Aditya Puri sells HDFC Bank shares worth Rs 843 crore

Aditya Puri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HDFC Bank, has sold 95 per cent of his stake in the bank valued at Rs 843 crore this week. Puri sold 74.2 lakh shares of the bank between July 21 and 24, according to stock exchange filings.

According to the disclosures, Puri had 0.14 per cent stake or 77.96 lakh equity shares in his name in the bank as on March 31. He now holds 3.76 lakh shares or 0.01 per cent stake in HDFC Bank.

An HDFC Bank spokesperson said that the shares were allotted to Puri at different times and at different price points, which is why the net amount realised by him would not be Rs 843 crore. Acquisition cost of shares and tax payable would be accounted as well.

Aditya Puri had sold shares worth Rs 200 crore in HDB Financial Services, an unlisted NBFC arm of HDFC Bank in December last year. The shares were held through a family trust Vistra ITCL (India).

Puri, who is one of the highest paid bankers, would retire in October. The 70-year-old banker who is credited for building HDFC Bank into the largest private bank by assets in the last 25 years saw a 38 per cent jump in salary and prerequisites to Rs 18.92 crore in FY 2019-20. He earned Rs 161.56 crore by exercising stock options during the year, the bank's annual report said.

As for Puri's successor, Sashidhar Jagdishan and Kaizad Barucha are amongst the top two internal candidates. Barucha, who has the highest board experience, is the senior most while Jagdishan is the dark horse. Sunil Garg from Citibank is also in the fray while Bhavesh Zaveri , another internal candidate has also been screened by the six-member succession committee.

Also read: HDFC Bank's Aditya Puri to wind up with shares worth Rs 800 cr

Also read: HDFC Bank's Aditya Puri highest paid banker after 38% jump in FY20 salary to Rs 18.92 crore