Equitas SFB posts Rs 224 crore Q1 loss on microfinance provisions
suffered a Rs 224 crore net loss in Q1FY26 on account of higher provisions against its microfinance portfolio as the bank management believed that the stress in the bottom of the pyramid segment is yet to be over.
The bank had earned a net profit of Rs 26 crore in the corresponding period last year.
The net interest margin for the quarter was at 6.55% as compared with 7.97% in the year ago period.
The provision and contingencies for the quarter stood at Rs 612 crore, more than double of year-ago period's Rs 305 crore.
"We decided to take a one time hit upfront and created a management buffer in provisions against standard assets rather than allowing the stress to affect the profitability in the next two quarters," Equitas managing director PN Vasudevan told ET.
"There are signs of improvement in repayment and we expect microfinance collection efficiency is expected to be back to almost normal level by the fourth quarter," he said.
Its microfinance business contributed 10% of the gross loan portfolio.
The bank made additional standard asset provision of Rs 185 crore in microfinance and Rs 145 crore additional bad loan provision due to change in provisioning norms.
Its pre-provision operating profit for the quarter under review also stood lower at Rs 315 crore against Rs 340 crore in the year ago period. Net interest income was lower at Rs 786 crore against Rs 802 crore while other income was higher at Rs 286 crore against Rs 192 crore.
The lender's gross non performing assets ratio was at 2.82% at the end of June, up from 2.67% a year back. The net NPA ratio was at 0.95% against 0.81%.
Its gross advances grew at 8% year-on-year to Rs 37,610 crore, even as the microfinance book shrank 45%.
"We are targeting 15-16% growth in the fiscal which would be supported by about 20% expansion in non-microfinance business," Vasudevan said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
8 minutes ago
- Hans India
SBI's Rs 1.2 crore bet on NSDL now worth Rs 7,800 crore in just 3 days
Mumbai: State Bank of India has hit a historic jackpot with its early investment in National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) as what began as a modest Rs 1.20 crore stake has ballooned into Rs 7,801.80 crore in just three trading sessions -- delivering an unbelievable return of over 6,50,000 per cent. The company made its stock market debut on August 8 at Rs 880 per share, a 10 per cent premium to its IPO price of Rs 800. Since then, its shares have surged to Rs 1,300.30 -- marking a 62.5 per cent jump over the issue price in just 72 hours. State Bank of India (SBI) emerged as the biggest gainer. The bank had bought 6 million shares -- a 3 per cent stake -- at just Rs 2 each, spending only Rs 1.20 crore. Today, that stake is valued at Rs 7,801.80 crore, giving SBI an unreal paper profit of Rs 7,800.60 crore and a return of 6,50,050 per cent. IDBI Bank matched SBI's performance with its 29.98 million shares (14.99 per cent stake) bought at Rs 2 each for Rs 5.996 crore. This holding is now worth Rs 3,898.80 crore, bringing a profit of Rs 3,892.80 crore. The Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI) also joined the 650-bagger club. It purchased 10.245 million shares (5.12 per cent stake) for just Rs 2.049 crore. That investment is now valued at Rs 1,332.68 crore, yielding a Rs 1,330.63 crore profit. Even those who paid more have made extraordinary gains. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) bought its remaining 29.999 million shares (15 per cent stake) at Rs 12.28 each, spending Rs 36.84 crore. Those shares are now worth Rs 3,900.90 crore -- a 105-fold increase. HDFC Bank bought 13.8995 million shares (6.95 per cent stake) at Rs 108.29, turning its Rs 150.54 crore investment into Rs 1,657.54 crore, an 11-bagger with Rs 1,507 crore in profit. Union Bank of India's 5.125 million shares (2.56 per cent stake) bought at Rs 5.20 have grown from Rs 2.665 crore to Rs 666.90 crore, a 249-bagger with Rs 664.23 crore in gains.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
8 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Shreeji Shipping, Patel Retail to launch maiden IPOs on August 19
