Yes Bank Shares in Spotlight as RBI Clears SMBC to Raise Stake Up to 24.99%

Yes Bank in Focus as RBI Clears SMBC’s Bid to Acquire Nearly 25% Stake.

Yes Bank on Friday said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted approval to Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) to acquire up to 24.99% in the private sector lender. With this development, Yes Bank shares are expected to be in focus on Monday. On Friday, the stock had slipped 0.77% to ₹19.28 apiece on the NSE.

This follows Yes Bank’s May 9, 2025 disclosure that SMBC planned to acquire a 20% stake through secondary purchases — 13.19% from State Bank of India and 6.81% from seven other shareholders, including Axis Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank.

“We are pleased to inform that SMBC has received the RBI’s approval to acquire up to 24.99% of the paid-up share capital/voting rights of the Bank vide letter dated August 22, 2025. This approval is valid for one year. The RBI has further clarified that pursuant to this acquisition, SMBC would not be treated as a promoter of the Bank,” Yes Bank said in a regulatory filing.

The RBI approval is subject to compliance with the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the RBI’s Master Direction and Guidelines on Acquisition and Holding of Shares or Voting Rights in Banking Companies (as amended), and provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, among others.

Yes Bank added that the deal will also require clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and must comply with customary closing conditions outlined in the May 9 agreements.