HDFC Bank's stock experienced a slight uptick, rising nearly 1% to ₹1,754 per share on September 23, following an important announcement from the bank's board. The board granted in-principle approval to launch an initial public offering (IPO) for its non-banking financial subsidiary, HDB Financial Services. The IPO will consist of a fresh equity issue of ₹2,500 crore, in addition to an offer-for-sale (OFS) allowing existing shareholders to divest their stakes.
This IPO comes as a regulatory requirement following the Reserve Bank of India’s October 2022 directive, which categorizes HDB Financial Services under the Upper Layer NBFC category. This move follows the successful listing of Bajaj Housing Finance, which recently surpassed a market capitalization of ₹1.4 lakh crore.
HDB Financial Services is one of India’s leading non-banking financial companies, primarily focused on providing a wide range of financial services to retail and commercial clients. Its product offerings include secured and unsecured lending, asset finance, consumer loans, and loans against property.
For FY23, HDB Financial Services reported a 17% year-on-year growth in its loan portfolio, reaching approximately ₹66,000 crore. This growth was primarily driven by increased demand for personal loans, vehicle loans, and small business financing.
While HDFC Bank prepares to list its financial services arm, the bank itself reported a net profit of ₹16,175 crore in the first quarter of FY25. However, this represented a 2% dip compared to the previous quarter’s ₹16,511.9 crore. The bank’s net interest income also saw a modest increase of 2.6% over the same period.
The approval for the HDB Financial Services IPO sets the stage for another major listing in India's financial services sector, adding to HDFC Bank’s strategic growth plans.