Rating Rationale
April 12, 2019 | Mumbai
Comfort Securities Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.45 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL B-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A4 (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on the bank facilities of Comfort Securities Limited (CSL; part of the Comfort group) at 'CRISIL B-/Stable/CRISIL A4'.
 
The ratings reflects modest risk management systems and small scale of operations. These weaknesses are partially offset by adequate capitalisation.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of CSL, Comfort Fincap Ltd (CFL), and Comfort Commotrade Ltd (CCL). That's because all these companies, collectively referred to as the Comfort group, have high management and operational integration.

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

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Weakness:
* Modest risk management systems and practices
The RBI had, in October 2014, cancelled the licence of a group company, Comfort Intech Ltd (CIL; a non-banking financial company [NBFC]), for violating the provisions of RBI directives for NBFCs, as well as Foreign Exchange Management Regulations.  In connection with the same violation case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in September 2017, imposed a penalty under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999. The violation of these guidelines and subsequent regulatory action reflects the modest risk management systems in the group. However, CRISIL notes that the violation of the RBI and FEMA guidelines was due alleged forgery by an employee against whom the company has initiated legal proceedings. The company is also continuing its efforts to seek legal redressal on this issue. CRISIL will monitor the developments in this regard.  
 
* Small scale of operations
Market share has remained low at around 0.01% in the equity broking segment and 0.02% in futures & options segment during first half of fiscal 2018-19. However, the group has been expanding its franchisee network to increase market share. Over the past two years it has expanded its fund base activities through CFL. The assets under management (AUM) of CFL increased to Rs 47 crore as on February 28, 2019 from Rs 34 crore as on March 31, 2018. With the expected increase in AUM, the contribution of fund-based revenue will increase significantly over the medium term. However, the group is likely to remain a small player in the capital market over the medium term.
 
Strengths:
* Adequate capitalisation
Capitalisation is adequate for the existing and planned scale of operations. The consolidated networth was Rs 66 crore and the gearing 0.3 time, as on September 30, 2018 (as against networth of Rs 64 crore and gearing of 0.4 times as on March 31, 2018). The gearing is expected to increase with the expansion of fund-based activities, but will remain below 2 times. The limited exposure to proprietary trading also supports capitalisation.

Liquidity

The company has adequate liquidity with a cash balance of Rs 3.5 crores and unutilised bank lines of Rs 6.7 crores as on March 31, 2019.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the scale of operations will remain small over the medium term. The outlook may be revised to 'Positive' once the group companies are completely cleared off the regulatory violations. The outlook may be revised to 'Negative' if liquidity is constrained.

About the Group

The Comfort group, founded in 1994 by Mr Anil Agarwal, operates in the capital market. Its services include equity broking, commodity broking, loans against shares, merchant banking, and margin funding. The group is headquartered in Mumbai. CSL is engaged in equity broking, and is a member of National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange. It is a category I merchant banker. CFL is an NBFC that provides loans against shares, loans against property, and margin funding and bill discounting services. CCL undertakes commodity broking.

Key Financial Indicators - (Comfort Group)
Particulars March 31 Unit 2018 2017
Total Assets Rs crore 107 91
Total Income Rs crore 15 13
Profit after tax Rs crore 3.5 3.5
Gross NPA % - -
Gearing Times 0.4 0.3
Return On Assets % 3.5 4.3

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 Couponrate (%) Maturity
date
Issue size
(Rs crore)
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Bank Guarantee NA NA NA 30 CRISIL A4
NA Proposed Long Term
Bank Loan Facility
NA NA NA 15 CRISIL B-/Stable
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entity consolidated Extent of consolidation Rational for consolidation
Comfort Fincap Ltd Full Group company
Comfort Commotrade Ltd Full Group company
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
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  15.00  CRISIL B-/Stable      31-01-18  CRISIL B-/Stable      28-10-16  CRISIL B-/Stable  -- 
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  30.00  CRISIL A4      31-01-18  CRISIL A4      28-10-16  CRISIL A4  -- 
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
Bank Guarantee 30 CRISIL A4 Bank Guarantee 30 CRISIL A4
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15 CRISIL B-/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 15 CRISIL B-/Stable
Total 45 -- Total 45 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation

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