Rating Rationale
November 24, 2017 | Mumbai
KKR India Financial Services Private Limited
Rated amount enhanced
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.2400 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.500 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Rs.500 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Rs.200 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Rs.350 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Rs.250 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Rs.500 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Rs.500 Crore Non Convertible Debentures CRISIL AA/Positive (Reaffirmed)
Rs.500 Crore Commercial Paper (Enhanced from Rs.200 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/Positive/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the debt instruments and bank facilities of KKR India Financial Services Pvt Ltd (KKR India Finance).
 
In July 2017, CRISIL had revised its outlook on the long-term debt instruments and bank facilities of KKR India Finance to 'Positive' from 'Stable', while reaffirming the rating at 'CRISIL AA'. The outlook revision reflected the demonstrated ability of the company to grow its portfolio profitably, while managing asset quality. The company has scaled up significantly over the past 3 years with the loan portfolio increasing to Rs 4700 crore as on September 30, 2017 from Rs 790 crore as on March 31, 2014. At the same time, it has had only one non-performing asset (NPA) in its portfolio since inception. Gross NPAs were nil as on September 30, 2017. Return on assets has remained comfortable at an average of 6.5% in the last 3 years.  
 
The ratings continue to reflect the benefits that KKR India Finance derives from its strong linkages with, and high strategic importance to, its ultimate parent, KKR & Co L P (KKR; rated 'A/Stable' by S&P Global Ratings [S&P]), as well as the strong capitalisation metrics.

Analytical Approach

The ratings continue to centrally factor in the strategic importance of KKR India Finance to its ultimate parent, KKR. CRISIL believes that though KKR's stake in KKR India Finance may decline over the medium to long term, KKR will retain its management control over KKR India Finance and the companies will continue to have a shared brand name.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths
* Expectation of strong support from ultimate parent
The rating is underpinned by the expectation of strong support from KKR, owing to the strategic importance of the entity, complete management control over KKR India Finance, the strong operational linkages with KKR, and the shared brand name.
 
KKR India Finance is KKR's credit investment vehicle in India and is aligned with the parent's global strategies for scaling up its credit business. KKR offers credit solutions across the globe, including in San Francisco, New York, Dublin, London, Sydney, Mumbai, and Singapore. In India, KKR has made a significant upfront investment to create a permanent vehicle for its structured credit business by investing USD 100 million during 2009 to 2011 (around Rs 470 crore1) as equity capital in KKR India Finance. Importantly, the equity has been infused directly from the general partners' funds from KKR's balance sheet, and not as KKR's contribution from funds managed by it.
 
KKR holds 60% stake (as on September 30, 2017) in, and has complete management and board control over, KKR India Finance. The remaining stake is held by a leading global limited partner (LP; or partner investor in KKR's funds), which infused equity of USD 100 million (around Rs 590 crore1)  in KKR India Finance in two tranches in August 2013 and June 2014 out of a large pool of committed funds. KKR consolidates the financials of KKR India Finance with its own. CRISIL believes that though KKR's stake in KKR India Finance may decline over the medium to long term, KKR will retain its management control over KKR India Finance.
 
Furthermore, KKR India Finance's operations are closely integrated with the parent's and global operations. KKR has senior level representation on the various investment and risk committees of KKR India Finance, and is actively involved in all key decisions taken by the company. It also benefits from the parent's globally aligned compliance, finance, and risk management systems and processes and derives synergistic benefits from KKR's private equity business in India and leverages all existing client relationships. KKR India Finance is part of the common platform comprising KKR's private equity, fund management, capital market, and non-banking finance company (NBFC) business in India, and derives synergies, especially in deal sourcing and client relationships.
 
CRISIL believes the shared brand also enhances the expectation of support from KKR, if needed. Any material disruption in KKR India Finance's business could have a significant impact on KKR's reputation and franchise.  

KKR India Finance will benefit from its high strategic importance to KKR and that KKR will take adequate measures to ensure that entity meets all its obligations on time. Any change in the management control by, or expectation of support from, KKR will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.
 
* Healthy capitalisation metrics
The networth was Rs 1744 crore, and gearing 1.8 times as on September 30, 2017 (Rs 1437 crore and 0.8 time, respectively, as on March 31, 2016). Capitalisation is supported by regular capital infusions by the parent and a large LP over the past five years. The company's conservative leverage philosophy is indicated by gearing likely to remain below 2.5 times on a steady state basis. Steady accretion to networth also supports capitalisation. The comfortable capitalisation cushions against asset quality challenges, inherent in the business.
 
