Yes Bank to raise over Rs 16,000 cr through equity, bonds

New Delhi: Private sector lender YES Bank Sunday said it will raise USD 1 billion (about Rs 6,400 crore) by fresh equity and Rs 10,000 crore through Non Convertible Debentures (NCDs) and bonds.

The bank's shareholders, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday, also approved an increase in its borrowing limit to Rs 50,000 crore, as also hiking the combined investment limit for FPIs and FIIs to 74 percent.

The shareholders also approved the resolutions for re-appointment of Rana Kapoor as the Managing Director and CEO for a period of three years, the bank said.

The reappointment was approved with unanimous majority (99.97 percent) excluding the vote of the shareholder, Madhu Kapur family, it added.

The bank said that the shareholders' approval was sought for capital raising, which was passed with an overwhelming majority, "in line with the bank's vision of growing Yes Bank into a meaningful
Large Bank by 2020", as also to further capitalise on the imminent revival in economic growth cycle.

"Shareholders have approved through special resolution to raise fresh equity aggregating up to USD 1 billion. The shareholders also approved through special resolution, the issuance of NCDs and bonds up to a total amount of Rs 10,000 crore," it added.

Shareholders also approved through a special resolution, the increase in the borrowing limits of the bank to Rs 50,000 crore (from the existing limits of Rs 30,000 crore), it said.

Further to the recent Union Budget proposal, the bank had also sought approval to increase the combined Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) investment limits to 74 percent of the paid-up capital of the bank, the statement said.

Shareholders also approved a dividend payout of Rs 9 per share.

Yes Bank said its shareholders approved re-appointment of M R Srinivasan (previously Chairman of Yes Bank) with an "overwhelming majority" as well as approved the appointments of Diwan Arun Nanda and Ajay Vohra as Independent Directors.

On June 5, Madhu Kapur, the widow of Yes Bank co-founder Ashok Kapur, moved the Bombay
High court opposing a resolution, slated to come up at the annual general meeting of the Bank on June 6, appointing two directors on its board.

However, Yes Bank made a statement before the court assuring that the two directors -- Srinivasan and Nanda -- shall not assume office until the next hearing on June 17.

Justice Gautam Patel recorded the statement and deferred the matter to June 17. The court did not grant any injunction against the AGM or passing of resolutions therein.

When asked on the issue related to the directors, a Yes Bank spokesperson said the court approved holding elections and declaring the results, but the independent directors will not assume charge before the next hearing.