Moody's downgrades India Infoline Finance Limited to B1 from Ba3, ratings remain under review for downgrade

Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the corporate family rating and senior secured debt rating of India Infoline Finance Limited to B1 from Ba3. Moody's has also downgraded the senior secured program rating of India Infoline Finance to (P)B1 from (P)Ba3.

At the same time, Moody's has placed the ratings under review for further downgrade.

RATINGS RATIONALE

The rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, falling oil prices, and asset price declines are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many sectors, regions and markets. Moody's expects Indian non-bank finance companies (NBFCs) to be affected by the shock as disruptions to India's economic activity from the coronavirus outbreak will weaken the credit fundamentals of these companies. Moody's regards the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under its environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety.

Today's action follows the review for downgrade initiated on 13 April 2020, and reflects the impact on India Infoline Finance of the breadth and severity of the shock and the deterioration in credit quality it has triggered.

Like other NBFCs, Moody's expects India Infoline Finance's funding and liquidity to remain under strain over the next few quarters as the domestic debt markets remain largely closed to many NBFCs. And while the Indian government's (Baa2 negative) planned support measure to subscribe to INR300 billion of NBFC debt will provide some near-term relief, this will not sufficiently address NBFCs' funding issues.

Moody's also expects Indian banks to extend support to the NBFCs via loan moratoriums or by providing new term loans to the companies.

Despite these measures, Moody's expects India Infoline Finance's funding and liquidity to remain strained as inflows from assets will materially decline, while the company will continue to need to service interest and principle on liabilities, such as capital markets liabilities, that cannot be rescheduled without default.

India Infoline Finance's modest liquidity offers limited support if funding conditions do not improve over the next few quarters.

Also, the moratorium on debt repayments can hinder its ability to conduct loan assignments - the outright sale of loans to banks - and securitization, which have been a source of immediate liquidity since mid-2018.

Moody's expects India Infoline Finance's asset quality will weaken as loan delinquencies and defaults increase because customers and businesses face a drop in earnings and cash flows due to the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

While the Reserve Bank of India's forbearance for banks and NBFCs - whereby they can extend 6-month loan repayment moratoriums to customers without affecting the asset classification - will soften some of the nearterm strain on asset quality, but the sharp slowdown in India's economic growth will exacerbate asset quality issues for the company.

Capital remains a credit strength of India Infoline Finance. Moody's expects capital to remain modestly decline as the company looks to conserve liquidity, with no plans to expand its balance sheets materially unless funding conditions normalize.

This rating action considers the consolidated financials of IIFL Finance Limited, the legal entity that has acquired all of India Infoline Finance Limited's assets and liabilities as of 01 April 2020.

India Infoline Finance's ratings remain under a review for downgrade as Moody's expects near-term stress on its funding and liquidity that could further weaken its credit profile.

Shares of IIFL Holdings Limited was last trading in BSE at Rs.63 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 63.95. The total number of shares traded during the day was 24658 in over 471 trades.

The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 64.95 and intraday low of 62.3. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 1551855.

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords