SBI Sells 13.18% Yes Bank Stake to Japan’s SMBC for ₹8,889 Crore

Quick Summary

• Transaction Details: The State Bank of India (SBI) sold a 13.18% stake in Yes Bank to Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) for Rs 8,889 crore. This involved the sale of 413.44 crore equity shares at Rs 21.50 per share.
• Approvals Secured: SMBC received necessary approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 22, 2025, and from the Competition Commission of India on September 2, 2025.
• Context & Stake Distribution: SBI initially held a major share in Yes Bank under a restructuring plan by RBI instituted in March 2020 to stabilize Yes Bank’s financial health. SBI’s divested stake is part of a joint agreement with seven private banks that are also selling stakes to SMBC under this deal.
• Shares Retained: Following this transaction, SBI retains approximately ~11% stake in Yes Bank while SMBC has approval to raise its holdings up to 24.99%. Additional shares might potentially be acquired through private equity firms or preferential issues by Yes Bank.
• Future Investment Plans: ET reported earlier that SMBC plans to infuse up to ₹16,000 crore into Yes Bank via debt and equity after gaining shareholder approval for fundraising efforts.
• Market Impact: At the time of trading on Wednesday afternoon, SBI shares rose by +1.33%,while Yes Bank shares saw a minor drop (-0.24%).

Indian Opinion Analysis
The sale marks an notable step forward in strengthening foreign participation within India’s banking sector while also reflecting confidence among global players like SMBC in India’s financial ecosystem stability post-RBI-led reforms like that seen during the YES jet ,