Lenskart (Lenskart Solutions Private Limited) founder Peyush Bansal is looking to buy 1.5% to 2% stake in the eyewear retailer worth about $150 million from existing investors ahead of a planned initial public offering, (IPO), three people aware of the development said. Investment bank Avendus Capital is helping Bansal with the transaction. Bansal wants to make up for his equity dilution over the previous funding rounds, the people said on the condition of anonymity.
"Peyush is buying small stakes from a bunch of investors. This is being negotiated at around $7 million to $8 billion valuation," one of the three people said. Investors such as TR Advisors Ltd, Chiratae Ventures India Advisors Private Limited, SoftBank Group Corp.
(TSE:9984) and Kedaara Capital Investment Managers Limited are likely to sell shares as part of the deal, these people said. "Negotiations are on with these firms. In another four to six weeks, this deal will be done, after which the company will look to file its IPO documents with the markets regulator," the second person said. Queries emailed to Lenskart, Avendus and the investors remained unanswered.
"The founder is buying back from some of the investors at a pre-IPO valuation," the third person said.
