RISK CLASSIFICATION BASED ON DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS FOR SMES’

Credit rating agencies specializes in analyzing and evaluating the creditworthiness of large corporate and issuers of debt securities. In the new financial architecture, credit rating agencies are expected to become more important in the management of both corporate and credit risk. Their role is limited to the large scale companies and multi corporations. Credit Rating Agencies focus was never on Small and Medium Enterprises where credit worthiness related information asymmetry is too large. On the other hand banks also handicapped by not having robust comprehensive models. To bridge the gap this research attempt has been made to provide solutions to the small and medium enterprises and banks.

In India, primarily the concept of Small Scale Industry has been in vogue and the medium enterprise definition is of more recent origin. An SSI is defined on the basis of limit of historical value of investment in plant & machinery, which at present is up to Rs.10 million. However, in respect of some specified items, this investment limit has been hiked to Rs.50 million. For the recently announced Small and Medium Enterprises Fund , the Government of India has approved the limit of investment in plant and machinery above Rs.1 crore and up to Rs.10 crore for defining a unit as a Medium Enterprise. Amongst the developing countries, India has been the first to display special consideration to SSIs and basic focus has been to make economical use of capital and absorb the abundant labour supply in the country. India it is often stated that 60 percent of SMEs do not borrow from traditional sources. For those who borrow from traditional sources the question arises of what measures should be used to assess applications for loans. Most of Small and Medium Enterprise operate in very small scale with very limited equity of the owner and more on high cost debt fund from other sources such as external borrowing from Non Banking firms.

NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL:

There is need for simple and easy to understand credit rating model for SMEs.’ At present SME’s are depending on either third party agency rating or at the mercy of the Credit Managers of the bank. To design and develop risk classification model based on Discriminanrt Analysis for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs’) which are major contributors to the growth of Indian Economy. Primary objective is to develop risk classification model based on Discriminant Analysis for Small and medium enterprise (SMEs’). Discriminant Analysis is a proven statistical application. Inference of the model is easy to understand and simple for implementation. Limitations of the Study The purview of the project is limited to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) division. Only twenty parameters are used in developing this model. Parameters selected are indicative in nature and by using them we can clearly establish the intended results.

DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS MODEL:

Based on developed Credit Risk Frame work, Clients are classified in to various categories depending on the aggregate score. For further simplification of the under two risk categories such as good and bad assets the Discriminant Analysis has been applied. This is second stage of the total new model. By using model Credit Manager is able to see clear distinction between performing assets and non performing assets. Statistically application of Discriminant Analysis purpose is to classify objects/records into two or more groups based on the knowledge of some variables related to them.

Discriminant Function

Y = a+ k1X1 +k2X2 +………. + knXn

Where

Y-Dependent variable

a – Constant

X1, X2…Xn- Independent variables

k1, k2- Coefficients of the independent variables In this case, for the development of the model the dependent and independent variables are as follows

• The dependent variable (Y) is the Client Risk Rating (CRR)

• The independent variables (X1, X2……X20) are as follows

X1 = Client history X2 = Industry status X3 = Relationship with suppliers X4 = Relationship with customers X5 = Competition X6 = Liquidity X7 = Leverage X8 = Sales growth X9 = PBDIT/sales X10 = DSCR (Debt service coverage ratio) X11 = Integrity X12 = Family standing X13= Financial standing X14 = Management competence X15 = Management commitment X16 = Succession X17 = Employee quality X18 = Internal controls X19 = Repayment records X20 = Compliance records

The Client Risk Rating was computed on the basis of successive seven years data of the client from 2002-03 to 2008-09. The period has importance in this model because of it cyclical nature. The Economic cycle has influenced business cycle of small and medium enterprises in this mentioned period. The Gross domestic production rate fluctuated from 2002-03 to 2008-09. Initially GDP pegged up from 2002 -03 to 2006 -07 and declined after that due to global economic slow down impact. During mentioned period, small and medium enterprise across the all industry categories followed the same trend. Except Auto and Auto Ancillary sector all other categories taken for studies were impacted by the economic cycle during the period. During the mentioned period it was observed that GDP rate from 2004-05 to 2006-07 was at peak in India over 8 to 9%. Due Economic Slow down even Indian has seen decline in GDP rate below 6% during 2007-08 and 2008-09. The clients who are selected for building this model were with the existing bank through out this period survived at least 24 quarters. Data compiled on continuous basis and obtained on all parameters mentioned in the Risk Assessment Framework. All the observations and out come of the credit score were checked for its accuracy and consistency before formulating into Discriminant Equations. The Discriminant Scores are computed by solving all the 70 equations.

DATA ANALYSIS BASED ON DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS:

The Second phase of this model application was using Discriminant Analysis for further validation reinforcement of model robustness. By using this analysis all 140 clients were classified as Performing Assets and Non Performing Assets. By using range sub classification method, the Performing Assets are further regrouped under High Risk, Medium Risk and Low Risk, which is useful for monitoring progress of the Client.

Among the performing assets approximately 20 percent of SME clients are in high risk category, which is concerned issue to the bank. These four clients are to be closely monitored. Further diagnosis is possible through this model to identify exactly what type of sub classification risk each of this clients are facing. There are 8 clients in the category of medium risk most of them in this position due Economic slow down which was identified through their market risk analysis (Economic Cycles) of the proposed model. Since all clients are from SME sector such type analysis helps them in knowing their risk level.

From analysis it is clear that 50 percent of bank’s SME clients are either in Non Performing assets category or in high risk class. This classification is useful for the bank to formulate it strategies to over come default issues. Bank has to reformulate its lending portfolio composition. Further diagnosis will help in guiding their SME clients.

CONCLUSION:

All 140 samples considered for this study has been first categorized into Performing Assets and Non Performing Assets based on their performance by using discriminant analysis. Further sub classification was done. The model capability was demonstrated through this classification of assets, which is third added feature of this model, not many models which are available in the market have three important features such rating, discrimination between good and bad assets and risk classification.

REFERENCES:

1. Dr. V.Manickavasagam and Srinivas Gumparthi “Credit Rating Model Based on Discriminant Analysis”, at International Conference on Information & Financial Engineering (ICIFE 2009). I EEE & IACS&IT at Singapore, April 17th to 20th 2008. International Journal of Financial Engineering by IACSIT of IEEE April 2009 ISBN: 978-0-7695-3606-4.Website:http://www.computer.org/portal/web/csd l/doi/10.1109/ICIFE.2009.39
2. Dr. V.Manickavasagam and Srinivas Gumparthi Risk Assessment Model for Assessing NBFCs’ (Asset Financing) Customers in International Journal of Trade, Economics, and Finance (IJTEF) accepted for publishing in June,2010 issue
3. Definition Small & Medium Business Development Chamber of India as defined in SME chapter

Submitted by:

Amit Kumar

12011

Finance

Group-5

SIBM-B