Rating Rationale
August 31, 2020 | Mumbai
Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed  
 
Rating Action
Rs.306 Crore Lower Tier-II Bonds (under Basel II)* CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.150 Crore Lower Tier-II Bonds (under Basel II) CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.1800 Crore Infrastructure Bonds CRISIL AAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.500 Crore Perpetual Non Cumulative Preference Shares CRISIL AA+/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Fixed Deposits FAAA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.17000 Crore Certificate of Deposits CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
*Originally issued by erstwhile ING Vysya Bank
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AAA/CRISIL AA+/FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the existing debt instruments of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL; a part of the Kotak group). The ratings continue to reflect the Kotak group's strong capitalisation, healthy asset quality, and comfortable earnings.
 
CRISIL's rating on the Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares (Under Basel III) of KMBL is as per the criteria 'CRISIL's rating criteria for BASEL III-compliant instruments of banks'.
 
The nationwide lockdown, imposed by the Government of India to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, has impacted disbursements and collections of financial institutions. The lockdown has now been extended in containment zones, with re-opening of the prohibited activities in a phased manner in other areas. However, certain states have implemented localised lockdowns. Herein, CRISIL believes that eventual lifting of restrictions may continue to be in a phased manner. Any delay in return to normalcy will further constrain collections and asset quality metrics of companies.

KMBL has provided moratorium to its borrowers in line with the relief measures provided by Reserve Bank of India (RBI); around 9.7% of the portfolio in currently under moratorium.. Any change in behaviour of borrowers on the payment discipline can affect asset quality levels post the moratorium. Also, while the one-time restructuring scheme announced by RBI will aid in providing necessary support to affected borrowers in the current environment, its details and operational implementation will have to be seen.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at the ratings, CRISIL has combined the financial and business risk profiles of KMBL and its subsidiaries and associates. This is because all the entities, collectively referred as the Kotak group, have extensive business and operational linkages, and same senior management and brand.

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
* Strong capitalisation: The Kotak group has maintained its strong capital position. Absolute networth (capital and reserves) increased to Rs 76,443 crore as on June 30, 2020 (Rs 67,134 crore as on March 31, 2020), from Rs 60,231 crore as on June 30, 2019. Tier-I capital adequacy ratio (CAR) and overall CAR were healthy, at 22.5% and 23.0%, respectively, as on June 30, 2020 (including unaudited profits for the quarter; 19.2% and 19.8%, respectively, as on March 31, 2020). Capitalisation is supported by the demonstrated ability to raise capital; the bank recently raised Rs 7,442.5 crores during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 through Qualified Institutional Placement.  Networth (capital and reserves) coverage for net non-performing assets (NPAs) was also comfortable at 37.0 times as on June 30, 2020 (38.5 times as on March 31, 2020). Capitalisation of the other fund-based Kotak group entities is also comfortable with the gearing of Kotak Mahindra Prime Ltd and Kotak Mahindra Investments Ltd at 2.9 times and 3.2 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2020 (as per Indian Accounting Standards).
 
CRISIL believes the Kotak group's capitalisation should continue to be backed by steady internal cash accrual, and will remain strong to support growth initiatives over the medium term.
 
* Healthy asset quality: The Kotak group has demonstrated its ability to maintain asset quality through cycles. The group's gross NPAs were 2.7% as on June 30, 2020 (2.0% as on June 30, 2019), up from 2.2% as on March 31, 2020. The increase in NPAs during the quarter was primarily owing to accelerated recognition of stressed accounts as NPAs. Nevertheless, the portfolio under SMA 2 continues to be low at 0.05% of advances as on June 30, 2020. Further, while around 40% of the portfolio is towards corporate and business banking, and hence chunky in nature, these are largely towards higher rated corporates thus reducing the risk in that portfolio. CRISIL believes the Kotak group's stringent underwriting standards, strong risk management systems and processes, and rigorous collection measures will keep asset quality healthy over the medium term. However delinquencies could inch up due to the challenging current macro environment. 
 
* Comfortable earnings: The Kotak group has comfortable earnings, with return on assets (RoA) at 2.1% for fiscal 2020. Profitability, however, declined during the quarter ended June 30, 2020 with RoA at 1.6% (on annualised basis) owning to lower fee income (non-interest income as a percentage of average total assets at 3.5% for quarter, compared to 4.0% for fiscal 2020) and higher credit costs.
 
