Home First Finance Company India Limited has recommended a dividend of ₹5.20 per equity share for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, subject to shareholder approval at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The dividend, equivalent to 260% of the face value of ₹2 per share, will be paid to members holding shares as on the record date of Friday, May 29, 2026. The company has communicated the tax deduction implications and document submission requirements to shareholders to ensure appropriate withholding.

The Board of Directors approved the recommendation at its meeting on May 6, 2026. As per the Income Tax Act, 2025, dividend is taxable in the hands of shareholders, and the company is required to deduct tax at source (TDS). The applicable TDS rate varies based on the residential status of the shareholder and the validity of their Permanent Account Number (PAN). For resident shareholders with a valid PAN, the TDS rate is 10%, while it increases to 20% if the PAN is invalid, not linked to Aadhaar, or not registered.

Resident individuals are exempt from TDS if the total dividend during FY26-27 does not exceed ₹10,000 or if they submit Form 121. Resident non-individuals, such as insurance companies and mutual funds, can claim exemption by submitting specific self-declarations and registration certificates. Non-resident shareholders are subject to a withholding tax rate of 20% plus surcharge and cess under domestic law, unless they provide a certificate for lower or Nil withholding or opt for benefits under the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

To determine the appropriate withholding tax rate, shareholders must submit necessary documents, including Form 121, PAN copies, and Tax Residency Certificates for non-residents, by Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Documents can be uploaded via a specific link or emailed to the Registrar & Transfer Agent. The company emphasized that documents received after this date may not be considered, potentially leading to higher TDS deduction. Shareholders can view tax credit in Form 168 on the TRACES portal.

Key Dividend and AGM Dates

Shreyans Bachhawat, Company Secretary, Compliance Officer and Head - Legal, signed the communication.

Home First Finance Company India Limited has filed its Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) for FY26, detailing its environmental, social, and governance initiatives. The report, submitted pursuant to Regulation 34(2)(f) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, outlines the company's performance across nine principles of the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC).

The company reported a turnover of ₹1,914.59 crore and a net worth of ₹4,366.13 crore for FY26. A key environmental achievement highlighted in the report was the certification of 450 Green Homes, an increase from 120 in the previous financial year. These certifications are expected to result in an annual reduction of 453 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e), alongside savings of 673 MWh of electricity and 21,643 cubic meters of water.

ESG Assurance and Oversight

The company obtained reasonable assurance on its BRSR Core indicators and limited assurance on select non-core indicators from SGS India Private Ltd. This assurance covers essential indicators such as greenhouse gas emissions, water footprint, and employee well-being. The CSR and ESG Committee, under the Board's guidance, supervises these initiatives, with the Managing Director & CEO, Mr. Manoj Viswanathan, identified as the highest authority responsible for implementation.

Financial and Operational Metrics

Home First Finance Company India Limited operates as a Non-Banking Financial Company - Housing Finance Company (NBFC-HFC) with 171 offices across 13 states and union territories. The company serves salaried and self-employed customers, with an average loan ticket size of ₹12.0 lakh. Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG) accounted for more than 58.7% of the Assets Under Management (AUM).

Key Financial and Operational Figures for FY26

Governance and Compliance

The report disclosed that the company paid a fine of ₹4,720 to BSE Limited for the delayed submission of the Annual Report for FY25. No appeals were preferred against this penalty. The company confirmed that it has policies covering all nine NGRBC principles, which have been approved by the Board. Independent assessments of the company's ESG performance include a risk rating of 13.2 from Morningstar Sustainalytics, placing it in the 'low risk' category, and an ESG performance rating of 46 from S&P Global.