Yes Bank, rescued in 2020 primarily by the country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI), is likely to get a new buyer for a majority of its shares by this fiscal-end.

SBI aims to strike a deal by end-March for the sale of its 24% stake worth Rs 18,420 crore ($2.2 billion) currently in Yes Bank, Reuters reported quoting four sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

Japanese lender Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp and Dubai-based Emirates NBD are in advanced talks to acquire a majority stake in Yes Bank, two of these sources told Reuters. Sumitomo Mitsui is a unit of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Japan's second-biggest bank.

"Both the bidders are interested in acquiring a majority 51 per cent stake in Yes Bank to get sizeable control of the bank's business," one of the sources said. "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has verbally okayed the proposal and due diligence is on."

Yes Bank was restructured by the RBI in March 2020 with the help of a consortium of local banks after its financial health deteriorated.

SBI currently holds about 24% in Yes Bank while 11 other lenders, including ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, who were also involved in Yes Bank's rescue, together hold 9.74%.

Two private equity funds - CA Basque Investments and Verventa Holdings - collectively hold another 16.05%. The remainder is with some other investors and with the public.

"Bidders are seeking relaxation on the regulatory requirement that promoter shareholding be brought down to 26 per cent within 15 years of the investment, and talks are on," one of the sources told Reuters, referring to the stake by controlling shareholders.

SBI said it categorically denies any development in this matter, Reuters reported.

In a response to Reuters' query, Yes Bank said it had "no comments to offer regarding (the) stake sale as these inquiries are speculative in nature."

RBI and Emirates NBD, Dubai's biggest bank, did not immediately respond to Reuters' emails seeking comment. Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp said it will not comment on "individual deals".

SBI has already received RBI's verbal approval to divest its whole stake in Yes Bank, one of the sources told Reuters, adding that SBI is expecting to make a profit of around Rs 10,000 crore.

"SBI had rescued Yes Bank when there was a liquidity crunch, but now that things have turned around, it is prudent to exit," this person said.

Once RBI approves the bidders, the process should happen quickly and SBI will have a chance to negotiate valuation, etc., with the bidders, two of the sources said.

At the current market price of Rs 24.60, Yes Bank is valued at Rs 77,095 crore.

Talks could be delayed due to volatility in the Japanese market and a parallel government stake sale process in IDBI Bank, a fifth person familiar with the process told Reuters.

Emirates NBD, one of the potential bidders for Yes Bank, has also expressed interest in buying private lender IDBI Bank and prefers waiting till that process is concluded, the source added.