Mining major NMDC to buy back shares worth Rs 7,528 cr

A major portion of the buyback will go to the govt, which owns 80% in the Hyderabad-based minerals explorer

State-owned NMDC on Saturday said it will buy back over 8,008 million shares worth Rs 7,527.76 crore, most of which will go to the government.

It provided this information to BSE in its Postal Ballot Notice, which "seeks approval of the members (shareholders) by way of special resolution through postal ballot for buyback of not exceeding 8,008 million equity shares of the company through a tender offer route at a price of Rs 94 equity share of face value of Re 1 each in cash for an aggregate consideration not exceeding Rs 7,527.76 crore".

A major portion of the buyback will go to the government, which owns 80 per cent in the Hyderabad-based minerals explorer. The move will help the government in realising its disinvestment target of Rs 56,500 crore for the financial year.

Further, the company said the buyback shall not be exceeding 25 per cent of the aggregate of fully paid up share capital and free reserves of the company.

The mining firm said to the extent legally permissible, it will buyback shares by way of acquiring the shares through stock exchange.

Share buyback is a process of acquisition by a company of its own shares. It is done with the objective of returning surplus cash to the holder of equity shares of the company.

Other public sector units -- MOIL and Nalco have also announced about share buyback plans.

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), previously known as Department of Disinvestment, has been asking such cash-rich PSUs to utilise surplus cash in either capex or buy back.

NMDC stock closed 0.59 per cent at Rs 94.35 on BSE, last Friday.