Rating Rationale
March 19, 2018 | Mumbai
Edelweiss Agri Value Chain Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.1000 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.200 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.500 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.300 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.1000 Crore Commercial Paper Programme* CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Earlier Short Term Debt
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the debt instruments and bank facilities of Edelweiss Agri Value Chain Limited (EAVCL).

On March 16, 2018, the Edelweiss group announced that it has shelved its plans of acquiring Religare's securities business, due to inability of the seller to get requisite clearances within the required timeline. On December 20, 2017, Edelweiss had announced the acquisition of Religare's securities business, subject to regulatory clearances. Edelweiss also raised around Rs 1527 crores through a QIP issue in November, 2017.

The rating continues to centrally factor in the expectation of strong managerial, financial and, operational support for EAVCL from its ultimate parent, Edelweiss Financial Services Limited (EFSL; the holding company of Edelweiss group), both on an ongoing basis and in the event of distress. Such expectation reflects the strategic importance of EAVCL to EFSL as well as the strong moral obligation of EFSL to support EAVCL, given the shared name and commodities being a major business for the group. 
The group's ratings factor in its diversified business and earnings profile, its ability to build significant competitive positions in multiple lines of business, and comfortable liquidity policy. These rating strengths are partially offset by the Edelweiss group's vulnerability to inherent risks in the commodities business, high gearing levels, concentration risks in the wholesale lending segment, and lower profitability ratios than those of its peers.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of all entities engaged in commodities business in the Edelweiss group because of their significant operational and financial linkages and then notched it up to its ultimate parent, EFSL.

For arriving at the rating of EFSL, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of all entities in the Edelweiss group because of their significant operational and financial integration.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Strong support from the parent:  The rating continues to centrally factor in the expectation of strong management, financial and, operational support for EAVCL from its ultimate parent, Edelweiss Financial Services Limited (EFSL; the holding company of Edelweiss group), both on an ongoing basis and in the event of distress. Such expectation reflects the strategic importance of EAVCL to EFSL as well as the strong moral obligation of EFSL to support EAVCL, given the shared name and commodities being a major business for the group. 
 
* Large player in the commodities space: The commodities business of the Edelweiss group comprises of sourcing of agricultural commodities, warehousing, collateral management, other agri value chain services and agri credit.  The group has scaled down its earlier business of trading in precious metals and agri commodities and is now focusing on scaling up the agri services and credit business.
 
In the agri-commodities segment (set up in 2010), the group is engaged in sourcing of agri commodities as well as value chain activities.  The value chain business consists of warehousing and trade financing. The trade financing is done against warehouse receipts. As a policy, Edelweiss offers financing only for commodities that are stored in its own warehouses to control the quality of the product as well as frauds. As on December 31, 2017, it had around 506 warehouses with a capacity of over 17 lakh metric tons. The warehouses are taken on lease to keep the balance sheet light. The group plans to add around 100-150 warehouses per year. The Edelweiss group has strong risk management systems with checks at multiple levels - at location, cluster level, state level, and third party checks to ensure minimum pilferage/loss. The agri commodities business is managed by Edelweiss Commodities Services Ltd. and Edelweiss Agri Value Chain Services Ltd (both 100% owned subsidiaries of the group).
 
Weakness
* Inherent risks in the commodities business space: The commodities business, by its very nature is volatile and susceptible to various risks. The commodities business is exposed to counterparty risk, price risk, fraud risk and other risks like natural disasters and theft. However, Edelweiss has put in place strong risk management practices to manage risks across these business. Edelweiss has a detailed methodology for client profiling including multiple background checks, financial position analysis and other due diligence. Further, the counterparty risk is limited on account of the physical possession of the commodities lying in Edelweiss managed warehouses and release of the same only upon full payment. To manage the price risk, there is a dedicated team that is focused on price data collation and commodities research. Edelweiss has also set up quality labs to ensure that the quality standards are adhered to.
 
* High Gearing: The Edelweiss group operates at high gearing levels, especially in the commodities segment. As on March 31, 2017, the gearing in EAVCL stood at 5.2 times (as against 5.5 times on March 31, 2016), which led to inherent risks. While the risks of a higher gearing are partially mitigated by the liquidity cushion available, it will remain a key rating monitorable. However, with the group scaling down its agricultural commodities trading business, the gearing is expected to decrease from the existing level in the commodities segment.
Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that EAVCL will benefit over the medium term from strong financial, managerial, and operational support from its parent, EFSL. The outlook might be revised to 'Positive' in case of a similar change in CRISIL's view on the credit risk profile of the Edelweiss group, especially improvement in the capital position of the group, along with significant reduction in its gearing levels and continued increase of retail and SME loan share in the overall credit book. Conversely, the outlook may be revised to 'Negative' in case of lesser-than-expected support from EFSL, or if, in CRISIL's view; Edelweiss group's credit risk profile deteriorates.

