SREI India Financial and SWOT Analysis

OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT:

• To develop and understanding of the Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) and their business operations in India.
• To do a detailed research on SREI Equipment Finance Private Limited, its market share and the SWOT analysis.
• To thoroughly review SREI’s credit appraisal and credit management process.
• To understand the risk management process of the company.
• To gain a detailed knowledge of the parameters that affects various risks.

To determine weightages and scores for designing and developing risk assessment model based on market forces for assessing SREI’s Customers.

METHODOLOGY:

1. In order to achieve the said objectives, will be to go through the entire NBFs history, thrust areas; growth opportunities, present scenario. This will be the ongoing process and will be done using internet, news and books.
2. To understand the functioning of SREI pertaining to credit risk management and appraisal process followed for financing large corporates (risk exposures more than Rs.5 crores). Factual data, credit appraisal memorandum prepared by the company and the credit risk policy of the company will be referred in this regard.
3. Then comes the technical part of conducting Balance Sheet Analysis, Ratio Analysis and Cash Flow Analysis.
4. To propose a statistical credit rating model, data have been collected from credit officers and the relationship managers in the institution. Financial ratios were used to measure the strength of the customer. Score model for assessing risk to convert responses to scores. Weighted average method applied to assign appropriate importance to various parameters.

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:

• The study will only be focusing on the LARGE CORPORATES (risk exposure more than Rs.5 crores) not the retail and SME sectors of SREI.
• Study is on the basis of first-hand information collected from employees/head of the division of the company that might be incorrect or biased.
• Duration of the internship imparts the pressure of covering this vast spectrum in a limit period of 14 weeks.
• The accuracy of the Risk Assessing Model depends on the accuracy of information provided by the customer.
• The risk rating model doesn’t take into the consideration where in the company doesn’t follow the rules & norms strictly. The relationships with the customers are given more importance.

INDUSTRY ANALYSIS:

Structure of India’s Financial Services Industry:

The RBI, the central banking and monetary authority of India, is the central regulatory and supervisory authority for the Indian financial system. SEBI and IRDA regulate the capital markets and insurance sector, respectively. A variety offinancial intermediaries in the public and private sectors participate in India’s financial sector, including the following:

• Commercial banks;
• NBFCs;
• Specialised financial institutions like NABARD, EXIM Bank, SIDBI and TFCI;
• Securities brokers;
• Investment banks;
• Insurance companies;
• Mutual funds; and

Venture capital.

NON-BANKING FINANCIALCOMPANIES:

Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are fast emerging as an important segment of Indian financial system. It is an heterogeneous group of institutions (other than commercial and co-operative banks) performing financial intermediation in a variety of ways, like accepting deposits, making loans and advances, leasing, hire purchase, etc. They raise funds from the public, directly or indirectly, and lend them to ultimate spenders. They advance loans to the various wholesale and retail traders, small-scale industries and self-employed persons. Thus, they have broadened and diversified the range of products and services offered by a financial sector. Gradually, they are being recognized as complementary to the banking sector due to their customer-oriented services; simplified procedures; attractive rates of return on deposits; flexibility and timeliness in meeting the credit needs of specified sectors; etc.

The working and operations of NBFCs are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) within the framework of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (Chapter III B) and the directions issued by it under the Act. As per the RBI Act, a ‘non-banking financial company’ is defined as:- (i) a financial institution which is a company; (ii) a non-banking institution which is a company and which has as its principal business the receiving of deposits, under any scheme or arrangement or in any other manner, or lending in any manner; (iii) such other non-banking institution or class of such institutions, as the bank may, with the previous approval of the Central Government and by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

NBFCs VsBANKING SECTOR IN INDIA:

Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) are an integral part of the country’s financial system complementing theservices of commercial banks. The main reason attributed to the growth of NBFCs is the comprehensive regulation of thebanking system. Other factors include higher level of customer orientation, lesser pre/post sanction requirements andhigher rates of interest on deposits being offered by NBFCs.

NBFCs have traditionally been extending credit across various parts of the country through their geographical presence,with NBFCs being a supplier of credit to segments such as equipment leasing, hire purchase, and consumer finance. Theseare areas which warrant infusion of financing due to the existing demand-supply gap. NBFCs have been a more flexiblesource of financing and have been able to disburse funds to a gamut of client, from the local common man to a varietyof corporate client. NBFCs are also able to accelerate the pace of decision making to disburse funds, customise andtailor their products according to the client needs and take on excess risks on their portfolio. NBFCs can be divided intodeposit taking NBFCs, i.e., which accept deposits from public and non-deposit taking NBFCs being those which do notaccept deposits from public.

