Debt Rating

Mar 21, 2011 (LBO) - Fitch Ratings Lanka has assigned Senkadagala Finance Company's (SFC) proposed senior unsecured redeemable listed debentures of up to a billion rupees a 'BBB+(lka)' rating. The company was established in 1968 by the Balasuriya family, who owns 90 percent of SFC's equity. The agency has simultaneously confirmed SFC's National Long-Term rating at 'BBB+(lka)' with a stable outlook.

"SFC's ratings reflect its long operating history and sustained strong capital structure, as well as its relatively sound credit control systems and processes," Fitch said in a statement.

"The ratings are however constrained by SFC's evolving economies of scale and relatively low market share in core operations in relation to some of its larger peers."

The proposed debt issue has a five-year tenure, and Fitch said expects it to be raised at a fixed coupon rate, enabling SFC to minimise interest rate risk on its loan book.

The debenture will be used to finance lending operations as well as to settle existing debt, and is expected to be listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange.

SFC is a mid-sized registered finance company (RFC) with an asset base of 6.2 billion rupees at December