About the Group

The Edelweiss group comprised Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd (EFSL, the parent company), 59 subsidiaries, and 5 associate companies as on March 31, 2017. The group conducts its business from 277 offices (including 7 international offices) across 127 cities as on March 31, 2017. Its main business lines are credit (comprising wholesale, retail, SME, and agricultural services & credit), franchise businesses (comprising capital markets-related fee businesses, asset management and wealth management) and life insurance. These businesses entail loans to corporates and individuals, mortgage finance, including loans against property and small-ticket housing loans, SME finance, agri commodity value chain services and agri creditdistribution, life and general insurance, institutional and retail equity broking, corporate finance and advisory, wealth management, third-party financial products distribution, and alternative and domestic asset management. In addition, the balance sheet management unit focuses on liquidity and asset-liability management.
 
For fiscal 2017, the group reported a PAT of Rs 609.3 crore on a total income of Rs 6618.8 crore vis-a-vis PAT of Rs 414.4 crore on total income of Rs 5268.1 crores in fiscal 2016. The net worth of the group increased to Rs 5283.9 crore as on March 31, 2017 (audited) from Rs 4369.7 crore on March 31, 2016. For the nine months ended December 31, 2017, the group reported a PAT of Rs 641.9 crore on a total income of Rs 5997.35 crore as against Rs 439.3 crore and Rs 4681.25 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. 
 
For fiscal 2017, ECSL reported a PAT of Rs 57 crore on a total income of Rs 1108 crore vis-a-vis PAT of Rs 65 crore on total income of Rs 948 crores in fiscal 2016. For the nine months ended December 31, 2017, the company reported a PAT of Rs 49 crore on a total income of Rs 1029 crore as against Rs 31 crore and Rs 774 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. 

For fiscal 2017, EAVCL had a PAT of Rs 1.8 crore on net total income (net of purchase of commodities and change in commodities inventory) of Rs 196.10 crore, as against a PAT of Rs 1.5 crore on a net total income of Rs 124.3 crore in the previous year. For the nine months ended December 31, 2017, it reported a PAT of Rs 5.3 crore on a total income of Rs 192.6 crore as against Rs 0.12 crore on a total income of Rs 131.5 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators (EFSL)
As on / For the nine months ended December 31,   2017 2016
Total Assets Rs Crore 48800 37245
Total income Rs Crore 5997 4681
Profit after Tax Rs Crore 642 439
Gross NPA % 1.74 1.53
Adjusted Gearing$ Times 5.4 6.1
Return on Assets % 1.9 1.7
$indicates gross gearing, the net gearing excluding the liquid assets of Balance Sheet Management Unit (BMU), stood at 4.3 times as on December 31, 2017

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 (INR. Crs) Rating Assigned with Outlook
NA Non Convertible Debentures# NA NA NA 200 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Non Convertible Debentures# NA NA NA 500 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Non Convertible Debentures# NA NA NA 300 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Commercial Paper Programme* NA NA 7-365 days 1000 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Facility& NA NA NA 375 CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Long  Term Bank Facility^ NA NA NA 625 CRISIL AA/Stable
# Yet to be issued
&interchangeable with short term bank facilities
^interchangeable between letter of credit, buyer's credit and fund based facilities
*Earlier Short Term Debt
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2018 (History) 2017  2016  2015  Start of 2015
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  1000  CRISIL AA/Stable    No Rating Change  31-01-17  CRISIL AA/Stable    --    --  -- 
Commercial Paper Programme ST  1000  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  30-03-16  CRISIL A1+    --  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1000  CRISIL AA/Stable    No Rating Change  31-01-17  CRISIL AA/Stable    --    --  -- 
Table reflects instances where rating is changed or freshly assigned. 'No Rating Change' implies that there was no rating change under the release.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Long Term Bank Facility^ 625 CRISIL AA/Stable Long Term Bank Facility^ 625 CRISIL AA/Stable
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility& 375 CRISIL AA/Stable Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility& 375 CRISIL AA/Stable
Total 1000 -- Total 1000 --
&interchangeable with short term bank facilities
^interchangeable between letter of credit, buyer's credit and fund based facilities
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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