increasing by 29% to Rs 1,186 crore in fiscal 2019 from Rs 918 crore in the earlier fiscal at the back of lower provisioning cost and higher operating income. The RoMA remained stable at ~2.3%. Operating efficiency remained stable.

Capitalisation was comfortable and provided adequate cushion for asset-side risks. Tier I and overall capital adequacy ratios stood at 12.86% and 17.16%, respectively, as on June 30, 2019 (13.41% and 18.15% respectively, as on June 30, 2019). The adjusted gearing at 8.5 times as on March 31, 2019, was higher than the industry average, but the company has demonstrated strong ability to raise capital when required. The networth coverage for net NPAs improved and remained healthy at 6.9 times as on March 31, 2019 (5.3 times a year earlier).

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.Cr) Rating Outstanding with Outlook
NA Lower Tier-II Bond* NA NA NA 25 CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 Days 8000 CRISIL A1+
*Yet to be issued
 
Annexure - Details of Rating Withdrawn
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon Rate (%) Maturity Date Issue Size (Rs.Cr)
INE121A08MH1 Lower Tier II Bonds 07-May-12 11.75 07-May-19 100
INE121A08MI9 Lower Tier II Bonds 18-May-12 11.70 17-May-19 50
INE121A08MN9 Lower Tier II Bonds 05-Sep-12 11.25 05-Sep-18 25
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  8000.00  CRISIL A1+      03-10-18  CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
Lower Tier II Bonds  LT  25.00
05-09-19 
CRISIL AA+/Stable      03-10-18  CRISIL AA+/Stable  27-10-17  CRISIL AA/Stable  11-11-16  CRISIL AA/Stable  CRISIL AA/Stable 
            22-06-18  CRISIL AA+/Stable           
Short Term Debt  ST    --    --    --  27-10-17  Withdrawal  11-11-16  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Group Support

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