* Comfortable earnings profile
The company's earnings profile remains healthy with return on assets (annualised) at 4.3% for the first half ended September 30, 2017 against 6.4% in fiscal 2017, supported by high interest yields given the focus on offering structured products and services. The healthy earnings profile is likely to be maintained over the medium term.
 
Weakness
* Vulnerability of asset quality to risks inherent in wholesale financing, potentially impacting profitability
KKR India Finance focuses on wholesale lending, including promoter financing and mezzanine and acquisition financing, and hence, has sizeable single-borrower exposure. The company has sound risk management systems and processes to help structure and manage these exposures. It maintains appropriate collateral through promoter-owned shares and real estate. Additionally, as part of its strategy, the company intends to grow the mid-market financing portfolio to diversify and reduce the concentration risk in the loan book.
 
However, asset quality remains exposed to the risk of potential slippage in large exposures that could result in a sharp increase in delinquencies, especially if there is an economic downturn. Also, the mid-market segment could be challenging in terms of enforcing risk management policies and ensuring promoter discipline.
 
Therefore, asset quality metrics will be key monitorables as the book grows and diversifies. Gross NPAs were nil as on September 30, 2017.  A sharp increase in delinquencies could trigger a surge in provisioning costs and hence, adversely impact profitability.
 
* Moderate scale of operations
KKR's credit platform began operations in India around seven years ago and KKR India Finance had an outstanding loan book of around Rs 4700 crore as on September 30, 2017 (around Rs 2800 crore as on September 30, 2016). Ability to scale-up operations, while withstanding the business through economic cycles will be demonstrated only over the medium term.
Outlook: Positive

CRISIL believes KKR India Finance will maintain its strong financial risk profile over the medium term, supported by robust capitalisation and strong earnings. Further, CRISIL believes that KKR India Finance will remain strategically important to KKR over the medium term, and will continue to derive operational and management support from the ultimate parent. The ratings will be upgraded in case of successful scaling up of operations while healthy asset quality and profitability are maintained. The outlook may be revised to 'Stable' in case of a material change in the strategic importance to, or in linkages with, KKR. A downward revision in S&P's view on KKR's credit risk profile, or significant weakening in KKR India Finance's asset quality and earnings profile may also result in an outlook revision.

About the Company

KKR India Finance, a non-deposit taking, systemically important, NBFC, engaged in providing structured funding, promoter financing, and mezzanine financing, commenced operations in October 2009. Following a recent restructuring, as on March 31, 2017, KKR Capital Markets India (KCM) Ltd held 100% stake in KKR India Finance. KKR & Co. L.P indirectly holds around 60% of stake in KKR Capital Markets India Ltd, while the remaining is held by their global limited partner. Prior to the revision in shareholding structure in March 30, 2017, KKR & Co. L.P indirectly held 49.9% stake in KKR India Finance.
 
KCM, a SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)-registered merchant bank, is engaged in the fee-based business, including syndication for third parties and investment management.
 
In fiscal 2017, profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 213 crore on total income of Rs 568 crore, against PAT of Rs 133 crore on a total income of Rs 380 crore in fiscal 2016.
 
In the first half of fiscal 2018, profit before tax (PBT) was Rs 148.3 crore on total income of Rs 352 crore against PBT of 142 crore on total income of Rs 234 crore during the corresponding period of previous year.


1Exchange rate as on the relevant date of capital infusion

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the half year ended September 30   2017 2016
Total Assets Rs crore 5410 3388
Total income Rs crore 352 234
Profit after tax Rs crore 94 92
Gross NPA % Nil Nil
Gearing Times 1.8 0.9
Return on assets % 4.3 6.4

