Rating Rationale
November 05, 2019 | Mumbai
Essel Finance Business Loans Limited
Rating downgraded to 'CRISIL D'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.200 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL D (Downgraded from 'CRISIL B+/Negative')
 
Rs.5 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL D (Downgraded from 'CRISIL B+/Negative')
Rs.20 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL D (Downgraded from 'CRISIL B+/Negative')
Rs.25 Crore Subordinated Non-Convertible Debentures CRISIL D (Downgraded from 'CRISIL B+/Negative')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has downgraded its rating on the long-term bank facilities and debt instruments of Essel Finance Business Loans Limited (EFBLL) to 'CRISIL D' from 'CRISIL B+/Negative'.
 
The downgrade reflects delays by EFBLL in meeting debt obligations due on October 30, 2019, and October 31, 2019, because of inadequate liquidity. With limited visibility regarding the timing of fund raising, CRISIL expects the servicing of other debt instruments to be delayed as well.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the rating, CRISIL has considered the standalone business and financial risk profiles of EFBLL.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Weaknesses
*Delay in debt servicing due to inadequate liquidity
EFBLL has delayed meeting some of its debt obligations (due on October 30, 2019, and October 31, 2019) because of inadequate liquidity. Because of limited visibility regarding fund raising, CRISIL believes the company will delay other debt obligations as well.
 
*Modest scale of operations and limited track record
The company commenced lending in fiscal 2015, and its operations are in the early stage. It had 8 branches and assets under management (AUM) of around Rs 330 crore as on September 30, 2019 (Rs 380 crore as on March 31, 2019). It mainly offers loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) against security of property (loans against property; constituting 66% of total portfolio). The company is also into inventory financing, equipment financing, and receivable finance. While it started lending to microfinance institutions and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in the last fiscal, this loan book is relatively small, albeit growing (12% of total portfolio).
 
*Modest asset quality
Asset quality is modest with gross NPAs (on a 90+ dpd basis) in the overall book at 6.1% as on March 31 2019 (5.7% as on March 31, 2018). Most of the delinquent accounts pertain to disbursements before January 2017. Post that, the company revamped operations and strengthened credit policies and processes. The company also sold delinquent accounts worth Rs 15.7 crore in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019. These efforts are expected to bring down the NPAs.  
 
Strengths
*Adequate capitalisation
The company's adequate capitalisation is reflected in networth and low gearing of Rs 120 crore and 2.6 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2019 (Rs 106.8 crore and 2.7 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2018).

Liquidity: Poor
The company has poor liquidity, which has led to delay in servicing debt. With inadequate liquidity to meet debt obligation and limited visibility regarding fund raising, CRISIL expects servicing of other debt to be delayed as well.

Rating sensitivity factor
Upward Factor
* Track record of timely debt servicing for more than three months
* Increased availability of funds resulting in improved liquidity.
About the Company

EFBLL was incorporated by the government of Maharashtra in 1996 as Blue Blend Equity Ltd. Formerly, it was a subsidiary of Blue Blend India Ltd and acquired the NBFC licence in 1998. The Essel group acquired 52% stake in the company in fiscal 2014 and the remaining in fiscal 2015. The company got its present name in April 2015. As on March 31, 2019, EFBLL was 81.65% held by Dakshin Mercantile Pvt Ltd which is wholly owned by the promoter family of the Essel group (Ms Sushila Devi Goel, wife of Dr Subhash Chandra). The remaining 18.35% is held by Essel Finance Management LLP. EFBLL started operations in fiscal 2015. It primarily provides financial services to MSMEs.
 
The company reported a loss of Rs 6.7 crore in fiscal 2019, with a return on assets (RoA) of negative 1.6% (profit after tax and RoA were Rs 1.0 crore and 0.3%, respectively, in fiscal 2018). While the profits are positive at pre-provisioning levels, sale of NPAs in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 and the resultant haircut on the sale resulted in losses for the fiscal.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the half year ending March 31, Unit 2019 2018
Total assets Rs crore 421 402
Total income Rs crore 66 49.0
Profit after tax Rs crore -6.7 1.0
Gross NPA (90+ days past due) % 6.1 5.7
Return on assets % -1.6 0.3
Adjusted gearing Times 2.6 2.7

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 (Rs.Cr) Outstanding rating with Outlook
INE684V08014 Subordinated non-convertible debenture 19-Aug-16 13.99% 19-Aug-22 25 CRISIL D
INE684V08030 Senior non-convertible debenture 29-Jun-17 12.75% 29-Jun-20 25 CRISIL D
NA Cash Credit NA NA NA 8.5 CRISIL D
NA Term Loan NA NA NA 45 CRISIL D
NA Overdraft NA NA NA 5 CRISIL D
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 141.5 CRISIL D
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
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  25.00
05-11-19 
CRISIL D  30-09-19  CRISIL B+/Negative  30-10-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  12-12-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  03-11-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  -- 
        18-04-19  CRISIL BB+/Stable  05-07-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  28-06-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable       
        01-02-19  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative               
Subordinated Non-Convertible Debentures  LT  25.00
05-11-19 
CRISIL D  30-09-19  CRISIL B+/Negative  30-10-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  12-12-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  03-11-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  -- 
        18-04-19  CRISIL BB+/Stable  05-07-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  28-06-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  19-08-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable   
        01-02-19  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative               
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  200.00  CRISIL D  30-09-19  CRISIL B+/Negative  30-10-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  12-12-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  03-11-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  -- 
        18-04-19  CRISIL BB+/Stable  05-07-18  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  28-06-17  CRISIL BBB-/Stable  19-08-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable   
        01-02-19  CRISIL BBB-/Watch Negative          19-01-16  CRISIL BBB-/Stable   
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
Cash Credit 8.5 CRISIL D Cash Credit 8.5 CRISIL B+/Negative
Overdraft 5 CRISIL D Overdraft 5 CRISIL B+/Negative
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 141.5 CRISIL D Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 141.5 CRISIL B+/Negative
Term Loan 45 CRISIL D Term Loan 45 CRISIL B+/Negative
Total 200 -- Total 200 --
Links to related criteria
Rating Criteria for Banks and Financial Institutions
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies

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