Increase in public float may see action next fiscal to 35 percent

New Delhi: With 2019-20 fiscal coming to an end soon, the Budget proposal to consider raising the public float in listed companies to 35 percent may see some action in the next financial year, officials said on Tuesday.

It needs an examination of impacts and trends, and also seeks stakeholders’ views that take time, they said, adding that there could be action on this front in the next fiscal.

Market regulator SEBI has to submit a report to the Finance Ministry on the current Budget proposal to consider raising the current threshold of 25 percent to 35 percent.

“SEBI has been asked to examine the implications of the increased current threshold on the financial market, undertake public consultation and submit a report to the government,” a Finance Ministry status paper on current Budget proposals said.

The 2019-20 Budget had said that it was the right time to consider increasing the minimum public shareholding in listed companies. SEBI was asked to consider raising the threshold to 35 percent, considering the fact that on an average the public shareholding is around 50 percent.

SEBI will also have to study the global trends on the issue.

SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi last year said that around 45 percent of the listed PSUs have not even met the 25 percent requirement, and they have been given time till August 2020 to achieve it.

He was of the view that the short- and long-term implications, how much amount will come into the market etc need to be considered.

SEBI has so far not issued any consultation paper in this regard.

Analysts said any proposal to increase minimum public shareholding to 35 percent is a potential negative for MNCs and companies with high promoter holding.

BSE data shows there are over 1,400 listed companies with promoters’ stake of 65 percent.

On the other hand, there are 40 PSUs with public holding lower than 35 percent. Of these, 28 still need to pare down promoter stake to meet earlier guidelines.

Last year, the government extended the timeline for PSUs to maintain the minimum shareholding norm of 25 percent to August 2020. They were earlier allowed to have a minimum public holding of 10 percent.

SEBI had in 2013 set a deadline for all listed companies to adhere to the minimum shareholding norms. It was later decided that the PSUs should also maintain a minimum public shareholding of 25 percent in line with private companies. (IANS)

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