The exit was in line with Softbank's plan, although the company did anticipate the loss at that time. Before Paytm's initial public offering (IPO) in 2021, Softbank held around 18.5% stake in Paytm.
As of the quarter ending in March 2024, SoftBank held a 1.4% stake in Paytm. However, by June of the same year, its shareholding dropped below the 1% mark.
During the IPO, it held a 17.3% stake through SVF India Holdings (Cayman) Ltd and 1.2% through SVF Panther (Cayman) Ltd. SVF Panther sold its entire stake during the IPO for about $225 million. Paytm's share price has not matched its issue price of Rs 2,150 apiece to date.
Besides Softbank, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway haa also made an exit from its investment in Paytm-parent firm One97 Communications. The exit resulted in a loss of about 40% on the high-profile investment made more than five years ago.
Back in 2018, Berkshire Hathaway invested approximately $260 million in Paytm, acquiring a 3% stake in the financial services startup at a valuation of around $10 billion. However, the investment giant sold its remaining position in Paytm for $121.6 million, securing a return of less than $160 million on its initial investment.
Despite Paytm's IPO debut at a valuation north of $20 billion, its share price fell significantly afterward. The Indian firm has since rebounded, ending at $10.73 per share following fast revenue growth and improved finances in recent quarters.
Advertisements