Rating Rationale
April 07, 2020 | Mumbai
Innovative Microfinance For Poverty Alleviation And Community Transformation
'CRISIL BB-/Stable' assigned to bank debt
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.34.5 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL BB-/Stable (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL BB-/Stable' rating to the proposed long-term bank facility of Innovative Microfinance for Poverty Alleviation and Community Transformation (IMPACT).
 
IMPACT works in partnership with World Vision India (WV India) to provide credit to self-help groups (SHGs). It is a member of Sa-Dhan, the micro finance institution (MFI) industry association in India.
 
The rating reflects IMPACT's modest scale of operations, geographic concentration, and exposure to risks inherent in the microfinance sector. The weaknesses are partially offset by comfortable asset quality, moderate capitalisation, and strong support from World Vision India.
 
In terms of Covid-19 impact, the 21-day nationwide lockdown will have near-term impact on all microfinance institutions because of their field-intensive nature of operations, and disrupt both loan origination and collections. Herein, the proposed moratorium on loans announced by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) offers a big relief to both borrowers and IMPACT. IMPACT's resource profile comprises of ~86% borrowings from Banks. CRISIL has noted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announcement permitting all lending institutions to provide a moratorium on term loans for a period of 3 months. However, assuming no moratorium on IMPACT's own liabilities and negligible collections on their asset-side, IMPACT has sufficient liquidity to manage operations and loan payments for the next 1 month. In this scenario, any prolonged disruption beyond 1 month will be a key rating sensitivity factor. However, revocation of lockdown will be contingent upon how the situation evolves including extent of spread of Covid-19. And if the disruption prolongs, liquidity and asset quality pressures would manifest. This remains a key rating sensitivity factor.

Analytical Approach

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

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
*Comfortable asset quality
Comfortable asset quality with 90+ days past due was at 1.18% as on December 31, 2019, (0.44% as on March 31, 2019). During the past 3 fiscals, IMPACT maintained its delinquencies, with focus on their home-grown region, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Nevertheless, with growth in operations, the institution's ability to maintain comfortable asset quality will be a key monitorable. 
 
*Moderate capitalisation
The trust has moderate capitalization with a networth of Rs 9.7 crore and gearing was low at 3.7 times as on December 31, 2019. IMPACT received funding of Rs 4.18 crore in various tranches between fiscals 2005 and 2018 from World Vision India
 
*Strong support from World Vision India
IMPACT is an MFI promoted by World Vision India (WV India), part of World Vision International. IMPACT integrates microfinance with World Vision India's humanitarian development programs, which provide holistic and sustainable development through access to microcredit.
 
Weaknesses
*Modest scale of operations and geographic concentration
Though the institution has been in existence since 2004, it had a portfolio of Rs 38 crore as on December 31, 2019 in 10 districts, mainly in Tamil Nadu. Furthermore, portfolio growth in fiscal 2020 has been flat because of funding crunch. Tamil Nadu accounts for around 60% of the portfolio. Most of its branches are in rural areas.
 
*Exposure to risks inherent in the microfinance sector
The business of these institutions entails lending to the poor and downtrodden sections of society, MFIs will remain exposed to socially sensitive factors, especially relating to interest rates, and, consequently, to tighter regulations and legislation.
Liquidity Stretched

IMPACT has stretched liquidity profile. As a policy, it generally keeps cash balance of 6-7% of the AUM on steady state basis. The cash and cash equivalent was Rs 2.95 crore as on March 26, 2020, and total fixed deposits were Rs 5.0 crore, wherein Rs 4.5 crore was pledged with banks to meet the debt obligation. IMPACT has scheduled outflow of Rs 5.8 crore between April and June 2020. The average monthly inflow is Rs 4.51 crore and disbursements is Rs 4 crore. If needed, it can also receive fundsing support from World Vision India.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes that IMPACT scale of operations will remain small over the medium term.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward factors
*Significant scale-up the loan book while maintaining operational cost and earnings
*Healthy capital position, with gearing maintained below 3 times

Downward factors
*Deterioration in asset quality, with gross net performing assets above 3%, and its effect on profitability
*Modest credit profile of the borrowers
*Potential risk from local socio-political issues in the microfinance sector

About IMPACT
IMPACT is an MFI promoted by World Vision India (WV India), part of World Vision International. It is registered under section 8 of The Companies Act, 2013, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Women entrepreneurs account for 99% of IMPACT's clients. The women in the self-help groups (SHGs) also inspire and support one another in their journey towards self-reliance and economic security for their families.

Key Financial Indicators
As on/for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Total assets Rs crore 48.2 40.6
Total income Rs crore 8.4 7.1
Profit after tax Rs crore 0.4 0.8
Return on managed assets % 1.0 2.4
Gross NPA % 0.4 0.1
Adjusted gearing Times 4.3 3.7

Status of non cooperation with previous CRA
IMPACT has not cooperated with Acuite Ratings and Research Limited (Acuite), which has classified it as non-cooperative vide its release dated March 09, 2020. The reason provided by Acuite Ratings is non-furnishing of information by IMPACT for monitoring of rating.

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)
Rating assigned with outlook
NA Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility NA NA NA 34.5 CRISIL BB-/Stable
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  34.50  CRISIL BB-/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
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 34.5 CRISIL BB-/Stable -- 0 --
Total 34.5 -- Total 0 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies

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