Yes Bank Ltd on Friday assured investors that the bank’s financial position was stable, despite the stake sale by one of its promoter entity – Morgan Credits Private Ltd. The lender said the stake sale was aimed at deleveraging the debt of this entity.
“The board of directors of Yes bank would like to state that the financial position of the bank is sound and stable, its operating performance continues to be robust and its growth plans stay firmly on track,” said the bank in a notice to the exchanges.
On Thursday MCPL, owned by Yes Bank Ltd co-founder Rana Kapoor’s family, sold its 2.3% stake in the bank to an undisclosed buyer. Kapoor and his two family-owned entities, MCPL and Yes Capital (India) Pvt. Ltd, own a total of 9.65% promoter stake in Yes Bank, with MCPL holding 2.76% as on 15 August.
With the stake sale Kapoor’s holding in the private sector bank has come down to 7.4%. Proceeds of the transaction will be used to make a total prepayment, including interest, of ₹722 crore of the outstanding non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of MCPL subscribed by Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Company (RNAM).
MCPL sold zero coupon NCDs worth ₹1,160 crore to RNAM. MCPL said it had utilized the funds for incubation of new-age startup businesses. “We have concluded the stake sale solely to deleverage MCPL. Through prepayment of NCDs to RNAM, we have significantly reduced our borrowing in MCPL in an accelerated manner,” said Radha K. Khanna, director, MCPL.
The NCDs will mature in April 2021.
Following the sale, total promoter holding in Yes Bank will fall from 18% to 15.7% in further compliance with the Reserve Bank of India’s regulatory level of 15%.
Source: Mint