Organization Context
Aditya Birla Finance Limited ("ABFL") is a lending subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited. ABFL is registered with RBI as a Systematically Important Non-Deposit accepting Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC). ABFL is one of the top private diversified NBFCs in India. As of 31-Dec’20, ABFL has a pan-India presence with 91 branches and a lending book of Rs. 45,560 Crores.
ABFL offers end-to-end lending solutions to a diverse set of customers - Retail, HNI, MSMEs, and Mid & Large Corporates through secured as well as unsecured loan products. The diverse range of lending products includes Retail Small Ticket Secured and Unsecured Loans, Unsecured Personal Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, Health & Education Loans, Digital B2B2C and B2B2B Small Ticket Loans, Small Business Secured Loans, Loans Against Property (LAP), Lease Rental Discounting (LRD), Construction Finance (to Real Estate Developers), SME Loans, Capital Markets Loans (Loan Against Shares), Supply Chain Finance, Mid and Large Corporate Loans, and Infrastructure Finance loans. ABFL also has a Wealth Management division.
ABFL is rated “AAA” by India Ratings, ICRA and CARE (reaffirmed in 2020). ABFL secured the ABG Business Excellence Award in 2017 (Silver), and 2015 (Bronze), and multiple other Awards on forums like CII.
Business Context
The strategy is to grow ABFL aggressively in the retail space, through scale-up of existing lines of business while realizing new business development opportunities. There is also an increased focus on using digital ecosystems as a competitive advantage. The business is characterized by high transaction volumes and smaller ticket sizes. Given nature of customers, the business also entails stringent controls and monitoring to ensure portfolio health and quality at all times. Cost of funding and competitiveness of loan rates are important drivers of profitability in this space.
Key Challenges
To ensure a zonal strategy that is differentiated and innovative, considering regional factors and consumer preferences, and that can withstand competitive pressures, especially given ABFL’s late entry into Unsecured lending
To build the zonal business in line with the adopted strategy of phased organizational growth, i.e., starting with limited team strength/ depth and growing with expanding business operations and performance; To ensure credit quality and effective portfolio selection/pre-screening thereby minimizing potential NPAs
To originate and increase market share in new locations (specially with the expansion pan India) within the zone, against stiff competition, overcoming competitive pressures with sharp focus on efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction; To drive dual focus on growing volume and ensuring sourcing quality, given unsecured nature of the business as well as the customer profile (individuals/ small businesses)