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 crore)
Rating outstanding with outlook
INE321N07012 Debenture 16-Jan-15 0% 16-Jan-18 60 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07020 Debenture 16-Jan-15 0% 16-Jan-19 60 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07038 Debenture 16-Jan-15 0% 16-Jan-20 60 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07046 Debenture 16-Jan-15 0% 16-Jan-21 60 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07053 Debenture 16-Jan-15 0% 16-Jan-22 60 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07061 Debenture 23-Apr-15 0% 23-Apr-18 70 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07079 Debenture 23-Apr-15 0% 23-Apr-19 70 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07087 Debenture 23-Apr-15 0% 23-Apr-20 70 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07095 Debenture 23-Apr-15 0% 23-Apr-21 70 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07103 Debenture 23-Apr-15 0% 23-Apr-22 70 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07111 Debenture 1-Apr-16 0% 14-Mar-19 75 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07129 Debenture 1-Apr-16 0% 14-Mar-20 75 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07137 Debenture 1-Apr-16 0% 14-Mar-21 75 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07145 Debenture 29-Feb-16 0% 14-Apr-19 75 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07152 Debenture 29-Feb-16 0% 14-Apr-20 75 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07160 Debenture 29-Feb-16 0% 14-Apr-21 75 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07178 Debenture 11-Oct-16 0% 10-Nov-19 100 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07186 Debenture 11-Oct-16 0% 04-Oct-20 100 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07194 Debenture 12-Sep-16 0% 07-Sep-20 70 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07202 Debenture 12-Sep-16 0% 03-Sep-22 65 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07210 Debenture 12-Sep-16 0% 03-Sep-23 65 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07228 Debenture 9-Feb-17 0% 02-Sep-20 300 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07236 Debenture 10-Apr-17 0% 10-Apr-20 200 CRISIL AA/Positive
INE321N07244 Debenture 10-Apr-17 0% 10-Mar-21 200 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Debenture* NA NA NA 600 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 500 CRISIL A1+
NA Overdraft# NA NA NA 99.38 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Term loan -1 NA NA 28-Sep-20 150 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Term loan -2 NA NA 27-Dec-21 100 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Term loan -3 NA NA 28-Dec-20 150 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Term loan -4 NA NA 09-Jan-22 150 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Term loan -5 NA NA 30-Nov-20 200 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Term loan -6 NA NA 30-Mar-22 1400 CRISIL AA/Positive
NA Proposed Long-Term
Bank Loan Facility
NA NA NA 150.62 CRISIL AA/Positive
*Yet to be issued
#Including sublimit of Rs 99.38 crore for working capital term loan
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2017 (History) 2016  2015  2014  Start of 2014
Instrument Type Quantum Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  500  CRISIL A1+    No Rating Change  15-12-16   CRISIL A1+    --    --  -- 
Non Convertible Debentures  LT  2800  CRISIL AA/Positive  06-07-17  CRISIL AA/Positive    No Rating Change    No Rating Change  27-10-14  CRISIL AA/Stable  -- 
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  2400  CRISIL AA/Positive  06-07-17  CRISIL AA/Positive    No Rating Change  12-10-15  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
Overdraft# 99.38 CRISIL AA/Positive Overdraft# 99.38 CRISIL AA/Positive
Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 150.62 CRISIL AA/Positive Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 150.62 CRISIL AA/Positive
Term Loan 2150 CRISIL AA/Positive Term Loan 2150 CRISIL AA/Positive
Total 2400 -- Total 2400 --
# Including sublimit of Rs 99.38 crore for working capital term loan
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support
Mapping global scale ratings onto CRISIL scale

For further information contact:
Media Relations
Analytical Contacts
Customer Service Helpdesk
Saman Khan
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 3895
B: +91 22 3342 3000
saman.khan@crisil.com

Naireen Ahmed
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1818
B: +91 22 3342 3000
naireen.ahmed@crisil.com

Jyoti Parmar
Media Relations
CRISIL Limited
D: +91 22 3342 1835
B: +91 22 3342 3000
 jyoti.parmar@crisil.com

Krishnan Sitaraman
Senior Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 8070
krishnan.sitaraman@crisil.com


Ajit Velonie
Director - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 4097 8209
ajit.velonie@crisil.com


Rahul Malik
Rating Analyst - CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Limited
D:+91 22 3342 8478
Rahul.Malik@crisil.com
Timings: 10.00 am to 7.00 pm
Toll free Number:1800 267 1301

For a copy of Rationales / Rating Reports:
CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com
 
For Analytical queries:
ratingsinvestordesk@crisil.com


 

Note for Media:
This rating rationale is transmitted to you for the sole purpose of dissemination through your newspaper / magazine / agency. The rating rationale may be used by you in full or in part without changing the meaning or context thereof but with due credit to CRISIL. However, CRISIL alone has the sole right of distribution (whether directly or indirectly) of its rationales for consideration or otherwise through any media including websites, portals etc.


About CRISIL Limited

CRISIL is an agile and innovative, global analytics company driven by its mission of making markets function better. We are India’s foremost provider of ratings, data, research, analytics and solutions. A strong track record of growth, culture of innovation and global footprint sets us apart. We have delivered independent opinions, actionable insights, and efficient solutions to over 100,000 customers.