The activities carried out by NBFCs in India can be grouped as under –

The types of NBFCs registered with the RBI are:-

§ Equipment leasing Company: is any financial institution whose principal business is that of leasing equipment or financing of such an activity.

§ Hire-purchase Company:is any financial intermediary whose principal business relates to hire purchase transactions or financing of such transactions.

§ Loan Company: means any financial institution whose principal business is that of providing finance, whether by making loans or advances or otherwise for any activity other than its own (excluding any equipment leasing or hire-purchase finance activity).

§ Investment Company: is any financial intermediary whose principal business is that of buying and selling of securities.

Now, these NBFCs have been reclassified into three categories:-

§ Asset Finance Company (AFC)

§ Investment Company (IC) and

§ Loan Company (LC).

Under this classification, ‘AFC’ is defined as a financial institution whose principal business is that of financing the physical assets which support various productive/economic activities in the country.

GOVERNMENT ROLE IN PROMOTING INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE:

Infrastructure is expected to be a key area of growth in a developing country like India. The Government has been activelypromoting the country’s infrastructure through a sustained focus on area like power, roads, ports and urbantransportation. Private sector participation through public private partnerships as well as privately funded projects isbeing encouraged in order to enable quick scale up of government’s efforts and better management. As per PlanningCommission’s estimates the investments in infrastructure during the Tenth Plan aggregated to Rs. 4, 52,900 crores whichis expected to increase to Rs. 11, 25,000 crores in the Eleventh Plan. The chart below describes the anticipated andestimated investments under the two plans respectively.

PROJECTED INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE in the 11th FIVE YEAR PLAN:

COMPANY PROFILE:

A started operation in 1989, Srei is a leading infrastructure focused private sector Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) in India. It is currently the only institution in India offering holistic infrastructure solutions financing, advisory services & development.

Milestones Achieved:

1989 – Started operations and identified the infrastructure sector as its core

Business area.

1992 – Initial Public Offering with listing on all major stock exchanges.

1997 – IFC, FMO & DEG invested as strategic equity partners Promoters stake.

2002 – Conceived Quippo, India’s first equipment bank.

2004 – All India presence, currently 63 offices.

2005 – First Indian NBFC to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.

2006 – Geographical expansion into Russia; equity partners EBRD, DEG, &

FMO.

2007 – Joint venture with BNP Paribas Lease Group, 100% subsidiary of BNP

Paribas.

2008 – Holistic Infrastructure Institution, financing, advisory services &

Development.

Services:

Ø Infrastructure Equipment Financing & Leasing

Ø Infrastructure Project: Financing, Advisory services and development

Ø Insurance Broking

Ø Venture Capital

Ø Capital market

Ø Sahaj e-village

Ø Quippo – Equipment Bank

GROUP STRUCTURE:

About Srei Equipment Finance Private Limited:

Srei BNP Paribas (Registered name: Srei Equipment Finance Private Limited) is a 50:50 joint-venture between Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited, India’s leading and only private sector Non-Banking Financial Institution in the infrastructure space and BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions(BPLS), a wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas, France.

Srei BNP Paribas started its operation from January 01, 2008 with the infrastructure and construction equipment financing and insurance businesses and has further plans to expand its business to new verticals.

Industry leader in the infrastructure and construction equipment financing, Srei BNP Paribas is aptly benefitting from the Indian expertise and insight of Srei and global leasing insight in diverse product classes of BNP Paribas.

Srei BNP Paribas has deep insight on diverse equipment used in the infrastructure and construction sector and acts a valuable advisor to its customers. It has tied up with all the leading equipment manufacturers. Over the years, Srei BNP Paribas has been innovating new marketing programs bringing together the manufacturers and customers on a single platform, creating immense value and sharing this value with all the stake holders. “Paison Ki Nilami” and “Srei BNP Paribas Partnership Week” are two such prominent programs.

Srei BNP Paribas has already started financing Technology Solutions (financing of IT equipment, software and services) and has effectively partnered with leading global IT vendors for financing their customers. It has also forayed into financing of new Equipment classes: Agriculture Equipment, Healthcare Equipment, Office Automation, and Equipment in Education sector etc. With its foray into new equipment classes, Srei BNP Paribas has become probably the one and only Company to offer complete Equipment Solutions.

With a customer base of over 20,000, Srei BNP Paribas has grown from strength to strength enjoying a strong national presence with a network of 86 offices across India.

VISION:

To be the most inspiring global holistic infrastructure institution.

