Arohan Financial Plans ₹1,500 Cr IPO in FY27 Amid Sector Momentum

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AuthorRiya Kapoor|Published at:
Arohan Financial Plans ₹1,500 Cr IPO in FY27 Amid Sector Momentum
Overview

NBFC-MFI Arohan Financial Services is preparing to launch a ₹1,500 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO) by the middle of next fiscal year. The company has appointed merchant bankers and aims to file its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI within two months. The offering will comprise ₹750 crore in fresh shares and an equal amount through an offer for sale (OFS) by existing investors, excluding promoters. This strategic move aims to bolster Arohan's capital base and governance structures amidst a supportive microfinance sector.

IPO Blueprint

Arohan Financial Services, a significant player in the Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institution (NBFC-MFI) space, has signaled its intent to tap the public markets with a substantial ₹1,500 crore IPO slated for the second quarter of the upcoming fiscal year (FY27). Managing Director Manoj Kumar Nambiar confirmed the appointment of merchant bankers, with the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) expected to be submitted to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) within the next two months.

The fundraising strategy is bifurcated: ₹750 crore will be raised through the issuance of new shares, injecting fresh capital into the company, while an equivalent ₹750 crore will be divested by existing investors such as Tano Capital and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation via an Offer for Sale (OFS). Promoters, however, will retain their stake, indicating continued commitment.

Sectoral Tailwinds

Nambiar pointed to a notable positive momentum within the MFI sector over the last three to four months. This upswing is attributed to factors like a favorable harvest season and adjustments in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, leading to an improved Collection Efficiency Ratio (CER) across the industry. Arohan itself reports an impressive CER of 99.7%. The company is also leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance its collections and recovery processes.

Future Outlook & Growth

The planned IPO is intended to fortify Arohan's capital base and establish a robust framework for management and board governance. The company anticipates supportive government policies, such as a potential credit guarantee scheme, which could encourage banks to extend more credit to the MFI sector. Nambiar also highlighted the necessity for quicker updates of borrower data by credit bureaus to facilitate smoother lending operations.

Despite a recent dip in the industry's total outstanding loan portfolio and borrower numbers, Arohan expects this trend to reverse in the coming quarters. The company has set ambitious growth targets, aiming for an outstanding portfolio of ₹7,000 crore by the close of the current fiscal year and a remarkable ₹20,000 crore by 2030. To achieve this, Arohan plans to diversify its product offerings, venturing into secured loan segments like gold loans and loans against property.

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