Incorporation as Bajaj Auto Finance Limited
Bajaj Finance was incorporated on March 25, 1987 as Bajaj Auto Finance Limited, a non-banking financial company focused on financing two-wheelers and consumer durables.
Corporate history of Bajaj Finance, an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC), tracing its founding in 1987, key leadership decisions, product innovations, market expansions, mergers and acquisitions, financial milestones, and its standing on BSE and NSE.
Bajaj Finance was incorporated on March 25, 1987 as Bajaj Auto Finance Limited, a non-banking financial company focused on financing two-wheelers and consumer durables.
Bajaj Auto Finance started its business operations, providing loans for Bajaj Auto vehicles and related consumer products.
Bajaj Finance made its first loan disbursement, marking the start of its lending operations.
The company began financing consumer durables like electronics and appliances, diversifying beyond vehicle loans.
Bajaj Finance expanded its branch network to 100 locations, increasing its pan-India presence.
The company changed its name from Bajaj Auto Finance Limited to Bajaj Finance Limited to reflect a broader range of financial services.
Bajaj Finance introduced loan against property products, entering the secured lending space.
Bajaj Finance went public with an IPO, listing its shares on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE), raising capital for expansion.
Bajaj Finance shares began trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange post-IPO.
Bajaj Finance received its first credit rating from CRISIL, which was 'AA+', reflecting strong financials.
Bajaj Finance achieved a milestone of ₹1,000 crore in assets under management, signaling rapid growth in its lending portfolio.
Sanjiv Bajaj took over as Chairman of Bajaj Finance, succeeding Rahul Bajaj, and led the company's transformation into a diversified NBFC.
Bajaj Auto demerged its financial services arm into Bajaj Finserv, making Bajaj Finance a subsidiary of Bajaj Finserv, which streamlined corporate structure.
Bajaj Finance was classified as a Systemically Important Non-Deposit Taking NBFC by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), leading to stricter regulatory compliance.
Bajaj Finance expanded into housing finance, offering home loans and contributing to its diversification beyond vehicle and consumer loans.
Bajaj Finance formed partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Bajaj Auto and others to provide point-of-sale financing for two-wheelers.
Bajaj Finance entered the car loan segment, offering financing for new and used cars.
Bajaj Finance achieved the highest credit rating 'AAA' from CRISIL for its long-term debt instruments, reflecting strong financial stability.
Bajaj Finance introduced its own co-branded credit card in partnership with Visa, expanding into the plastic money segment.
Bajaj Finance's assets under management surpassed ₹10,000 crore, driven by growth in its loan portfolio across segments.
Bajaj Finance acquired the consumer finance business of Deutsche Bank in India, gaining access to a larger customer base and enhancing its product suite.
Bajaj Finance issued its first retail non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to raise funds from individual investors.
Bajaj Finance launched fixed deposit products for retail investors, offering attractive interest rates and contributing to its liability franchise.
Bajaj Finance and its affiliates adopted the 'Bajaj Finserv' brand umbrella, unifying the group's financial services under a common identity.
Bajaj Finance's market capitalization on BSE and NSE exceeded ₹1 lakh crore, making it one of the most valuable NBFCs in India.
Bajaj Finance launched a unified mobile app under the Bajaj Finserv brand for managing loans, investments, and insurance.
Bajaj Finance introduced an end-to-end digital lending platform 'Insta Loan', enabling instant approval and disbursal for pre-approved customers.
Bajaj Finance's customer base surpassed 25 million, driven by its wide product range and digital initiatives.
Bajaj Finance launched its online EMI network, allowing customers to convert purchases into easy installments across e-commerce platforms.
Bajaj Finance offered loan restructuring to customers affected by COVID-19 as per RBI guidelines, affecting its asset quality.
Bajaj Finance partnered with Amazon Pay to offer digital lending solutions to Amazon customers, expanding its reach in the e-commerce ecosystem.
Bajaj Finance launched a simplified app for quick loan applications and repayments, targeting first-time users.
Bajaj Finance's AUM surpassed ₹1.5 lakh crore, reflecting strong recovery post-pandemic and consistent loan growth.
The Reserve Bank of India imposed a monetary penalty on Bajaj Finance for regulatory non-compliance in certain loan recovery practices.
Bajaj Finance entered the UPI payments space by launching its own UPI app, enabling peer-to-peer and merchant transactions.
Bajaj Finance launched a limited-period offer waiving processing fees on all loans, boosting customer acquisition.
Rakesh Bhatia took over as Managing Director of Bajaj Finance, succeeding Sanjiv Bajaj, who remained Chairman, ushering in new leadership.
Bajaj Finance's stock reached a 52-week high of ₹7,500 on NSE, driven by strong earnings and investor confidence.
Bajaj Finance introduced an instant top-up feature for existing personal loan customers, enhancing customer experience.
Bajaj Finance's AUM exceeded ₹3 lakh crore, making it one of the largest NBFCs in India by asset size.