SoftBank Group has once again reduced its stake in Lenskart Solutions, selling nearly 2.6% of the eyewear retailer for ₹2,887.87 crore through open-market transactions on Monday. The Japanese technology investor, through its affiliate SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman) Ltd, sold 4.5 crore shares across 22 transactions at an average price of ₹641.75 apiece. The latest sale marks SoftBank’s second major stake reduction in Lenskart in less than three months.
The transaction brings SoftBank’s holding in Lenskart down to 7.28% from 9.86%, although it remains the second-largest public shareholder in the Gurugram-based eyewear company. The latest disposal follows SoftBank’s sale of a 3.25% stake for ₹2,873 crore in June. Together, the two transactions have generated proceeds of nearly ₹5,761 crore for the Japanese investor, while leaving it with meaningful exposure to Lenskart’s future growth.
SoftBank Sells 2.58% Lenskart Stake
The latest transaction involved 4.5 crore Lenskart shares, representing a 2.58% stake in the company. The shares were sold at an average price of ₹641.75, taking the total transaction value to ₹2,887.87 crore.
The sale was executed through SoftBank’s affiliate SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman) Ltd. The transaction was spread across 22 tranches on the BSE, indicating significant institutional participation on the buying side.
Key Details of the Stake Sale
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Seller | SoftBank Group via SVF II Lightbulb |
| Shares sold | 4.5 crore |
| Stake sold | 2.58% |
| Average sale price | ₹641.75 per share |
| Deal value | ₹2,887.87 crore |
| SoftBank stake before sale | 9.86% |
| SoftBank stake after sale | 7.28% |
| Previous SoftBank sale | 3.25% in June 2026 |
| June sale value | ₹2,873 crore |
| Total proceeds from two 2026 sales | ~₹5,761 crore |
| Current ranking | Second-largest public shareholder |
The latest sale is considerably larger than a routine portfolio adjustment and represents another substantial monetization of SoftBank’s Lenskart investment.
SoftBank Has Now Sold More Than 5% in 2026
SoftBank’s latest transaction follows a similar block deal in June, when its affiliate sold 5.65 crore Lenskart shares, equivalent to a 3.25% stake, at ₹508.55 per share for ₹2,873 crore.
At the end of March 2026, SoftBank held approximately 13.13% of Lenskart. After the June transaction, its holding fell to around 9.86%, and the latest sale takes it further down to 7.28%.
SOFTBANK'S LENSKART STAKE
March 2026
13.13%
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After June 2026 Sale
9.86%
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After August 2026 Sale
7.28%
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SoftBank has therefore reduced its holding by about 5.85 percentage points from the March level through the two reported transactions.
The sales also illustrate how large early-stage investors can gradually monetize holdings after a portfolio company reaches the public markets and develops a deeper institutional shareholder base.
Nearly ₹5,800 Crore Monetized in Two Transactions
The two SoftBank transactions have generated substantial cash proceeds within a relatively short period.
| Transaction | Stake Sold | Shares Sold | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | 3.25% | 5.65 crore | ₹2,873 crore |
| August 2026 | 2.58% | 4.50 crore | ₹2,887.87 crore |
| Total | 5.83% | 10.15 crore | ~₹5,761 crore |
The August transaction is particularly notable because SoftBank sold the shares at ₹641.75, significantly above the ₹508.55 average price achieved in the June transaction.
That difference reflects the rise in Lenskart’s share price between the two sales and allows SoftBank to monetize part of its remaining stake at a higher valuation.
Institutional Investors Absorb SoftBank’s Shares
The block transaction attracted a broad group of domestic and international institutional investors.
Domestic buyers included the National Pension System Trust and mutual funds managed by SBI, Edelweiss, Nippon India, Franklin Templeton, HDFC, HSBC, ICICI Prudential, Motilal Oswal and Sundaram. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance also participated.
Among overseas investors, Societe Generale was the largest reported buyer. It acquired 1.0735 crore Lenskart shares, equivalent to about 0.62% of the company, for ₹688.91 crore.
Other foreign buyers included Ghisallo Capital Management, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas Financial Markets, Vanguard, Wasatch Global Investors and Integrated Core Strategies Asia. The transaction also attracted institutional investors such as Kuwait Investment Authority and retirement funds in the United States.
Major Reported Buyers
| Investor | Approx. Stake Acquired | Approx. Value |
|---|---|---|
| Societe Generale | 0.62% | ₹688.91 crore |
| Other domestic mutual funds | — | — |
| NPS Trust | — | — |
| Goldman Sachs | — | — |
| Morgan Stanley | — | — |
| Vanguard | — | — |
| Kuwait Investment Authority | — | — |
The broad investor participation suggests that the block deal provided liquidity without relying on a single strategic buyer.
ADIA-Backed Trust Remains Lenskart’s Largest Public Shareholder
After SoftBank’s latest sale, Platinum Jasmine A 2018 Trust remains Lenskart’s largest public shareholder, with a 9.77% stake.
The trust is backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, making it another major institutional investor with significant exposure to the company.
