New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday cleared the Government’s 29.5 percent stake sale in Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), which could fetch around ₹ 38,000 crore to the exchequer, sources said.
“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved HZL stake sale,” sources said.
The decision would give a push to the government’s disinvestment drive in the current fiscal. The government has budgeted ₹ 65,000 crore from PSU disinvestment and strategic sale.
The sale of 29.5 percent stake representing over 124.96 crore shares would fetch around ₹ 38,000 crore to the exchequer at current market prices.
Shares of HZL closed at ₹ 305.05, up 3.14 percent on the BSE. During the day, the scrip touched a high of ₹ 317.30 a share.
Hindustan Zinc was a Government-owned company till 2002. In April 2002, the Government offloaded a 26 percent stake in HZL to Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Ltd (SOVL) for ₹ 445 crore— thereby giving Vedanta group management control in HZL.
Vedanta group later bought 20 percent from the market and another 18.92 percent from the Government in November 2003, raising its ownership in Hindustan Zinc to 64.92 percent.
Vedanta, led by mining magnate Anil Agarwal, recently said the company can buy just 5 percent additional stake in the HZL considering the price of the shares on offer. (NDTV)
