Sundaram Finance logs highest ever H1 disbursements of Rs. 10,034 crores, 77% over H1FY22

Net profit for H1FY23 up by32% at Rs.529crores

The Board of Directors of Sundaram Finance Ltd. (SFL) approved the unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the half year ended September 30, 2022, at its meeting held on November7, 2022, in Chennai.

“Economic activity remained robust through Q2. We delivered strong growth, continuing the momentum from Q1, to gain and extend our market share across most asset classes. Our asset quality continued to improve and remained best-in-class while profitability improved creating sufficient ammunition for continuing our growth trajectory. Overall, it has been a satisfying quarter of Growth with Quality and Profitability,” said Harsha Viji, Executive Vice Chairman.

Disbursements for H1FY23 recorded a growth of 77%over H1FY22 with all asset classes and geographies witnessing significant growth in the second quarter. With improvement in economic activity and viability of our customers, Gross stage 3 assets improved substantially over the corresponding period of last yeardriven by our focused collections efforts & deep customer relationships. Gross stage 3 assets as on September 30, 2022, stood at 2.54%with provision cover of 47% as against 3.45% as on September 30, 2021,with provision cover of 39%. Profit after tax at Rs. 529 crores registered an increase of 32% in H1FY23as against Rs. 402 crores in H1FY22. Return on assets at 2.9% improved over H1FY22 (2.3%) and capital adequacy at 24.3% remains quite comfortable to support planned growth.

“It has been a record-setting quarter and half year for team Sundaram with highest ever H1 disbursements. Coupled with continuing improvement in asset quality to remain best-in-class and strong profit growth, it has been an all-round strong quarter. The external environment is likely to witness some softening in the second half as the RBI’s withdrawal of pandemic accommodation gains traction and global geopolitical and monetary policy shifts continue to unfold.We remain steadfast in our focus of delivering the Sundaram experience to all our customers and ensuring we remain industry-best in asset quality. We remain sharply focused on ensuring our rightful market share in the segments & geographies we operate,” said Rajiv Lochan, Managing Director.

STANDALONE PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS FOR H1FY23

· Disbursements for H1FY23 recorded a growth of 77% to Rs. 10,034 crores as compared to Rs. 5,681 crores registered in H1FY22. Disbursements for Q2FY23 recorded a growth of 42% to Rs. 5,139 crores as compared to Rs.3,621 crores in Q2FY22.

· The assets under management stood at Rs. 31,980 crores as on 30thSeptember 2022 as against Rs.29,811 crores as on 30thSeptember 2021, up 7.3%.

· The total restructured assets under Covid relief measures enabled by the Reserve Bank of India were at Rs.927 crores, about 2.9% of loan outstanding, as on 30thSeptember 2022.

· Gross stage 3 as on 30thSeptember 2022 stood at 2.54% with 47% provision cover as against 3.45% with provision cover of 39% as on 30thSeptember 2021. Net stage 3 as on 30thSeptember 2022 closed at 1.37% as against 2.12% as on 30thSeptember 2021.

· RBI vide its circulars dated 12th November 2021 & 15th February 2022 has tightened the norms for asset classification for NBFCs. During the quarter, the Company has adopted the new norms effective 1st April 2022, ahead of the regulatory deadline of 1st October 2022. The company has prepared the financial results in accordance with the applicable Ind AS guidelines / IRACP norms and, as a matter of prudence, suitably amended its ECL model to reflect the new norms. This has resulted in additional provision of Rs. 17.37 crores.

With the improvement in the asset quality, the impairment cost for H1FY23 was Rs.80.17 crores as against Rs.250.47 crores in H1FY22.

· The Gross and Net NPA are 4.29% and 2.97% respectively (as per old norms, the Gross and Net NPA are 2.67% and 1.48% respectively) as against 3.85% and 2.48% as of 30th September 2021.

· Cost to income ratio closed at 31.67% in H1FY23 as against 29.13% in H1FY22.

· Profit after tax registered an32% rise in H1FY23, with net profit at Rs. 529 crores. The company had registered a net profit of Rs. 402 crores in H1FY22. Profit after tax registered 44% increase in Q2FY23, with net profit at Rs. 303 crores as compared to Rs. 211 crores in Q2FY22.

· Return on assets (ROA) for H1FY23 closed at 2.9% as against 2.3% for H1FY22. Return of equity (ROE) was at 14.9% for H1FY23 as against 12.7% for H1FY22. If we exclude investments in subsidiaries and group companies, core ROE was at 16.4% for H1FY23 as against 15.4% for H1FY22.

· Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 24.3% (Tier I – 18.2 %) as of 30thSeptember 2022 compared to 23.4% (Tier I – 16.3%) as of 30thSeptember 2021.

CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS FOR H1FY23

The consolidated results of SFL include the results of its standalone subsidiaries Sundaram Home Finance, Sundaram Asset Management and joint venture company Royal Sundaram General Insurance.

· The assets under management (AUM) in our lending and general insurance businesses stood at Rs. 49,601 crores as on 30thSeptember 2022 as against Rs. 46,190crores as on 30thSeptember 2021. The assets under management of our asset management business stood at Rs. 52,561 crores as on 30thSeptember 2022 as against Rs. 43,057 crores as on 30thSeptember 2021.

· Profits after tax for H1FY23 was Rs.552 crores as compared to Rs.545 crores in H1FY22.

GROUP COMPANY PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Our group companies continued to perform well.

· The asset management business closed the half year ending 30thSeptember 2022 with assets under management of Rs.52,561 crores (over 85% in equity) and consolidated profits from the asset management businesses was at Rs.34 crores as against Rs.48 crores inH1FY22.The profits for the half year were lower due to amortization of Asset Management rights consequent to the acquisition of Principal Mutual Fund.

· Royal Sundaram General Insurance, our joint venture with Ageas of Belgium, delivered Gross Written Premium of Rs.1,645 crores in H1FY23, a 16% increase over Rs. 1,420 crores in H1FY22. The profit for H1FY23 was at Rs. 1 crore as against Rs. 152 crores in H1FY22. While the underlying operations of the insurance business remain profitable, the profits during the half year were affected due to net loss of Rs. 62 crores on fair value of equity investments as against net gain of Rs. 91 crores accounted in the half yearendedSeptember 2021.

· Sundaram Home Finance continued to grow strongly withdisbursements up by 95% to Rs.1,736 crores in H1FY23. The profit for H1FY23 was Rs.98 crores, up by 22% as against Rs.80crores in H1FY22. The momentum on disbursements continued from Q4 of last year into H1 this year driven by an increasing demand for home loans in tier 2 and 3 towns in the southern markets, a priority focus for the company.

News Mania Desk