Yes Bank Share Price Rises After CCI Approves 24.99% Stake Acquisition by SMBC; SBI, HDFC, ICICI Among Sellers

Shares of Yes Bank gained in early trade on Wednesday after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) granted approval for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) to acquire up to a 24.99% stake in the bank, a move that will make the Japanese financial giant the largest shareholder in the private sector lender.

Yes Bank Share Price After CCI Approves SMBC Stake

On September 3, 2025 at 9.17 am, Yes Bank Ltd opened trading on the NSE at Rs 19.85, marking a 1.53% increase or a gain of Rs 0.30 from the previous close of Rs 19.55. The stock showed early positive momentum in the morning session.

SMBC to Acquire Stake from SBI and Seven Private Banks to Become Largest Shareholder in Yes Bank

SMBC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), is one of Japan's largest and most influential banking institutions. The approved acquisition is set to take place through secondary market transactions, allowing SMBC to purchase a significant portion of shares from current institutional stakeholders.

SMBC will acquire a 13.19% stake in Yes Bank from the State Bank of India (SBI), along with an additional 6.81% stake from seven private sector banks. These include Axis Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, bringing SMBC's total proposed shareholding to 24.99% in Yes Bank.

A Milestone in Yes Bank's Recovery

The deal marks a pivotal moment in Yes Bank's turnaround journey. In March 2020, the bank was rescued under a reconstruction scheme initiated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), where SBI and a consortium of lenders stepped in to infuse capital and stabilize operations.

Post this stake sale, SBI's shareholding in Yes Bank will reduce from approximately 24% to just over 10%, signifying a gradual withdrawal of control by the public sector lender.

While the RBI had granted its approval for the SMBC deal last month, it clarified that SMBC will not be designated as a "promoter" of Yes Bank despite its substantial stakeholding.

This acquisition further cements SMFG's growing presence in India. As of December 2024, the banking group holds assets worth $2 trillion, making it Japan's second-largest banking group. Its Indian subsidiary, SMFG India Credit Company, is already one of the largest diversified NBFCs in the country, operating across consumer finance, SME lending, and commercial vehicle finance segments.

The CCI confirmed its approval through a social media post, "CCI approves acquisition of certain share capital and voting rights of Yes Bank by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation."

Yes Bank's Financial Performance

The investment announcement also comes on the back of strong financial performance by Yes Bank. For the quarter ending March 2025, the bank reported a 63% year-on-year increase in standalone net profit, reaching Rs 738 crore, compared to Rs 451.9 crore in the same quarter last year.

For the full fiscal year FY25, Yes Bank's net profit more than doubled to Rs 2,406 crore, a sharp rise from Rs 1,251 crore in FY24. This reflects the lender's improving asset quality, operational efficiency, and enhanced investor confidence.