MISSION:

To be an Indian multinational company providing innovative integrated infrastructure solutions.

CORE VALUES:

Customer Partnership:

At Srei, customer satisfaction is the benchmark for success. Srei delights its customers through a comprehensive range of financial services that are personalized, fast, reliable, convenient, quality driven, and yet cost – effective.

Integrity:

Business integrity is a way of life at Srei. The company strongly stands by integrity in all its dealings and ensures strict adherence to the highest standards of business ethics.

Passion for Excellence:

Srei’s passion for excellence is instrumental in positioning the company as the most innovative infrastructure solution provider in India.

Respect for People:

Srei acknowledges the fact that its people are its most valuable assets and accordingly provides the best possible work environment and treats them like family members. The company rewards excellence and initiative.

Stakeholder Value enhancement:

Srei is committed to earning the trust and confidence of all its stake holders. Its growth focus, the ability to constantly enlarge its product basket while controlling risk and reducing the cost of its services have resulted in enhanced value for its stakeholders.

Professional Entrepreneurship:

Srei’s in – depth knowledge of infrastructure financing business in India, coupled with its spirit of entrepreneurship, and helps the company to overcome the obstacles and complexities with professional expertise.

MANUFACTURING PARTNERS:

MARKET SHARE OF SREI BNP PARIBAS:

Source: Company.

MAJOR COMPETITOR’S:

1. MAGMA FINCORP LIMITED:

Magma Fincorp Ltd (Magma) is a Kolkata based asset financing company. The company is engaged in financingof commercial vehicles, cars, construction equipment, tractors and utility vehicles.The company’s target customers are mostly first time users and small entrepreneurs.

The Company provides construction equipment finance across retail and strategic customer segments. In the retail segment, it focuses on first-time buyers and small customers. The Company has established contracts with large value vendors addressing multiple projects. It finances a range of construction equipment like excavators, backhoe loaders, compactors, compressors, cranes, tippers and drillers of prominent brands like JCB, Telcon, L&T, Ingersoll-Rand, Caterpillar, ECEL, Escorts and Atlas Copco etc.

Magma provides unsecured EMI-based loans to SMEs for working capital, business expansion and business maintenance. It has developed proprietary financial analysis tools to make safe credit assessments. The share of this segment is increasing in the total disbursements (5% in FY10). Going forward the company intends to maintain the proportion of these loans at 5% and would adopt a cautious approach while lending.

In Commercial Vehicle Finance Segment, Magma provides loans on used commercial vehicles and construction equipment. Magma refinanced popular models of Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland.

Magma Fincorp predominantly was engaged in financing of construction equipment and passenger cars, utility vehicles and commercial vehicles (CVs). These business verticals accounted for 90% of the company’s disbursements in FY10. Recently the company has ventured into high-yield segments, viz; financing of used CVs, tractors and SME loans. Most of the loans disbursed are retail loans and have small ticket size except in the construction equipment segment. MFL has a concentrated focus on the under tapped semi urban and rural market to finance first time users, Small Road Transport operators, small contractors etc.

2. TATA CAPITAL:

The Company was incorporated on March 8, 1991 and actively commenced business operations since September, 2007. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Limited, the apex holding company of the Tatas. Their fund based businesses comprise Corporate Finance, Infrastructure Finance and Retail Finance & fee based businesses comprise investment banking, broking and distribution, wealth management, private equity, treasury advisory, services relating to travel, forex and infrastructure.

With the wide array of products and customized service, the commercial finance business, helps small, medium and large corporates grow their business. The company’s team of handpicked professionals offers in-depth expertise to help customers keep pace with the changing marketplace and offer them appropriate solutions to meet their ever-growing financial needs. The company’s management structure enables them to leverage relationships across lines of our businesses. Their product knowledge and multi-channel delivery model enhances the ability to cross-sell the company’s services. TATA Capital is in the advanced stages of setting up institutional broking, insurance broking and rural finance businesses which would supplement the aforementioned lines of business.

TATA Capital believes that the following are the key strengths:

• Unified financial services platform;
• Diversified and balanced mix of businesses;
• Experienced management team;
• Innovative solutions model;
• Respected brand;
• Controls, processes and risk management systems; and
• Access to capital.

3. L&T FINANCE LIMITED:

L&T Finance Limited (LTF) is a subsidiary of Larsen and Toubro. It was incorporated as a Non-Banking Finance Company in November 1994. Through LTF, L&T aims at making a strong foray in the ever-expanding financial services sector.L&T Finance understands the intricacies of your business. We at L&T Finance offer financing for your Construction Equipment in the form of term loans, working capital loan and operating lease facilities. In 1996, L&T Finance had made a foray in financing of commercial vehicles. L&T Finance offers financing Commercial Vehicles of all makes and sizes. We also undertake funding of the body for the Commercial Vehicles. L&T Finance has an extensive network from where you can easily avail financing for your Commercial Vehicle.

