Share of govt holding in listed companies rises 4% in March quarter

The share of the Government of India (GoI) as a promoter in companies listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) increased to 5.48 per cent as on January-March of 2021-22, from 5.25 per cent in the previous quarter (October-December) — a rise of 4.38 per cent.

The share has been on a steady downswing since June 2009, when it was 22.48 per cent as a consequence of the government’s divestment programme and insufficient new listings, taking into consideration the lacklustre performance by many central public sector enterprises, relative to their private peers.

In value terms, government holding in companies listed on the NSE increased 3.69 per cent to Rs 14.13 trillion, from Rs 13.63 trillion on December 31, 2021.

In terms of ownership by number of shares or share by volume (average of GoI holding as percentage of total share capital across all NSE-listed companies), GoI share went down to 2.69 per cent as on March 31, from 2.71 per cent in the previous quarter.

The share of private promoters in comp­anies listed on the NSE declined marginally to 45.13 per cent as on March 31, from 45.15 per cent on December 31, 2021. In value terms, private promoter holding was at Rs 116.44 trillion as on March 31. This was a decrease of 0.72 per cent over the previous quarter.

In terms of ownership by number of shares or share by volume, private promoter share increased to 52.62 per cent as on March 31, from 52.58 per cent on December 31, 2021.

On an overall basis, private promoter holding went up in 233 companies listed on the NSE. Their average stock price in the same period increased 6.27 per cent. Alternatively, private promoter holding went down in 258 companies. Their average stock price in the same period increased by a lower 3.56 per cent.