PhonePe rolls out ESOP buyback of Rs 700-800 crore ahead of IPO
11 Sep 2025, 06:02 PMAround 1,000 employees from the company's 12,000-strong workforce are currently eligible to participate in this buyback initiative.
Team Head&Tale
Share the story on
Fintech major PhonePe has rolled out an employee stock option purchase program valued at Rs 700-800 crore, the Inc42 reported, as it gears up for to float its initial public offering (IPO).
Around 1,000 employees from the company's 12,000-strong workforce are currently eligible to participate in this buyback initiative, though the program scope could potentially expand further, the report said.
This comes as the Walmart-backed company is preparing to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the markets regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for its IPO.
According to Bloomberg, the company is planning to raise as much as $1.5 billion via the IPO at a valuation of nearly $15 billion.
In July, PhonePe appointed former Meta India public policy head Shivnath Thukral as vice president for public policy and government affairs, ahead of its IPO.
The Bengaluru-based company, co-founded by Sameer Nigam and Rahul Chari in 2015, was acquired by the Flipkart group in 2016 and has raised external funding over the years. In 2023, PhonePe had secured $100 million as part of its $1 billion funding round at a pre-money valuation of $12 billion.
Who Reads Us
“I enjoy reading The Head and Tale for their coverage on the Fintech landscape. The reporting is incisive and honest, and it demonstrates a sharp understanding of the industry and the issues that concern it. I'd like to extend my best wishes to Arti for her continued success.”
“Well-researched, informative and analysis based reporting makes an interesting read. 'The Head and Tale' news portal has been demonstrating this quite well covering fintech and emerging tech sectors. Their timely updates, exclusive stories and different perspectives on these sectors help me stay informed. Kudos to Arti Singh for pursuing her passion and best wishes to the team.”
“The Head and Tale stands out for its deep industry knowledge and impressive network of sources. I especially appreciate that the reporting remains independent, rarely resorting to paid puff pieces, making it a publication I can genuinely trust. Having followed Arti’s work for years, I’ve come to rely on The Head and Tale for its unparalleled insight and truly independent coverage. Arti’s long-standing presence in the sector means her reporting is always informed, with access few can match.”
“What I really appreciate about The Head and Tale is that it doesn’t just report the news, it interprets it. The stories are well-researched, comprehensive, and bold. Arti brings a fearless lens to reporting, often asking the uncomfortable but necessary questions. She makes you pause, reflect, and rethink what it all means for the payments and fintech ecosystem. It’s rare to find journalism that’s this sharp, timely, and relevant to the work we do every day.”
“I’ve always valued journalism that goes beyond surface-level headlines. The Head and Tale does exactly that - it connects the dots, asks the tough questions, and brings clarity to the shifts shaping our evolving industry. I’ve even encouraged my team members to subscribe, because staying informed through credible, deeply reported stories is as important as building products. For me, The Head and Tale has become part of essential reading.”
