Rating Rationale
April 21, 2020 | Mumbai
South India Finvest Private Limited
Rating placed on 'Watch Negative'
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.10 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL B+ (Placed on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications')
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has placed its 'CRISIL B+' rating on the bank loan facilities of South India Finvest Private Limited (SIFPL) on 'Rating Watch with Negative Implications'.
 
The near-term challenge for SIFPL stems from its stretched liquidity. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced regulatory measures under the Covid-19 Regulatory Package, wherein lenders can grant moratorium on bank loans. SIFPL has written to its lenders seeking moratorium. However, approval of the moratorium by many lenders is still under process (barring a few instances), because of uncertainty on the eligibility of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
 
SIFPL's liquidity will remain stretched during this period, wherein asset-side collection will be negligible and liability-side outflow will continue as per schedule. If SIFPL is not able to secure moratorium from lenders, its ability to repay debt will largely depend on incremental fund raising, through equity or loans.
 
On account of the nationwide lockdown in light of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, the risk of credit loss and its consequent impact on earnings and capitalisation metrics for SIFPL remain elevated. With the lockdown being extended up to May 3 and the likelihood of restrictions being lifted in a phased manner, there may be prolonged disruption in the income-generating activities of microfinance borrowers. All microfinance institutions (MFIs) have also offered moratorium to their customers under the Covid-19 Regulatory Package announced by RBI. Therefore, how quickly borrowers return to normal repayment discipline once the lockdown is lifted and the moratorium period lapses will be crucial.
 
Overdues are likely to rise once billing recommences because borrowers may not clear them immediately. Collection efficiency will take time to ramp up to pre-pandemic levels. The collection efficiency for June and July, post moratorium, will be a key monitorable as it will be a leading indicator of potential credit loss.
 
SIFPL, similar to many MFIs, is likely to face stress. Hence, sufficiency of capital buffers to withstand asset-side shocks is critical for MFIs.
 
On the capitalisation front, SIFPL's gearing and adjusted gearing (including off book) were at 4.3 times and 6.4 times, respectively, as on March 31, 2020, compared with 3.9 times and 5.4 times, respectively, as on December 31, 2019. As on March 31, 2019, gearing was low at 3.8 times.
 
The rating continues to reflect low seasoning of the loan book, small scale of operations with geographic concentration, and exposure to risks inherent in the microfinance segment. The weaknesses are partially offset by adequate capitalisation for the current level of operations and comfortable earnings.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Weaknesses
* Low seasoning of the loan book

The loan book has rapidly expanded to Rs 127.2 crore as on March 31, 2020, from Rs 60.6 crore as on March 31, 2019, and Rs 12 crore as on March 31, 2018. The company's on book stood at around Rs 86.9 crore, while the business correspondent and securitisation book comprised the rest of the portfolio. Collection efficiency was high until March 23, 2020, wherein it was around 99.9%. As the book has grown rapidly over the past 10 months, seasoning of the loans will be monitored over the medium term.
 
* Small scale of operations with geographic concentration
SIFPL's scale of operations is modest compared with other entities in the microfinance segment. Operations are restricted to Western Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, but number of branches and district diversification have increased. As on March 31, 2020, the company had 24 branches, compared with 7 branches as on September 30, 2018. These include 18 branches in Tamil Nadu and 6 Branches in Karnataka. It has been successful in raising external resources to fund growth, and received incremental sanctions of Rs 50-60 crore in fiscal 2020 from NBFCs and financial institutions. The ability to continuously raise funds should help scale up operations over the medium term.
 
* Exposure to risks inherent in the microfinance sector
The sector is susceptible to regulatory risks. For example, the promulgation of the ordinance on MFIs by the government of Andhra Pradesh in 2009 triggered a chain of events that adversely impacted the MFI business model by impairing growth, asset quality, operating surplus, and solvency. These institutions lend to the poor and downtrodden, and therefore, remain exposed to socially sensitive factors, including high interest rates, tighter regulations, and legislation.
 
Strengths
* Moderate capitalisation
Tangible networth improved to Rs 19.4 crore as on March 31, 2020, from Rs 15 crore as on March 31, 2019, driven by internal accrual and small capital infusion in the current year. Adjusted gearing (including off book) was around 6.4 times as on March 31, 2020, increasing significantly from 3.8 times as on March 31, 2019. The company's capitalisation may be impacted on account of credit loss post lifting of the curbs.
 
* Earnings remained comfortable until end of fiscal 2020, but likely to decline in fiscal 2021 because of credit loss
Earnings are comfortable, as reflected in return on equity and adjusted return on assets at more than 20% and 2.5%, respectively, for the past 2 fiscals. This is largely on account of improving operating leverage and negligible credit cost. Profitability will be impacted on account of higher credit cost over the medium term. Overdues are likely to rise once billing recommences because borrowers may not clear them immediately. Collection efficiency will take time to ramp up to pre-pandemic levels. Collection efficiency for June and July, post moratorium, will be a key monitorable as it will be a leading indicator of potential credit loss.
Liquidity Stretched

Liquidity is stretched on account of limited cover of cash and equivalent to make repayments for the term loan over the next 2 months. It is largely impacted on account of the lockdown, which has led to the inability to collect from clients. The company has requested all its lenders for moratorium and expects the requests to be accepted before the repayment becomes overdue. Overall cash liquidity was at Rs 2.57 crore as on March 31, 2020, while debt obligation for the next 3 months is higher than this amount. Furthermore, the company has operating expenses of around Rs 0.65 crore per month.
 
Rating Sensitivity Factors
Upward Factors
*Improvement in liquidity cover above 1 time to meet debt obligation for the next 2 months
*Ability to bring collections back on track after lockdown is lifted
*Ability to maintain its 90 days past due (dpd) below 0.5% over the medium term
*Improvement in the capital position, with gearing at less than 3 times
 
Downward Factors
*Inability to ramp up liquidity and improve the cover over debt obligation from present level
*Continued pressure on collection post lifting of lockdown, resulting in increase of early bucket delinquencies (30+ dpd)
*Increase in adjusted gearing (including off book portfolio) portfolio above 8 times.

About the Company

SIFPL is a non-deposit-taking NBFC incorporated in January 1998 and licensed by the RBI. The company was taken over in May 2017 by the current promoters, Mr Natarajan R and Mr Senthil Kumar with ownership of 80% and 20%, respectively. It has 24[21 at previous instance] branches in western Tamil Nadu. Microfinance loans of Rs 20,000-30,000 are extended to women borrowers for 12-15 months.

Key Financial Indicators
Particulars Unit 2020 2019 2018
Total managed assets$ Rs.Crore 147.3 72.6 17.3
Total income Rs.Crore 23.6 11.1 1.8
Profit after tax Rs.Crore 3.1 2.6 0.4
Gross NPA % 0.1 0.1 0.0
Adjusted gearing  Times 6.4 3.8 1.9
Return on assets % 2.8 5.8 4.1
$Includes off book loans of Rs 40.3 crore

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 10 CRISIL B+/Watch Negative
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  10.00  CRISIL B+/(Watch) Negative      27-03-19  CRISIL B+/Stable      13-12-17  CRISIL B+/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 10 CRISIL B+/Watch Negative Proposed Long Term Bank Loan Facility 10 CRISIL B+/Stable
Total 10 -- Total 10 --
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating Criteria for Finance Companies

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