Indian corporate credit quality remains strong in H1 of FY23: CRISIL

• The credit ratio is in line with the positive credit quality outlook CRISIL Ratings had articulated earlier.
• Credit ratings on nearly 80 per cent of the CRISIL Ratings portfolio was reaffirmed.
• The performance of upgraded companies improved significantly over the past three fiscals, despite the pandemic.

Debt light balance sheets, domestic demand and better cash flows has resulted in higher credit ratio during the first half of FY23, said CRISIL Ratings.

According to CRISIL Ratings the corporate credit ratio (upgrades vs downgrades) continues to be high -- at 5.52 times in the first half of this fiscal (H1-FY23) - underscoring ongoing broad-based improvement in India Inc's credit quality. The credit ratio was 5.04 times in the second half of the last fiscal (H2-FY22).

Three reasons stand out: 1) strengthening domestic demand, with the economy expected to grow 7.3 % this fiscal; 2) higher realisations leading to better cash flows; and 3) continuation of debt-light balance sheets as capex remains low, CRISIL Ratings said.

The credit ratio is in line with the positive credit quality outlook CRISIL Ratings had articulated earlier - that upgrades will far outnumber downgrades through this fiscal.

Credit ratings on nearly 80 % of the CRISIL Ratings portfolio was reaffirmed, or there was no change during H1-FY23.

For the rest of the portfolio, what has changed is the upgrade rate, which increased to 16.70 %, while the downgrade rate was flattish at 3.02 %. In all, there were 569 upgrades and 103 downgrades.

According to the credit rating agency, the performance of upgraded companies improved significantly over the past three fiscals despite severe pandemic-related disruptions.

"Around 35 % of all upgrades were from the infrastructure sector (including large realty players). Infrastructure sector is in a unique position of largely being a domestic story and generally decoupled from the global headwinds. Here, upgrades were driven by improved operating cash flows, completion of crucial project milestones and equity infusion. Over the last few years increasing share of central counterparties in infra projects has led to more predictable payment cycles providing additional comfort to credit quality," said Gurpreet Chhatwal, Managing Director.

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