Japan’s MUFG makes a $4.4 billion bet on Shriram Finance

MUMBAI: Shriram Finance has struck a landmark deal with MUFG Bank, which will invest Rs 39,618 crore, about $4.4 billion, through a preferential issuance of equity shares. The transaction will give the Japanese lender a 20.0 per cent stake in Shriram Finance on a fully diluted basis, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

The announcement follows a day after Shriram Finance publicly quashed market speculation around a potential foreign investment, only to confirm one of the biggest such deals India’s financial services sector has seen.

Approved by the board on December 19, the investment is being billed as the largest foreign direct investment into an Indian financial services company. It reinforces Shriram Finance’s standing as the country’s second-largest retail non-banking financial company by assets under management and marks a rare mega-ticket entry by a global bank into India’s lending space.

For Shriram Finance, the timing is strategic. The capital infusion is expected to significantly strengthen its balance sheet, improve capital adequacy and support long-term growth in a competitive lending market. The company said the partnership would also enhance access to lower-cost funding and potentially bolster its credit ratings, while aligning governance and operational practices with global standards.

The collaboration brings together Shriram Finance’s deep domestic reach and distribution network with MUFG’s global scale, financial strength and expertise. Beyond capital, both sides see scope for cooperation in technology, innovation and customer engagement.

Executive vice chairman of Shriram Finance, Umesh Revankar, called the transaction “a defining moment” in the company’s growth journey. He said the entry of MUFG as a key investor reinforced global confidence in India’s financial services sector and Shriram Finance’s leadership within it.

From MUFG’s side, the deal represents its largest investment in India to date. The group has operated in the country for over 130 years and has invested around $1.7 billion so far, supporting employment for about 5,000 people. Group chief executive officer of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Hironori Kamezawa, said the partnership reflected aligned values and a shared commitment to supporting India’s economic development and financial inclusion.

The transaction still awaits shareholder approval and regulatory clearances, but its significance is already clear. At a time when global capital has grown cautious, MUFG’s move is a statement of confidence in Indian lenders with scale, discipline and reach.

Shriram Finance spent one day denying the chatter. The next, it delivered one of the biggest deals Indian finance has seen in years.