China’s Ant Group has completed its exit from Indian digital payments company Paytm, with the final disposal of its economic interest linked to a roughly 3% stake valued at about $309 million, according to Economic Times and Bloomberg. The transaction comes as Paytm’s founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma moves to sell shares through his Netherlands based investment vehicle, Resilient Asset Management.
The shares being sold by Resilient originated from a 10.2% Paytm holding transferred from Antfin in 2023. Although Resilient received ownership and voting rights at the time, Antfin retained the economic interest through optionally convertible debentures. As a result, proceeds from the latest sale will ultimately accrue to Antfin, while Sharma’s direct 9.03% stake in Paytm remains unchanged.
Ant’s retreat marks the culmination of a broader reduction in its exposure to Paytm. The Alibaba affiliate had progressively sold down its position as Paytm developed a more domestically focused shareholder base. Its departure also reflects the changing landscape for Chinese investment in major Indian technology companies amid evolving regulatory and geopolitical considerations.
For Paytm, the ownership shift comes as the fintech strengthens its financial position and seeks to build on its improving operating performance. The transaction gives the company a significantly more India focused ownership structure while allowing Ant Group to monetise one of its earliest major investments in India’s digital payments sector.
