On May 22, 2025, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd underwent a stupendous share price collapse of about 66 to 67%. The movement, notwithstanding trending, was never any market crash but a technical readjustment following a major demerger. This report analyses the strategic implications of this corporate action, reflections of opposite views, public perception, and what this means for shareholders moving forward.
Photo Credit: TOI
Context: Unpacking the Demerger
ABFRL vertically demerged the Madura Fashion & Lifestyle (MFL) business into a newly listed entity, named Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Ltd (ABLBL). The record date was May 22, 2025, the date the ABFRL shares started trading ex-demerged shares. The stock closed at 269.15 earlier and opened this day at the value of ₹97-98, removing the value of MFL. Shareholders received a one-to-one share: they received one ABLBL share for each one ABFRL share held.
The demerger is thus a value-related matter, that is, the unlocking of value by way of having two focused companies with utterly distinguishable business models and offers opportunities for growth independently. Further, each company can pursue clear strategic direction, set its independent capital allocation, and staking higher valuation for each focused entity. This is also in line with the larger trend of conglomerates shedding operations into “pure-play” entities.
Table 1: Key Demerger Details
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record Date | May 22, 2025 |
| Previous Closing Price (May 21, 2025) | ₹269.15 |
| Opening Price (May 22, 2025) | ₹97-98 |
| Approximate Share Price Decline | 66-67% |
| Share Allotment Ratio (ABLBL:ABFRL) | 1:1 |
| Nature of Decline | Technical adjustment due to demerger |
Real World Impact: A Dual Path to Value Creation
The demerger created two distinct entities:
The New Entities: ABFRL and ABLBL’s Distinct Portfolios
- Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Ltd (ABLBL): Houses premium lifestyle brands (Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Peter England), growth brands (Reebok, American Eagle, Forever 21), and Van Heusen innerwear. This segment previously accounted for 85% of ABFRL’s revenue.
- Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) (Residual Entity): Retains value retail (Pantaloons, Style Up), a comprehensive ethnic wear portfolio (TCNS Clothing, Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, Masaba, Shantanu & Nikhil, Jaypore, Tasva), premium/luxury ventures (The Collective, Galeries Lafayette), and digital-first brands (TMRW).
Financial Re-alignment: Debt and Capital Plans
Of ABFRL’s ₹3,000 crore debt (March 31, 2024), ₹1,000 crore was transferred to ABLBL, with ₹2,000 crore remaining with ABFRL. ABLBL is expected to start with ₹700-800 crore net debt and aims to be debt-free within 2-3 years. The demerged ABFRL is projected to have a net cash position of ₹1,300-1,500 crore and plans to raise an additional ₹2,500 crore within 12 months, backed by promoters.
Growth Trajectories and Financial Targets (FY25-FY30)
- ABLBL: Targets 13% revenue CAGR (FY25-FY30), 11% EBITDA margins (300 bps increase), and over 70% RoCE by FY30. Aims to double revenue and triple cash profits by FY30.
- ABFRL (Residual): Forecasts 20% revenue CAGR (FY25-FY30), 7% positive EBITDA margin, and over 18% RoCE. Expected to become free cash flow generating in 3 years.
Public Sentiment: Navigating Investor Reactions
The sudden price crash took everybody by surprise. Analysts, however, were quick to put forth that this was a fall of a mechanical nature on account of the demerger; from the fundamentals, there was no concern at all. They also advised to keep calm and hold on to their positions, as both the new entities will carry shareholders with exactly the same percentage of ownership. While some retail investors perceived it as a “value unlocking game,” many others were apprehensive. An over-subscribed by nearly two times QIP prior to the demerger showed good innings for institutional confidence.
Expert’s Opinion: Analyst Perspectives and Valuations
Brokerage firms have provided fair value estimates for the new entities:
Table 3: Analyst Fair Value Estimates
| Brokerage | Demerged ABFRL (₹/share) | ABLBL (₹/share) |
|---|---|---|
| Bernstein | ₹80–105 | ₹185–215 |
| Jefferies | ₹100 | N/A (focus on ABFRL) |
| JM Financial | ₹103 | ₹186 |
The indicative valuations remain a pure “sum-of-the-parts” value, implying that the sum of focused entities’ valuations is expected to be higher than the valuation of the original conglomerate, something that unlocks the “conglomerate discount”. The demerger is one more step in this broader India trend of creating focused pure-play entities that are easier to value. India Ratings is of the view that ABLBL will probably have a stronger credit profile on the back of its strong business and profitability while the demerged ABFRL will commence with a net cash position.
vitt’s take..
(vitt – Where India Reads is a space for making Business and finance stories digestible and relevant to India’s digital generation.)
A New Chapter for Aditya Birla Fashion
The demerger of Madura Fashion & Lifestyle into ABLBL is geared toward streamlining operations, driving focused attention, and unlocking shareholder value. The initial share price drop was a technical correction and not a consequence of any fundamental weakness. By splitting into two companies with different strategies and capital structures, the Aditya Birla Group is looking to capitalize on different market opportunities in the Indian fashion retail space. This offers investors greater flexibility to align their holdings with specific market segments and risk preferences. Long-term value realization will depend on the execution and performance of both the residual ABFRL and the newly formed ABLBL.
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FAQ’s: Your Questions Answered
- What caused the sharp decline in ABFRL’s share price on May 22, 2025?
The decline was a technical adjustment due to the demerger of its Madura Fashion & Lifestyle business into Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Ltd (ABLBL). ABFRL shares began trading “ex-demerger,” reflecting the spun-off business’s value. - What is the share allotment ratio for ABLBL shares?
Existing ABFRL shareholders as of May 22, 2025, receive one fully paid-up equity share of ABLBL for every one fully paid-up equity share of ABFRL held (1:1 ratio). - When will Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Ltd (ABLBL) shares be listed?
ABLBL shares are proposed to be listed on BSE and NSE. The exact listing date will be announced after allotment and regulatory approvals, with expectations for mid-to-end June 2025. - What businesses will each entity comprise post-demerger?
ABLBL: Premium lifestyle brands (Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Peter England), growth brands (Reebok, American Eagle, Forever 21), and Van Heusen innerwear. ABFRL (Residual): Value retail (Pantaloons, Style Up), ethnic wear (TCNS Clothing, Sabyasachi, etc.), premium/luxury ventures (The Collective, Galeries Lafayette), and digital-first brands (TMRW). - Should investors panic about the share price drop?
Market analysts advise against panicking. The fall is mechanical and does not signify weakening fundamentals. Shareholders now hold stakes in two distinct entities. Holding positions until both shares stabilize is generally recommended. - What are the financial outlooks and targets for the new entities?
ABLBL: Targets 13% revenue CAGR (FY25-FY30), 11% EBITDA margins, and over 70% RoCE by FY30. ABFRL (Residual): Forecasts 20% revenue CAGR (FY25-FY30), 7% positive EBITDA margin, and over 18% RoCE. Plans to raise ₹2,500 crore post-demerger.