SoftBank Sells 1.65% Stake in Meesho for ₹1,885 Crore Through Block Deal

SoftBank has sold a 1.65% stake in Meesho for ₹1,885 crore through a block deal, attracting global institutional investors while reducing its shareholding to 5.19%.

SoftBank Sells Meesho Shares Worth ₹1,885 Crore

Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group has sold a 1.65% stake in Indian e-commerce platform Meesho for approximately ₹1,885 crore through a block deal, continuing its strategy of monetising investments in Indian technology companies.

According to a PTI report citing National Stock Exchange (NSE) data, SoftBank affiliate SVF II Meerkat (DE) LLC offloaded approximately 7.64 crore shares of the Bengaluru-based company on Friday.

The shares were sold at an average price of ₹246.75 apiece, taking the total transaction value to ₹1,885.17 crore.

Following the latest transaction, the affiliate's ownership in Meesho declined from 6.84% to 5.19%.

Societe Generale Emerges as the Biggest Buyer

The block deal attracted participation from several domestic and international institutional investors, with Paris-based financial services company Societe Generale emerging as the largest buyer.

The financial institution purchased more than 1.47 crore Meesho shares, representing approximately 0.32% of the company's equity, for around ₹364.65 crore.

Several Indian institutional investors also participated in the transaction. These included mutual funds managed by Motilal Oswal, HDFC, Edelweiss and Aditya Birla Sun Life, along with Bajaj Life Insurance.

International participants included Morgan Stanley, Fidelity Investments, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, Ghisallo Capital Management, William Blair Investment Management and Texas Municipal Retirement System.

The Singaporean government, Monetary Authority of Singapore and Norway's Government Pension Fund Global were also among the investors involved in the deal.

Meesho Shares Rise 1.53% After Block Deal

Despite SoftBank's sizeable stake sale, Meesho shares ended the trading session on a positive note. The company's stock gained 1.53% to close at ₹257.99 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The closing price was higher than the average transaction price of ₹246.75 per share at which SoftBank's affiliate sold its holdings.

SoftBank Continues to Reduce Its Indian Investments

The latest Meesho transaction is part of SoftBank's broader strategy of reducing its exposure to Indian startups and technology businesses.

Earlier in November, the Japanese investment group sold a 1.56% stake in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions for approximately ₹1,896 crore.

SoftBank had also reduced its Meesho investment in September by selling another 1.7% stake for around ₹1,650 crore.

Its stake in Lenskart was further trimmed through two separate transactions. The investor sold nearly 2.6% in August for ₹2,888 crore and another 3.25% in June for approximately ₹2,873 crore.

In January, SoftBank also reduced its investment in electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ola Electric Mobility by selling a 2.15% stake.

What Does SoftBank's Stake Sale Indicate?

SoftBank's repeated stake sales highlight its ongoing efforts to unlock value from investments across India's consumer technology, e-commerce and electric mobility sectors.

By selling portions of its holdings through block deals, the Japanese investor can monetise investments while retaining exposure to companies in which it continues to hold shares.

The latest Meesho transaction also attracted participation from major global financial institutions, insurance companies and sovereign investors, reflecting institutional interest in the company's publicly traded shares.

SoftBank's remaining 5.19% holding means it continues to retain an investment in Meesho even after the latest reduction.

Conclusion

SoftBank's ₹1,885 crore Meesho stake sale marks another major divestment from its Indian investment portfolio. With several domestic and international institutions participating in the block deal, the transaction highlights continued investor activity in India's technology sector. SoftBank's remaining 5.19% holding also indicates that the Japanese investor continues to maintain exposure to Meesho.