Patanjali's promoters say shareholding freeze won't impact company's financial position

The promoters of Patanjali Foods on Thursday said they do not foresee any adverse or negative impact on the financial position of the company owing to the instant freeze of promoters' shareholding by the stock exchanges.

Earlier, the stock exchanges had put a freeze on the shares owned by the promoters for not meeting the minimum public shareholding (MPS) requirements as specified in the Securities Contracts (SCR) (Regulation) Rules, 1957, of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

According to a statement of the company, shares were already under lock-in as per SEBI guidelines till April 2023 (one year from the date of listing i.e. April 08, 2023), and instant actions of stock exchanges do not appear to have a negative impact on the functioning of the Company.

As per SCR Rules where as a result of the implementation of the resolution plan approved, public shareholding in a listed company falls below 10 per cent then the same shall be increased to at least 10 per cent within a maximum period of twelve months from the date of such fall.

In December 2017, the National Company Law Tribunal initiated insolvency proceedings against Patanjali Foods, earlier known as Ruchi Soya Industries. And in July 2019, the tribunal approved the resolution plan submitted by Patanjali Ayurved for Ruchi Soya.

Owing to the allotment of the equity shares made pursuant to the implementation of the resolution plan as duly approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the aggregate shareholding of the promoter and promoter group of the company increased to 98.87 per cent of the total issued, paid up and subscribed equity share capital of the Company.

The company was acquired by Patanjali Group pursuant to the approval of the resolution plan submitted by a consortium led by Patanjali Ayurved by NCLT vide its order dated July 24, 2019, read with order dated September 4, 2019, and the same was implemented with effect from December 18, 2019.

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