We are majority owned by S&P Global Inc., a leading provider of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide.

For more information, visit www.crisil.com 


Connect with us: TWITTER | LINKEDIN | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK


About CRISIL Ratings
CRISIL Ratings is part of CRISIL Limited (“CRISIL”). We pioneered the concept of credit rating in India in 1987. CRISIL is registered in India as a credit rating agency with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”). With a tradition of independence, analytical rigour and innovation, CRISIL sets the standards in the credit rating business. We rate the entire range of debt instruments, such as, bank loans, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, non-convertible / convertible / partially convertible bonds and debentures, perpetual bonds, bank hybrid capital instruments, asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, partial guarantees and other structured debt instruments. We have rated over 24,500 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions. CRISIL has also instituted several innovations in India in the rating business, including rating municipal bonds, partially guaranteed instruments and microfinance institutions. We also pioneered a globally unique rating service for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and significantly extended the accessibility to rating services to a wider market. Over 1,10,000 MSMEs have been rated by us.


CRISIL PRIVACY NOTICE

CRISIL respects your privacy. We use your contact information, such as your name, address, and email id, to fulfil your request and service your account and to provide you with additional information from CRISIL and other parts of S&P Global Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company) you may find of interest.

For further information, or to let us know your preferences with respect to receiving marketing materials, please visit www.crisil.com/privacy. You can view the Company’s Customer Privacy at https://www.spglobal.com/privacy

Last updated: April 2016


DISCLAIMER

This disclaimer forms part of and applies to each credit rating report and/or credit rating rationale that we provide (each a “Report”). For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Report” includes the information, ratings and other content forming part of the Report. The Report is intended for the jurisdiction of India only. This Report does not constitute an offer of services. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, nothing in the Report is to be construed as CRISIL providing or intending to provide any services in jurisdictions where CRISIL does not have the necessary licenses and/or registration to carry out its business activities referred to above. Access or use of this Report does not create a client relationship between CRISIL and the user.

We are not aware that any user intends to rely on the Report or of the manner in which a user intends to use the Report. In preparing our Report we have not taken into consideration the objectives or particular needs of any particular user. It is made abundantly clear that the Report is not intended to and does not constitute an investment advice. The Report is not an offer to sell or an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment in any securities, instruments, facilities or solicitation of any kind or otherwise enter into any deal or transaction with the entity to which the Report pertains. The Report should not be the sole or primary basis for any investment decision within the meaning of any law or regulation (including the laws and regulations applicable in the US).

Ratings from CRISIL Rating are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities / instruments or to make any investment decisions. Any opinions expressed here are in good faith, are subject to change without notice, and are only current as of the stated date of their issue. CRISIL assumes no obligation to update its opinions following publication in any form or format although CRISIL may disseminate its opinions and analysis. CRISIL rating contained in the Report is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment or other business decisions. The recipients of the Report should rely on their own judgment and take their own professional advice before acting on the Report in any way.

Neither CRISIL nor its affiliates, third party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively, “CRISIL Parties”) guarantee the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the Report, and no CRISIL Party shall have any liability for any errors, omissions, or interruptions therein, regardless of the cause, or for the results obtained from the use of any part of the Report. EACH CRISIL PARTY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. In no event shall any CRISIL Party be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs) in connection with any use of any part of the Report even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

CRISIL Ratings may receive compensation for its ratings and certain credit-related analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of the instruments, facilities, securities or from obligors. CRISIL’s public ratings and analysis as are required to be disclosed under the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (and other applicable regulations, if any) are made available on its web sites, www.crisil.com (free of charge). Reports with more detail and additional information may be available for subscription at a fee – more details about CRISIL ratings are available here: www.crisilratings.com.

CRISIL and its affiliates do not act as a fiduciary. While CRISIL has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, CRISIL does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives and / or relies in its Reports. CRISIL keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of the respective activity. As a result, certain business units of CRISIL may have information that is not available to other CRISIL business units. CRISIL has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. CRISIL has in place a ratings code of conduct and policies for analytical firewalls and for managing conflict of interest. For details please refer to: http://www.crisil.com/ratings/highlightedpolicy.html

CRISIL’s rating criteria are generally available without charge to the public on the CRISIL public web site, www.crisil.com. For latest rating information on any instrument of any company rated by CRISIL you may contact CRISIL RATING DESK at CRISILratingdesk@crisil.com, or at (0091) 1800 267 1301.

This Report should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form without a prior written consent of CRISIL.

All rights reserved @ CRISIL