Walmart-backed PhonePe targets up to $10.5 billion valuation in IPO

Walmart will trim its stake in PhonePe by about 12 per cent in the firm's initial public offering, while Tiger Global and Microsoft plan to exit their stakes, according to the firm's IPO filing Home / Markets / IPO / Walmart-backed PhonePe targets up to $10.5 billion valuation in IPOWalmart-backed PhonePe targets up to $10.5 billion valuation in IPOWalmart will trim its stake in PhonePe by about 12 per cent in the firm's initial public offering, while Tiger Global and Microsoft plan to exit their stakes, according to the firm's IPO filingPhonePe's listing would make it India's second-largest fintech IPO, behind Paytm's about $20 billion listing in 2021.Reuters MUMBAI 3 min read Last Updated : Mar 04 2026 | 2:43 PM ISTAdd as Preferred source Listen to This Article Walmart-backed Indian fintech firm PhonePe, the country's most used payments platform, is aiming to list at a valuation of between $9 billion and $10.5 billion, two people with direct knowledge of ​the matter said. That suggests the IPO will raise about $900 million to $1.05 billion. But ​even at the top end, the deal would mark a cut from the $12 billion valuation at which ‌PhonePe last raised $100 million in private markets in 2023. Walmart will trim its stake in PhonePe by about 12 per cent in the firm's initial public offering, while Tiger Global and Microsoft plan to exit their stakes, according to the firm's IPO filing. The three firms will sell around 50.7 million shares in the offering and PhonePe will not issue any new shares. PhonePe, which competes with Google Pay and Paytm in India, filed for its IPO in September and aims to complete the process by April, one of the sources said, although the timeline could shift depending on capital market conditions, including any impact from the Middle East conflict.Also Read Stock Market Crash LIVE: Sensex, Nifty off day's low; Kospi posts worst session in 46 yearsUpcoming IPO: Fintech unicorn Moneyview files draft papers with SebiRajputana Stainless IPO: Top growth points, risks every investor must knowPNGS Reva Diamond IPO disappoints on debut; shares list at 4% discountOmnitech Engineering to list on Mar 5; here's what GMP hints for D-St debut Both sources requested anonymity as the discussions are confidential. PhonePe, Walmart, Tiger Global, and Microsoft did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The expected ‌valuation of PhonePe, which means "on the phone" in Hindi, and timing of the issue have not been previously reported. PhonePe's listing would make it India's second-largest fintech IPO, behind Paytm's about $20 billion listing in 2021. Paytm currently trades at a market capitalisation of $7.1 billion. 'Monetisation remains a question mark' PhonePe has more than 650 million registered users and processed nearly 10 billion of the 21.7 billion transactions on India's unified payments interface (UPI) in January, regulatory data showed. But payments in India remain a low-margin business. India launched UPI in 2016 and barred companies from charging fees for the instant payment service ​to spur digital payments and reduce cash use in Asia's No.3 economy. PhonePe's losses widened to 14.44 billion rupees ($158 million) in the ‌six months ended September 30, from 12.03 billion rupees a year ago, while revenue rose about 22 per cent to 39.18 billion rupees, the firm's IPO filing showed. Two portfolio managers, who met the company's management in pre-IPO ​roadshows, said excitement ‌around the country's fintech sector had cooled and that there were lingering questions around PhonePe's ability to monetise its user base - ‌a key reason it may not achieve a valuation closer to its last funding round. "Monetisation remains a question mark. Active users aren't growing at the same pace so the game is all about upsell and that ‌remains to ​be seen," one ​of the portfolio managers said. Investors also see India's fintech market as overcrowded with little differentiation among players, said a third source, a banker to the issue. These sources also spoke on the condition of ‌anonymity as they were not ​authorised to speak to the media. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)More From This SectionHigh multiples, long-term pitch: Does SEDEMAC IPO justify its price tag?NHAI-backed Raajmarg Infra Investment Trust's IPO to open on Mar 11Sedemac Mechatronics IPO: Niche tech play, growth priced; should you bid?Omnitech Engineering IPO allotment today; here's how to check status, GMPIIFCL gets Cabinet approval for IPO, MD says listing likely in FY27Topics : PhonePe IPOs IPO Tracker WalmartDon't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channelFirst Published: Mar 04 2026 | 2:43 PM IST