Mumbai-based private sector lender Yes Bank Ltd. announced that Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire up to 24.99% stake in the company.SMBC currently holds a 20% stake in Yes Bank, acquired in May 2025 through a secondary share purchase. This comprised a 13.19% stake from State Bank of India (SBI) and a combined 6.81% stake from seven other domestic banks: Axis Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank.
The RBI’s approval to increase SMBC’s shareholding to 24.99% is valid for one year.
Yes Bank clarified that SMBC will not be classified as a promoter despite the increased shareholding.On May 9, 2025, Yes Bank disclosed that it, along with its major shareholders, including SBI and other domestic banks, had signed a share purchase agreement with SMBC to facilitate the acquisition of the 20% stake.
As of June 2025, domestic lenders collectively held 33.7% of Yes Bank. SBI remained the largest single shareholder with a 23.96% stake, while foreign investors CA Basque Investments and Verventa Holdings held 4.22% and 9.2%, respectively.
Shares of Yes Bank Ltd. settled 0.77% lower on Friday at ₹19.28. The stock has risen 8% in the last six months.