SoftBank, despite reducing its stake to 7.28%, remains the second-largest public shareholder.
LENSKART'S MAJOR PUBLIC SHAREHOLDERS
Platinum Jasmine A 2018 Trust
9.77%
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SoftBank Group
7.28%
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Other Public / Institutional Investors
Remaining shares
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The changing shareholder structure reflects the transition from a venture-backed company to a publicly traded business with a wider institutional investor base.
Lenskart Shares Have Risen Since SoftBank’s June Sale
SoftBank’s ability to sell its second tranche at a much higher price than in June is linked to the appreciation in Lenskart’s stock.
The June transaction was completed at ₹508.55 per share. The August sale occurred at an average of ₹641.75, representing an increase of approximately 26% between the two transaction prices.
At Monday’s close, however, Lenskart shares declined 0.28% to ₹659.70 on the BSE.
| Price Reference | Lenskart Share Price |
|---|---|
| SoftBank June sale | ₹508.55 |
| SoftBank August sale | ₹641.75 |
| August 24 BSE close | ₹659.70 |
| August sale premium vs June price | ~26.2% |
The stock’s performance has allowed early investors to monetize their holdings while still leaving SoftBank with a sizeable residual position.
Why SoftBank Is Reducing Its Lenskart Stake
SoftBank has not indicated that the latest transaction represents an exit from Lenskart. Its remaining 7.28% stake means the investor continues to have substantial exposure to the company.
For large institutional investors, partial stake sales can serve several purposes, including returning capital to investors, rebalancing portfolios, realizing gains and increasing liquidity without completely abandoning a successful investment.
The strategy is particularly relevant for SoftBank, whose investment portfolio includes a large number of technology and growth companies. Monetizing mature holdings can provide capital for new investments while retaining some upside from companies with further growth potential.
Lenskart Has Become a Major Listed Eyewear Company
Lenskart has evolved from an online eyewear startup into an omnichannel retailer with a large physical-store network and manufacturing operations.
The company combines online sales with physical stores and has expanded across India and overseas markets. TR Capital, which fully exited Lenskart in May 2026, described the company as Asia’s largest omnichannel retailer and manufacturer of premium-quality eyewear, with more than 3,100 stores as of December 2025.
Its public-market performance has consequently become important not only for SoftBank but also for other early investors and institutional shareholders.
Earlier Investor Exits
SoftBank is not the only major investor to monetize Lenskart shares in 2026.
In June, Platinum Jasmine A 2018 Trust sold a 2.3% stake, while investors including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley participated in the purchase. That transaction followed SoftBank’s first major public-market disposal of 3.25%.
These transactions have steadily increased the public float and brought more institutional investors into Lenskart’s shareholder base.
What the Stake Sale Means for Lenskart
The latest transaction is a secondary share sale, meaning the proceeds go to SoftBank rather than to Lenskart itself.
Therefore, the company does not receive ₹2,887.87 crore in fresh capital from the transaction. The primary impact on Lenskart is a change in shareholder ownership and an increase in the proportion of shares held by other institutional investors.
For the company, the broad institutional participation can nevertheless improve the diversity of its shareholder base and potentially increase liquidity in the public market.
SoftBank Still Has a Significant Position
Despite selling nearly 5.85% of Lenskart across the June and August transactions, SoftBank remains an important shareholder.
Its 7.28% holding means the investor retains considerable economic exposure to Lenskart’s future earnings, expansion and stock performance.
The latest sale should therefore be viewed as a partial monetization rather than a complete exit.
SOFTBANK'S 2026 LENSKART STRATEGY
Large Existing Holding
↓
June: Sell 3.25%
↓
Retain 9.86%
↓
August: Sell 2.58%
↓
Retain 7.28%
↓
Continue Exposure to Lenskart
The remaining stake gives SoftBank the flexibility to participate in future value creation while having already realized a significant portion of its investment.
The Bigger Picture
SoftBank’s latest Lenskart transaction highlights the next stage in the evolution of India’s new-age listed companies. As venture-backed businesses mature and enter public markets, early investors are increasingly able to monetize portions of their holdings through block deals while large domestic and international institutions step in as replacement shareholders.
For Lenskart, the immediate transaction does not raise fresh capital because it is a secondary sale, but it broadens institutional ownership. For SoftBank, the two sales have generated nearly ₹5,761 crore while leaving the Japanese investor with a 7.28% stake. The combination allows SoftBank to realize substantial value while retaining meaningful exposure to one of its prominent Indian investments.
Looking Ahead
The key question for investors will be whether SoftBank continues to reduce its Lenskart holding or maintains the remaining 7.28% stake as the company expands. The strong institutional demand seen in the latest block deal provides liquidity for existing shareholders, while the higher transaction price compared with June indicates that investors have been willing to absorb large quantities of stock at elevated levels.
For Lenskart, attention will remain on earnings growth, store expansion, margins and the ability to sustain its valuation as institutional ownership increases. If the company continues to deliver strong operating performance, the gradual shift from early venture investors such as SoftBank toward long-term public-market institutions could become an important part of its post-listing shareholder evolution.
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