Paytm Shares Dip 3% as Antfin Plans ₹2,200 Crore Stake Sale Through Block Deal

One97 Communications Faces Share Price Drop Amid Ant Financial’s Stake Sale Plans

In early trading on May 13, shares of One97 Communications, the parent company of Paytm, experienced a notable decline of over 3%. This drop coincided with reports indicating that Ant Financial, a fintech subsidiary of Alibaba Group, is set to divest shares valued at approximately ₹2,200 crore through block deals today.

Paytm Share Activity

As per a report by CNBC-TV18, about 4.1% equity, translating to 1.70 crore shares, exchanged hands during the initial trades. By 9:20 AM, Paytm’s share price stood at ₹839.70, a decrease from the previous closing of ₹866.05 on Monday.

Expected Share Price: Paytm shares are anticipated to be offered at a base price of ₹809.7, which is roughly 6.4% lower than the Monday closing figure.
Ant Financial’s Stake: Currently, Ant Financial holds a 9.85% stake in Paytm, and it’s expected to sell around 4% of its holdings through this transaction.

Stake Sale Management

In terms of the stake sale logistics, Goldman Sachs (India) Securities Pvt Ltd and Citigroup Global Markets India Pvt Ltd are acting as placement agents for the divestment. As of the latest data from the exchange, Antfin (Netherlands) Holding B.V. owned 9.85% of One97 Communications as of the end of the March quarter.

Paytm’s Financial Performance

Turning to the financial results, One97 Communications reported a consolidated net loss of ₹540 crore for the Q4 FY25, which is slightly better than the ₹550 crore loss recorded during the same period last year. This figure is linked directly to the shareholders of the company.

Profit After Tax: Excluding exceptional items, Paytm’s profit after tax is nearing breakeven, with a net loss of only ₹23 crore when accounting for these one-time expenses.
Exceptional Items: The total exceptional items for Q4 FY25 amounted to ₹522 crore, including ₹492 crore in accelerated ESOP-related costs and ₹30 crore in impairments.

Share Price Trends

Despite the recent dip, Paytm’s stock has shown resilience, gaining more than 3% over the past month and climbing nearly 15% over the last six months.

This development highlights the ongoing fluctuations in the fintech sector and the strategic moves by major stakeholders like Ant Financial. For further insights on financial trends, you might explore more about Paytm’s market performance and the impact of fintech on the economy.