SoftBank Sells Meesho Stake Valued at $200 Million

Global technology investor SoftBank has divested a significant portion of its stake in Indian e-commerce platform Meesho. According to National Stock Exchange (NSE) data, SoftBank sold 80 million equity shares, representing a 1.7% stake, for ₹1,650.40 crore (approximately $198 million USD).

The sale was executed by SoftBank's investment entity, SVF II Meerkat DE, in two tranches at a weighted average price of ₹206.30 per share, a 1.6% discount to the stock's closing price. Franklin Templeton emerged as the largest buyer, acquiring nearly 9.7 million shares through two entities. Other significant buyers included Societe Generale, Fidelity, and entities associated with Manulife.

Institutional investors such as HDFC Standard Life Insurance, Goldman Sachs, and several international asset managers, along with sovereign wealth funds from Kuwait, Oman, and Norway, also absorbed parts of the offering. Prior to this sale, SoftBank held 396 million shares, equating to an 8.6% stake in Meesho as of the end of the June quarter.

The divestment is part of SoftBank's ongoing strategy to reduce its exposure to Indian new-age technology stocks. Recently, the firm sold a stake in eyewear retailer Lenskart for approximately ₹2,887.9 crore and has also reduced its holdings in logistics firm Delhivery.

Despite SoftBank's stake reduction, Meesho has reported improved financial performance. The company cut its net loss by 54.1% year-on-year to ₹132.8 crore in Q1 FY27, while operating revenue increased by 48% to ₹3,707 crore. The platform's gross merchandise value (GMV) rose 34% to ₹11,614 crore, and its active user base grew 29% to 27.4 crore. Meesho's stock has seen a notable increase over the past six months.