Advantages of partnering with L&T Finance

• Presence in more than 70 locations
• Flexible repayment option
• Competitive interest rates
• Finance for used vehicles available
• Faster loan approval and disbursement

A brief Comparison between SREI EQUIPMENT FINSNCE & its Competitors:

REASON FOR THE JOINT VENTURE WITH BNP PARIBAS LEGAL SOLUTIONS:

Mr.HemantKanoria, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of SREI, termed this joint venture as a very significant step in the Indian Financial Services Market. “We are the largest player in the financing of infrastructure equipment and collaborating with BPLG will help in increasing our market share further and also expanding the product line into financing of agriculture, information technology, medical and other equipment.”

Speaking at the occasion Mr. Bertrand Gousset, member of the Executive Committee of BPLG, in charge of Corporate Development, said, “We are delighted to be associated with the SREI group, who are the leaders in the financing of infrastructure equipment and provide a wide range of equipment finance products to large strategic clients as well as to retail customers, with pan-India coverage. This joint venture is very significant for us and we look forward to a long and prosperous association with them.”

Mr. Sunil Kanoria said, “This joint venture signifies the coming together of two companies with the same shared values. Both SREI and BPLG are convinced that they are well positioned to build on the already strong platform established by SREI and that this will enable in reduction in cost of funds resulting in higher profitability.”

Mr.Amoudru, CEO of BNP Paribas India and Head of Territory, said “The acquisition of a 50% stake in this joint-venture with SREI – a highly recognised firm in equipment and infrastructure financing – further evidences the willingness of the BNP Paribas Group to expand its presence in India in activities where it has a strong expertise. It represents another substantial capital commitment from the Group- the largest so far- in this country and testifies our confidence in the long term prospects of the Indian economy”.

SWOT ANALYSIS:

LITERATURE REVIEW:

FLOW OF THE PROCESS AT SREI:

CREDIT APPRAISAL:

Credit Appraisal is a process to ascertain the risks associated with the extension of the credit facility. It is generally carried by the financial institutions which are involved in providing financial funding to its customers.These financial institutions appraise the technical feasibility, economic viability and bankability including creditworthiness of the prospective borrower. Credit appraisal starts from the time a prospective borrower walks into the branch and culminates in credit delivery and monitoring with the objective of ensuring and maintaining the quality of lending and managing credit risk within acceptable limits.

Credit appraisal involves analysis of liquidity position/ financial soundness of the company. Although, the analysis also covers understanding growth trends in revenues and earnings, and profit margins, more emphasis is required to be placed on liquidity-both long term and short term.

There are basically two types of proposals that are received by the companies for funds. The first types of proposals are financing against new and first hand assets to be purchased (EQUIK) and the other proposals are financing against pre owned assets (REQUIK).

Asset finance is generally divided into three departments depending upon the risk exposure*:

• Retail: Aggregate risk exposure not exceeding Rs.1 crore.
• SME (Small & Medium Enterprises): Aggregate risk exposure between Rs.1 – 5 crores.
• Strategic: Aggregate exposure more than Rs.5 crores.

*NOTE: Risk exposure to a client is determined by the summation of Net Finance Amount for the approval(s) being considered, together with all existing exposures to the client & all related concerns in aggregate and residual Net Finance Amounts under all previous valid approvals for the Client pending part or full disbursement.

SOME IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGIES:

ASSET FINANCE:

Asset Finance category includes secured business loan in which the borrower pledges as collateral an asset used in the conduct of its business. Asset finance also includes business in which a client takes an asset on lease for use in the conduct of his business for a defined period with or without right of onward sub – lease the asset.

ASSET COST:

1. In case of Equik, the invoice values of the Asset including all duties and taxes which are not refundable or adjustable under drawback or otherwise any scheme. Spares, consumables, accessories & auxiliaries, consultancy fees, installation and erection charges, etc. shall not be considered as part of asset cost.
2. In case of Requik, Asset cost will be determined by the lowest of:
• Present Intrinsic Value of Asset as determined through a process by an expert approved by SREI.
• Actual purchase price to be paid by the consumer
• Current Insured Declared Value.

MARGIN:

Margin means the client’s contribution on the Asset Cost payable upfront or any amount deposited with us as Security Deposit in relation to the transaction before the disbursement or release of facility.

