More embarrassment for crippled IL&FS as Ind-Ra downgrades its MF schemes

Crippled IL&FS group on Tuesday faced more embarrassments after India Ratings downgraded its various mutual fund schemes and placed them on a rating watch negative (RWN).  

The agency downgraded three series-1, three series- 2 and two series -3 mutual fund schemes of the group "due to the deterioration in the underlying portfolio quality of the schemes due to its exposure to IL&FS group entities".

The RWN reflects the absence of clarity on the resolution of the above-referred assets in the portfolio due to the poor financial profile of the sponsor group, which is IL&FS, it said.
 

All IL&FS IDF schemes generally have an exposure of around 23.55 per cent in group companies -- IL&FS Solar Power and IL&FS Wind Energy, whose credit profile has weakened. 

IL&FS and its group companies are facing a liquidity crisis and have defaulted on debt repayments.  

The ratings agency said the ratings do not factor in the expectation of the default risk for the scheme itself, as a fund/scheme generally cannot default.
 

"The ratings should be interpreted as an opinion about the strength of the fund's investment policies, the expertise and experience of the sponsors and investment managers, and the scheme's vulnerability to severe losses," it said.

The ratings also do not address the risk of a loss due to changes in the prevailing interest rates, credit spreads and other market conditions, the agency said, adding that the comments on the adequacy of market value to address the extent to which fund expenses and costs may reduce distributions to unitholders.