Mizuho Is Said To Be On Cusp Of Buying Indian Investment Bank Avendus

Mizuho Financial Group Inc. is on the verge of buying a majority stake in investment bank Avendus Capital Pvt, people familiar with the matter said, in what would be the latest acquisition by a Japanese bank in India.

Executives are hammering out details of a transaction that could be finalized as soon as this month and value Avendus at about $800 million, including debt, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. 

Mizuho, Japan’s third-largest lender, plans to acquire KKR & Co.’s 63% stake in Avendus and may also buy shares from minority investors, bringing its total holding to about 70%, the people added.

Representatives for Mizuho and KKR declined to comment. Avendus didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Bloomberg News reported in February that Mizuho was working on a deal to buy a majority stake in Avendus. In another example of a Japanese bank turning to India, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc.’s banking unit last month agreed to buy a 20% stake in Yes Bank Ltd. for about 135 billion rupees ($1.6 billion).

Mizuho is seeking to replicate its US playbook by leaning on the experience and connections of a local partner to grow its dealmaking business. In 2023, it bought US investment bank Greenhill & Co. to boost its presence in advisory for mergers and acquisitions in the Americas.

An Avendus acquisition would bolster Miuzho’s presence in India, which has become a hotspot for initial public offerings and M&A. Chief Executive Officer Masahiro Kihara has said the lender isn’t interested in traditional retail banking assets in Asia.