TRIS Rating affirms the company rating on Muangthai Capital PLC (MTC) and the rating on its outstanding senior unsecured debentures at ?BBB+? with a ?stable? outlook. At the same time, TRIS Rating assigns the rating of ?BBB+? to MTC?s proposed issue of up to THB4 billion in senior unsecured debentures due within five years. The proceeds from the new debentures will be used for debt refinancing and loan portfolio expansion.
The ratings reflect the company?s leading market position in the auto title loan business and strong capital underpinnings. The ratings also take into account the company?s healthy earnings and relatively stable asset quality, as well as its diversified funding profile and adequate liquidity. The ratings are, however, constrained by the weak economic environment and intensifying competition in the auto title loan segment.
We expect MTC to maintain its solid market position in the auto title loan business over the next few years. We believe the company will continue to leverage its expertise in this niche market and keep expanding its branch network as well as client base. At the end of March 2021, the company?s outstanding loans stood at THB73.5 billion, an increase of 17% year-on-year (y-o-y). We project its new loan growth of 10%-20% per annum in 2021-2023, driven mainly by auto title loans. Demand for auto title loans remains robust due to the liquidity squeeze induced by the adverse economic environment. We also expect the new business, new motorcycle hire purchase (HP) loans, to support MTC?s loan growth and yield in the long term amid the intense competition.
We anticipate a slight decline in MTC?s asset quality due to the weak economy. Nonetheless, we believe it should be manageable and have immaterial impact on the company?s risk position. The company?s prudent credit policies and efficient debt collection processes should help contain potential credit losses. Therefore, we believe that the company should be able to achieve its targeted non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of below 2%. At the end of March 2021, the company?s NPL ratio was 1%, the same level as in 2020. The annualized credit cost was 0.8% in the first quarter of 2021. We anticipate the expected credit loss (ECL) provision expenses to be in the range of 1.1%-1.2% of average loans in 2021-2023 and the NPL coverage ratio should remain in the range of 160%-170% over the next few years. At the end of March 2021, the company?s NPL coverage ratio stood at 184%.
We expect MTC to maintain earnings quality over the next few years. For the first quarter of 2021, the company?s annualized earnings before taxes to average risk-weighted assets (EBT/ARWA) ratio was stable at 8.5%, with a net profit of THB1.37 billion, rising 11% y-o-y. The increase in net income was driven by higher net interest income and well controlled operating expenses.
The company should largely be able to sustain its profitability over the next few years by effectively managing its funding costs and operating expenses. This is despite intense competition in the auto title loan segment that has led to eroding yields. We believe the expansion into new motorcycle loans will support profitability. We estimate MTC?s interest yield will decline to 19% over the next few years, from the current level of 19.9%.
The company?s adequate funding and liquidity profile is supported by its access to both debt and equity capital markets as well as credit facilities from financial institutions, thereby providing a variety of available funding sources. At the end of March 2021, the company had available credit facilities from various financial institutions totaling THB28.9 billion.
We anticipate the company?s capitalization to remain strong with the risk-adjusted capital (RAC) ratio in 2021-2023 ranging between 23.6%-24.8%. Strong profitability and low dividend payout should support continuous capital accumulation. The company should be able to comply with the covenants of its debt obligations which limit its debt to equity ratio (D/E) below 4.5 times. At the end of March 2021, the company?s RAC ratio and D/E ratio were 24.2% and 2.6 times, respectively.
RATING OUTLOOK
The ?stable? outlook is based on our expectation that MTC will maintain its market position in the auto title loan segment. The outlook is premised on our expectations that its profitability will stay strong, while asset quality and leverage will remain at acceptable levels.
RATING SENSITIVITIES
An upward revision on the ratings and/or outlook could occur if MTC?s financial performance remains strong with an EBT/ARWA above 8% and an RAC ratio well above 25% for a sustained period. However, the ratings and/or outlook could be revised downward should there be a significant deterioration in loan asset quality or a drop in interest spread materially below our expectation.
RELATED CRITERIA
- Issue Rating Criteria, 15 June 2021
- Nonbank Financial Institution Methodology, 17 February 2020
Muangthai Capital PLC (MTC)
Company Rating: BBB+
Issue Ratings:
MTC217A: THB1,200 million senior unsecured debentures due 2021 BBB+
MTC21NC: THB2,680.80 million senior unsecured debentures due 2021 BBB+
MTC222A: THB1,650.30 million senior unsecured debentures due 2022 BBB+
MTC227B: THB2,043.30 million senior unsecured debentures due 2022 BBB+
MTC22NB: THB2,349.70 million senior unsecured debentures due 2022 BBB+
MTC22NC: THB2,163.40 million senior unsecured debentures due 2022 BBB+
MTC232C: THB1,514 million senior unsecured debentures due 2023 BBB+
MTC237A: THB1,756.70 million senior unsecured debentures due 2023 BBB+
MTC23NB: THB1,319.20 million senior unsecured debentures due 2023 BBB+
MTC23NC: THB2,836.60 million senior unsecured debentures due 2023 BBB+
MTC243B: THB2,486 million senior unsecured debentures due 2024 BBB+
Up to THB4 billion senior unsecured debentures due within 5 years BBB+
Rating Outlook: Stable