Shipping and logistics solutions provider Shreeji Shipping Global Ltd and supermarket chain Patel Retail Ltd are set to launch their maiden public issues on August 19. According to their Red Herring Prospectus (RHP), the IPOs will close on August 21, and the one-day bidding for anchor investors is scheduled for August 18. The two companies will announce the price band for their public issues on Monday. So far this year, 44 mainboard companies have launched their IPOs. In addition, two IPOs of BlueStone Jewellery and Lifestyle will open on August 11, followed by the issue of agro-based firm Regaal Resources on August 12. Going by the RHP, Shreeji Shipping Global's IPO is an entirely fresh issue of 1.63 crore equity shares with no offer for sale (OFS) component. The company plans to utilise Rs 251.2 crore from the IPO proceeds for the acquisition of dry bulk carriers in the supramax category on the secondary market, and Rs 23 crore for debt repayment. The flagship company of Jamnagar-based Shreeji Group primarily focuses on non-major ports and jetties, particularly along the west coast of India. Patel Retail's IPO is a mix of a fresh issue of 85.18 lakh shares and an OFS of 10.02 lakh shares of promoters, according to the RHP. As per merchant banking sources, the IPO size is expected to be Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore. Proceeds from the fresh issuance to the tune of Rs 59 crore will be used for payment of debt, Rs 115 crore for funding of working capital requirements of the company, and a portion will be used for general corporate purposes. Patel Retail was established in 2008 with the launch of its first store in Ambernath, Maharashtra. Since then, it has expanded its operations throughout the suburban regions of Thane and the Raigad district in Maharashtra. The company provides a diverse range of products including food, non-food items, general merchandise, and apparel to meet the needs of families. It operates in tier-III cities and nearby suburban areas under the brand 'Patel's R Mart'. Shares of the two companies are expected to begin trading on the bourses from August 26.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
8 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Marico aims double-digit growth in Indian business from Q2, says MD
Home-grown FMCG maker Marico expects to deliver double-digit growth in the next one or two quarters in the domestic market, helped by its core franchises and expansion of new businesses, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Saugata Gupta said. The company, which reported a 9 per cent rise in domestic volumes, now aims for a revenue growth of around 25 per cent this year, led by pricing actions, Gupta told PTI. "As far as overall revenue is concerned, we should be able to deliver in the mid-20s to around 25 per cent this year, given the pricing initiation," he said. Marico, which owns brands like Saffola, Parachute, and Livon, has "consistently improved volumes in sequential terms, Gupta added. "This (June) quarter, India Volume growth was up 9 per cent. So, high single-digit volume growth is possibly a base case for us. We will attempt to deliver double-digit growth in one or two quarters, which would be a great thing to do," he noted. While for its international business, it is "confident" of delivering a growth in mid-teens, based on constant currency this fiscal, said Gupta. Overall, the FMCG industry will be able to record better volume growth in the current fiscal year than FY25, led by a sequential improvement in urban demand, along with steady expansion in the rural market, the chief executive said. The urban demand at the mass-end may have been constrained, but at the premium end, it continues to be good, especially with e-commerce and quick commerce growing. The current rural growth is higher and demand is steady, led by a combination of increased MSP (Minimum Support Price), better monsoon, and overall government initiatives. However, urban demand is also improving gradually, helped by factors such as softening of inflation, especially food inflation. "The gradual improvement is also going to be a function of wage increases in the long term. This year, we also expect the tax break (Income Tax benefits) to have a positive impact. We anticipate urban demand to gradually improve in subsequent quarters," he noted. The process of volume-led growth has already been started in the June quarter of FY26, said Gupta. "If you look at this Q1, there is an improvement. And as we go towards Q2 and further ahead in FY25-FY26, the overall volume growth is expected to be better than FY24-FY25," he said. In the June quarter, several listed FMCG companies like HUL and Dabur have said rural markets are outperforming urban markets in terms of growth for over five consecutive quarters. However, urban markets have also improved sequentially. "I think the FMCG sector this year will be able to post better volumes than what it had posted last year," Gupta pointed out. In FY25, Marico has crossed the milestone of becoming a Rs 10,000 crore revenue company, and now, it targets to be a Rs 20,000 crore company by 2030 by growing its revenue two-fold over the next five years.