Nevertheless, the earnings profile remain supported by healthy net interest margins1 of 4.2% for fiscal 2020 (4.3% for the quarter ended June 30, 2020). Further, with continued focus towards low cost current and savings accounts (56.7% share in total deposits as on June 30, 2020) and deposit rate cuts, the cost of deposits have improved over years to 4.9% in fiscal 2020. Moreover, the group's business is diversified across financial services, ensuring a healthy mix of fund- and fee-based revenue streams. CRISIL believes KMBL should continue to maintain comfortable profitability, given the high interest spreads and healthy fee income.
Liquidity Superior

Liquidity continues to be superior, supported by a sizeable retail deposit base that forms a significant part of the total deposits. Liquidity coverage ratio was 165.4% as on June 30, 2020, against the regulatory requirement of 80%. The bank's liquidity also benefits from access to systemic sources of funds such as the liquidity adjustment facility from the RBI, access to the call money market, and refinance limits from sources such as National Housing Bank and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes the Kotak group should continue to report steady growth in its lending business, while maintaining healthy asset quality and strong capitalisation, over the medium term. Earnings will continue to benefit from diversified business risk profile.

Rating Sensitivity Factors
Downward Factors
* Higher-than-expected deterioration in asset quality, thereby impacting earnings profile
* Decline in CAR (including CCB) with overall CAR remaining below 15% on sustained basis.

About the Group

KMBL is the flagship company of the Kotak group and has diversified operations covering commercial vehicle financing, consumer loans, corporate finance, and asset reconstruction. Through its subsidiaries, the bank is engaged in investment banking, equity broking, securities-based lending, and car finance. KMBL was reconstituted as a commercial bank from a non-banking financial company (NBFC) in fiscal 2003 to provide a more comprehensive range of financial services. Effective April 1, 2015, ING Vysya Bank was merged with KMBL and the integration process has been completed.
 
Other than KMBL, the key operating companies of the Kotak group are Kotak Mahindra Prime Ltd (car financing), Kotak Mahindra Capital Company (investment banking), Kotak Securities Ltd (retail and institutional equities broking, and portfolio management services), Kotak Mahindra Investments Ltd (commercial real estate lending and securities-based lending) and Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd (alternate assets space). The group also operates in the life and general insurance business through Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd and Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Ltd. It is also present in the asset management business through Kotak Mahindra AMC and Trustee Company Ltd, and recently launched Kotak Infrastructure Debt Fund. The acquisition of BSS Microfinance Ltd (formerly known as BSS Microfinance Pvt Ltd), a NBFC-MFI, was completed during fiscal 2018.
 
The Kotak group's profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 8,593 crore on total income of Rs 50,300 crore (excluding sub-brokerage) for fiscal 2020, against Rs 7,204 crore and Rs 45,903 crore (excluding sub-brokerage), respectively, for fiscal 2019. For the quarter ended June 30, 2020, the group reported a PAT of Rs 1,853 crore on total income of Rs 12,323 crore (excluding sub-brokerage), against Rs 1,932 crore and Rs 12,130 crore (excluding sub-brokerage) for the corresponding period in the previous fiscal.
 
KMBL reported a PAT of Rs 5,947 crore on total income of Rs 32,302 crore for fiscal 2020, against Rs 4,865 crore and Rs 28,547 crore, respectively, for fiscal 2019. For the quarter ended June 30, 2020, the bank reported a PAT of Rs 1,245 crore on total income of Rs 7,685 crore, against Rs 1,360 crore and Rs 7,945 crore for the corresponding period last fiscal.

1Net interest margins is calculated as: Net Interest income for the period/ Average of total assets at the start and end of the period.

Key Financial Indicators
    Standalone Consolidated
As on/for the quarter ended June 30   2020 2019 2020 2019
Total assets Rs crore 3,78,279 3,15,109 4,58,618 3,98,665
Total income Rs crore 7,685 7,945 12,323 12,130
Profit after tax Rs crore 1,245 1,360 1,853 1,932
Gross NPA % 2.7 2.2 2.7 2.0
Overall capital adequacy ratio % 21.7 17.8 23.0 18.4
Return on assets (annualized*) % 1.3 1.7 1.6 2.0
*For average assets, assets as on June 30 and March 31, have been considered

Any other information
Key features of KMBL's Rs 500 crore Perpetual Non-Cumulative Preference Shares (under Basel III)

