Poonawalla Fincorp

Poonawalla Fincorp is a leading non-nanking finance company (NBFC) that offers a wide range of financial services. The company is primarily engaged in offering credit services to retail customers and business enterprises. The company offers car loans, personal loans, loan against property, business loans, consumer loans and home loans.

In 1978, the Poonawalla Fincorp was incorporated under the name Magma Fincorp Ltd. The company was initially working as a private limited company for two years, and in 1980, it became a public limited company. The name was then changed to Magma Leasing Ltd. The company has emerged as a multi-divisional enterprise with a strong presence in the financing segment.

In 1992, it merged with Arm Group Enterprises to consolidate its operations. The company also had a division catering to leasing, hire-purchase and bill discounting. Between 1994 and 1996, the Cyrus Poonawalla group company opened offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. In 1996, the company also entered the retail financing business.

During 2001-2002, it amalgamated with another financing company Consortium Limited. In 2005, the company acquired Viper Estates and Investments Pvt Limited and launched personal loans and insurance services. The company also expanded its business into used vehicle financing and construction vehicle financing in 2006.

During 2006-07, Shrachi Infrastructure Finance Limited also amalgamated with Magma Leasing Limited, and the name was changed to Magma Shrachi Finance Limited. Also, a new subsidiary, Magma ITL Finance Limited, was incorporated for international financing services.

In 2008-09, the financial services provided expanded its network to 150 branches across 20 states and one Union Territory. The company entered into various financing businesses and launched several products for consumers. Poonawall Fincorp expanded to unsecured loans for small and medium businesses along with insurance services. In 2008, the name Magma Shrachi Finance Limited was also changed to Magma Fincorp Ltd. In 2021, the name Poonawalla Fincorp Limited was adopted.

Poonawalla Fincorp Limited’s market capitalisation stood at over ₹37,000 crore, as of January 23, 2024. Poonawalla Fincorp share price has surged nearly 1000% in the last three years.

Business Operations

Poonawalla Fincorp operates as India’s premium non-deposit-taking NBFC. The company caters to the financing needs of individuals and MSMEs through unsecured loans. Their array of products includes digital financing options, MSME loans and end-to-end digital services for consumers.

Their consumer financing products include digital personal loans, pre-owned cars, auto leases, digital consumer finance, digital consumption loans and co-branded credit cards. The company is soon going to launch EMI cards.

In the MSME financing segment the company offers credit services to professionals, digital business loans, merchant cash advances, medical equipment loans, loans against property, machinery loans and supply chain finance.

Among the company’s operational verticals, business loans have the highest share of total AUM at 28%, followed by pre-owned car loans at 17%, personal loans and loans against property at 16% each, and supply chain finance at 7%.

Poonawalla Fincorp operates across India through its agent network and 242 branches (as of 2022). The company has received a ‘AAA’ CRISIL and CARE rating for its business operations and consumer services in financing and insurance.

Poonawalla Fincorp has adopted a Direct Digital Programme (DDP) distribution model. It has helped the company to provide quicker loan disbursements to its customers while reducing the customer acquisition cost.

Financial Highlights

The company’s consolidated total income in FY23 stood at ₹2,008.28 crore, up 27.84% year-on-year compared to ₹1,570.87 crore in FY22. Profit after tax (PAT) increased to ₹685 crore in FY23, as against ₹375.42 crore in FY22. The company’s net interest margin (NIM) stood at 10.7% in FY23. Its operating profit increased 35% year-on-year to ₹612 crore in FY23. Earnings per share (EPS) stood at ₹8.95 in FY23 as against ₹5.23 in FY22.