AIRR:

Internal Rate of Return (IRR) by definition is the rate of return at which the Net Present Value of the stream of payments (repayment of installments and interest by the customer vis-à-vis the actual disbursement made by the company) become equal to zero.

FIRR:

Financial IRR (FIRR) shall mean the transaction IRR without factoring any benefit available to Srei – BNPP in terms of normal MOU entered into by srei – BNPP with concerned manufacturer. Management fees/ RTE/ Commitment Charges collected upfront, an extra credit period, subvention or other cash incentives extracted from the manufacturer over and above those available workings.

YIELD:

Yield means the rate of return to Srei-BNPP from the transaction, factoring all the benefits available to Srei-BNPP under normal MOU and otherwise from the manufacturers/vendors.

ETR (Excellent Track Record):

ETR means peak delay of not more than 30 days and average delay of not more than 15 days for payment of dues in all existing and past accounts of the proposed customer.

GTR (Good track Record):

GTR means peak delay of not more than 45 days and average delay of not more than 30 days for payment of dues in all existing and past accounts of the proposed customer.

PTR (Poor track Record):

PTR means peak delay more than 45 days and average delay of more than 30 days for payment of dues in all existing and past accounts of the proposed customer.

ANALYSIS OF CREDIT APPRAISAL MEMORANDUM:

Credit risk of each individual transaction is studied and managed from the five different perspectives:

• Customer credit worthiness
• Asset quality
• Asset deployment
• Collateral security
• Facility type

Background of the proponent/ management:

The identification of the borrower is done properly through scrutiny of his antecedents, experience, competence, integrity, initiative etc. This may be done by obtaining status reports from previous bankers. In case of corporate, the management structure, the background of the top management needs to be scrutinized. KYC guidelines as framed by RBI are adopted by the company.

Commercial Appraisal:

The nature of the product, demand for the same, the existing and perceived competition in the segment, ability of the proponents to withstand the same, government policies governing the industry etc. need to be taken into consideration.

Technical Appraisal:

Technical appraisal of the project needs to be carried out for industrial activity proposals beyond the cut – off limits prescribed from time to time. Such appraisal may be carried out in – house by technical officers.

Financial Appraisal:

Apart from ascertaining the need based character of the limits requested for, the financial health of the proponents, ability to absorb unanticipated financial costs need to be looked into which would include scrutiny of the cost of the project, means of financing, financial projections etc. important performance indicators like profitability ratios, debt – equity ratio, operating profit margin etc. need to be within acceptable parameters for that industries/ activities.

INTRODUCTION TO RISK:

The interpretation of the word ‘risk’ will determine the approach to risk management. The word ‘risk’ is interpreted in three distinct senses namely risk as hazard, risk as opportunity and risk as uncertainty.

Risk as hazard is the most commonly used meaning of risk and it means likely financial losses arising from negative events such as control failures, bad publicity and loss of reputation. Risk management in this context would mean eliminating possibilities of losses from such negative events by putting in place adequate control systems.

Risk as an opportunity means, taking risks and earning adequate returns on them. This implies the trade-off between risk and return. Here risk management, becomes risk optimization meaning maximizing the upside potential and minimizing the downside. Here capacity and ability to manage risk is used to increase shareholders’ value and achieve a competitive advantage.

Risk, as uncertainty is basically a statistical concept, which assumes a normal distribution for future outcomes. Here risk management means narrowing the difference between the expected outcomes and actual results. Banks and other similar financial institutions need to manage the risk inherent in the entire portfolio as well as the risk in individual credits or transactions. The effective management of risk is a critical component of a comprehensive approach to risk management and essential to the long-term success of any banking organization.

In simple words, risk is the possibility of losses associated with decrease in the credit quality of borrowers. In a financial institution, loss may stem from default due to inability or unwillingness of a customer to meet his commitments in relation to lending, trading, settlement and other financial transactions. A default reduces the present value of the loan and consequently the value of the bank’s business. Thus, it is imperative that these institutions have a robust risk management.

MODEL BUILDING:

Need for Study:

A Risk Assessment Model (RAM) is necessary to avoid the limitations associated with a simplistic and broad classification of applicants into a “good” or “bad” category

The comapny currently uses a judgemental risk assessing model.

Grading System for Standardization of Risk:

The grades (symbols, numbers, alphabets, and descriptive terms) used in the internal credit-risk grading system represent, without any ambiguity, the default risks associated with an exposure. The grading system will enable comparisons of risks for purposes of analysis and top management decision-making. The grading system is therefore, be flexible and should accommodate the refinement