Eternal, the parent entity of Zomato, has approved a fresh Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) grant worth approximately ₹167 crore, according to regulatory filings.
ESOP Grant Details
The company has rolled out ESOPs covering 74.18 lakh equity shares, with 64.13 lakh stock options granted to eligible employees under multiple schemes:
- Foodie Bay ESOP 2014
- Zomato ESOP 2021
- Zomato ESOP 2024
Based on the current share price of ₹224.7, the total value of the newly granted ESOPs stands at around ₹167 crore.
Each stock option can be converted into one fully paid-up equity share with a face value of ₹1.
Vesting and Exercise Timeline
- Under ESOP 2014 & 2021: Options can be exercised within 10 years from vesting or 12 years from listing, whichever is later
- Under ESOP 2024: Exercise window is 10 years from vesting
The structure reflects a long-term incentive strategy aimed at retaining talent and aligning employee interests with company growth.
ESOP Pool and Ownership
As per the latest shareholding data, employee trusts collectively hold 54.56 crore ESOP options, accounting for nearly 6% of the company’s cap table—highlighting the scale of employee ownership within the company.
Financial Performance Snapshot
Eternal continues to show strong financial momentum:
- Revenue (Q3 FY26): ₹16,315 crore
- Profit: ₹102 crore
The company’s stock is currently trading at ₹224.7, with a market capitalisation of approximately ₹2.16 lakh crore (~$23.8 billion).
Strategic Context
This ESOP grant comes as Eternal continues to scale its operations across food delivery and quick commerce (via Blinkit), while also focusing on long-term talent retention in an increasingly competitive tech ecosystem.
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