30-Jun-2016
MUMBAI: Muthoot FinCorp is in advanced talks with foreign private equity funds to raise between Rs 400 and Rs 500 crore for its microfinance business as it looks to expand its diversified lending portfolio with more consumer-centric products and insulate itself from the impact of volatile gold prices.
Yes, we are looking to raise funds and are in serious talks with some large foreign PE funds. I cannot divulge any names at this moment. This is part of our strategy to de-risk the assets by diversifying into non-gold credit businesses,” Muthoot FinCorp chairman and managing director Thomas John Muthoot told ET.
Muthoot FinCorp is the flagship of the diversified conglomerate Muthoot Pappachan Group.
The fund raising in the micro finance business is expected to conclude in a couple of months and the funds will be used for business expansion. The transaction will help the company more than double its asset book from the current Rs 2100 crore to Rs 5000 crore in two to three years.
“We are diversifying ourselves as a full-fledged financial services firm, and will be completing the portfolio diversification in its full measure and then plan an IPO,” he said.
The financial services verticals (gold loan, low value housing loans, two-wheeler loans, microfinance, MSME) of the Muthoot Pappachan Group, put together, aims to grow its loan disbursement by 35-40% this financial year. Last year, it had disbursed Rs 18,000 crore.
The share of gold loans is expected to fall to 76% from 83% earlier last year. Other loan business will include two-wheeler financing and SME gold loans.
