In a significant secondary market transaction, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Citigroup have jointly acquired a 10.64% stake in Home First Finance Company, a fast-growing housing finance player catering primarily to affordable housing customers. The stake was purchased from Warburg Pincus-backed Orange Clove Investments, marking a strategic shift in the lender’s shareholding pattern. The deal underscores rising investor confidence in India’s affordable housing segment, buoyed by strong credit demand, government support for first-time homebuyers, and a resilient real estate recovery.