Capital Trust was incorporated in the year 1985 with an initial paid-up capital of Rs10 million. The first public issue of the company was floated in December 1985. The company also came out with a rights issue in the year 1996.

The company has been one of the pioneers in offering consultancy services to foreign banks, not having their own branches or representative office. Since its inception the company has represented many foreign banks. The company presently represents Banco Popular Espanol, which is the third largest banking group in Spain.The company has primarily been in the business of hire purchase/leasing of plant and machinery, two wheelers and other assets.

The company started retailing 2 wheelers after it was allotted the dealership of Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India in August 2004. However, in December 2007 the company decided to close down the dealership operations.

In May 2008, Capital Trust diversified and expanded its finance business into  joint liability group based microfinance.  Capital Trust assists poor women to set up micro enterprises by providing individual loans.

Capital Trust entered into the joint venture with Kinetic Engineering to finance all “Kinetic Honda” products in Northern India in 1991.  The venture was to exclusively finance 2-wheelers of Kinetic Honda in North India with the management control with Capital Trust. In the year 1998, when Kinetic Group wanted to consolidate its various finance companies, Capital Trust offloaded its shares in the company.

Capital Trust Limited entered into a joint venture with DBS Securities Holding Pvt. Ltd. (a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Development Bank of Singapore - DBS Bank) for stock broking activities in India.  The company was the largest in terms of capitalisation in the securities business in the country at the time of its incorporation. The present paid-up capital of the company is Rs.75 million. The company has over 10,000  shareholders. The company's shares are listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Services offered by the company

The company is engaged in the business of micro finance, insurance

Services:

• Developing correspondent relationship of the foreign banks with Indian banks.
• Providing assistance to facilitate business operations between foreign banks and Indian banks.
• Promoting the services offered by the foreign banks and canvassing for documentary credit business.
• Referring trade finance proposals.
• Assisting foreign banks in country review, monitoring of business and investment opportunities in India.
• Organizing visits of the executives of foreign banks to India.
• Introducing clients of foreign banks wishing to invest in India, to Indian companies.
• Advising procedure for obtaining licenses for joint ventures, and monitoring the interests of foreign investors.
• Assisting clients of foreign banks to develop trade links with Indian companies.
• Services Rendered To Indian Companies

Different divisions of the company:

International Banking

Capital Trust was one of the pioneers in developing the concept of providing consultancy & advisory services to foreign banks, not having their branches/representative offices in India.Capital Trust assists its principals in developing and servicing their correspondent banking relationship with Indian banks. The company’s services are designed to equip the foreign banks with a perceptible insight into the growing investment opportunities in the country and provide an effective platform to their customers for trade and investment.

Micro Finance

In CTL, they channel financial products and services to poor urban women through the Grameen Bank lending methodology.The traditional Grameen methodology consists of five poor rural women who form together as a group. Eight groups, typically from the same village, join to form a center. Each center has a mandatory weekly meeting. Only loans for productive purposes, housing or education, are recommended. Loan amounts are gradually increased based on a satisfactory credit history and the purpose of the loan. Repayments occur on a weekly basis and all members are required to save regularly.

Future plan:

Capital Trust plans to launch individual loans to existing clients who have graduated through multiple loan cycles.