Fitch assigns Senfin Asset Management first-time ‘BBB-(lka)’ Rating; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings has assigned Sri Lanka-based Senfin Asset Management (Private) Limited a first-time National Long-Term Rating of ‘BBB-(lka)’ with a Stable Outlook. 

Senfin is a 100 percent-owned subsidiary of a mid-sized finance and leasing company, Senkadagala Finance PLC (SFCL, BBB(lka)/Stable).

The company manages unit trusts and provides discretionary portfolio services for institutional and high-net-worth investors. It was the ninth-largest unit trust manager in Sri Lanka by assets under management (AUM) at end-June 2024, with 1.8 percent of the sector’s total AUM. 

Senfin’s National Long-Term Rating reflects expectation of extraordinary support from SFCL, if required. This is premised on the subsidiary’s complementary role in SFCL’s diversified financial product strategy, its operational and financial integration with the group, and SFCL’s ability to provide extraordinary support. 

The rating also takes into consideration Senfin’s relatively modest financial contribution to its parent.

Senfin forms part of SFCL’s multi-product financial services platform, which includes lending, deposit-taking, and insurance and equity brokerage. Senfin’s unit trust offerings provide alternative investment opportunities for SFCL’s customers and complement the parent’s other products. This suggests stronger strategic alignment between Senfin and its parent group’s core business and customer base relative to most other local peers. This is notwithstanding the limited cross-sales of Senfin and SFCL at present, as the sales strategy is relatively new.