  • The preference shares are non-convertible, perpetual, unsecured, and Basel III-compliant for inclusion in Tier I capital.
  • Coupon payments shall be annual and non-cumulative.
  • The bank has full discretion at all times to cancel coupon payments.
  • The dividend will be paid out of distributable items. In this context, dividend will be paid out of respective current year's profits.
  • Dividend stopper clause as defined in the guidelines is applicable.
  • Loss-absorption features as per RBI's BASEL-III norms are applicable.
    • Instrument will be temporarily written-down upon CET I breaching the pre-specified trigger of 5.5% before March 31, 2019, and 6.125% on or after March 31, 2019.
    • The instrument may be permanently written off at the option of RBI on occurrence of point of non-viability (PONV) trigger.
    • The PONV trigger shall be determined by RBI.
Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the Annexure -- Details of Instrument in this Rating Rationale. For more details on the CRISIL complexity levels, please visit www.crisil.com/complexity-levels.
Note on Tier-I instruments (under Basel III)
The distinguishing features of non-equity Tier-I capital instruments (under Basel III) are the existence of coupon discretion at all times, high capital thresholds for likely coupon non-payment, and principal write-down (on breach of a pre-specified trigger). These features increase the risk attributes of non-equity Tier-I instruments over those of Tier-II instruments under Basel III, and capital instruments under Basel II. To factor in these risks, CRISIL notches down the rating on these instruments from the bank's corporate credit rating. The rating on the bank's tier-I Bonds (under Basel III) is lower by one notch from the bank's corporate credit rating, in line with CRISIL's criteria (refer to 'CRISIL's rating criteria for Basel III-compliant instruments of banks').

The factors that could trigger a default event for non-equity Tier-I capital instruments (under Basel III), resulting in non-payment of coupon, include: i) the bank exercising coupon discretion, ii) inadequacy of eligible reserves to honour coupon payment if the bank reports low profit or a loss, or iii) the bank breaching the minimum regulatory common equity Tier (CET) I, including counter cyclical buffer, ratio. Moreover, given their additional risk attributes, the rating transition for non-equity Tier-I capital instruments (under Basel III) can potentially be higher than that for Tier-II instruments.
 
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of
Allotment
Coupon
Rate (%)
Maturity
Date
Issue Size
(Rs.Cr)
Complexity Outstanding rating
with Outlook
INE166A08032 Lower Tier II bonds
(under Basel II) *
14-Dec-12 9.9% 14-Dec-22 306.0 Complex CRISIL AAA/Stable
INE237A08890 Lower Tier II bonds
(under Basel II)
7-Apr-11 9.31% 7-Apr-21 150.0 Complex CRISIL AAA/Stable
INE237A08908 Infrastructure Bonds 12-Aug-14 9.36% 12-Aug-21 262.0 Simple CRISIL AAA/Stable
INE237A08924 Infrastructure Bonds 14-Jan-15 8.72% 14-Jan-22 500.0 Simple CRISIL AAA/Stable
INE237A08932 Infrastructure Bonds 30-Mar-15 8.45% 30-Mar-22 200.0 Simple CRISIL AAA/Stable
INE237A08940 Infrastructure Bonds 28-Mar-19 8.25% 28-Apr-26 150.0 Simple CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA Infrastructure Bonds** NA NA NA 688.0 Simple CRISIL AAA/Stable
INE237A04014 Perpetual Non-Cumulative
Preference Shares
2-Aug-19 8.10% Perpetual 500 Highly complex CRISIL AA+/Stable
NA Fixed Deposits NA NA NA NA Simple FAAA/Stable
NA Certificate of Deposits NA NA NA 17000 Simple CRISIL A1+
*Originally issued by erstwhile ING Vysya Bank
**Yet to be issued
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entity consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Kotak Mahindra Prime Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Securities Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Company Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Investments Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Trustee Company Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra (International) Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra (UK) Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra, Inc. Full Subsidiary
Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Trusteeship Services Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Infrastructure Debt Fund Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Pension Fund Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Financial Services Ltd Full Subsidiary
Kotak Mahindra Asset Management (Singapore) PTE. Ltd Full Subsidiary
IVY Product Intermediaries Ltd Full Subsidiary
BSS Microfinance Ltd Full Subsidiary
Infina Finance Pvt Ltd Proportionate Associate
Phoenix ARC Pvt Ltd Proportionate Associate
ECA Trading Services Ltd (formerly known as ACE Derivatives & Commodity Exchange Ltd) Proportionate Associate
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
Certificate of Deposits  ST  17000.00  CRISIL A1+      27-08-19  CRISIL A1+  01-08-18  CRISIL A1+  27-11-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
Fixed Deposits  FD  0.00  FAAA/Stable      27-08-19  FAAA/Stable  01-08-18  FAAA/Stable  27-11-17  FAAA/Stable  FAAA/Stable 
Infrastructure Bonds  LT  1112.00
31-08-20 
CRISIL AAA/Stable      27-08-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  01-08-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  27-11-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
Lower Tier-II Bonds (under Basel II)  LT  456.00
31-08-20 
CRISIL AAA/Stable      27-08-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable  01-08-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  27-11-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
Perpetual Non Cumulative Preference Shares  LT  500.00  CRISIL AA+/Stable      27-08-19  CRISIL AA+/Stable  01-08-18  CRISIL AA+/Stable    --  -- 
Upper Tier-II Bonds (under Basel II)  LT    --    --    --  01-08-18  Withdrawal  27-11-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
Rating Criteria for Banks and Financial Institutions
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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