Troubled Indian cellular service supplier Vodafone Thought mentioned on Friday the federal government had ordered the corporate to transform into fairness all of the dues owed to the federal government to be used of airwaves together with the curiosity associated to funds for spectrum.

The entire quantity to be transformed into fairness shares is Rs. 16,133 crore, the cellular service mentioned.

The corporate mentioned it has been directed to situation 16.13 billion shares at 10 rupees every. Fairness shares of face worth of Rs. 10 every shall be issued to the federal government on the identical value.

The conversion of Vodafone Thought dues into fairness was permitted by India’s capital market regulator, Reuters reported in October final 12 months.

“Ministry of Communications…handed an order right now ie 3 February, 2023…directing the Firm to transform the NPV of the curiosity associated to deferment of spectrum public sale instalments and AGR Dues into fairness shares to be issued to the Authorities of India,” the submitting mentioned.

The aid for the corporate comes as a part of the reforms package deal introduced by the federal government in September 2021.

Earlier, VIL had mentioned that with conversion of dues into fairness, the federal government will get round 35 p.c stake within the firm.

Shares of VIL closed at Rs. 6.89 apiece on Friday on the BSE, up by 1.03 p.c in comparison with earlier shut. The submitting got here after market hours.

In 2021, the Indian authorities permitted a rescue package deal for debt-strapped telecom firms, permitting them to transform curiosity on deferred adjusted gross income owed to the federal government into fairness.

India’s telecom sector was disrupted by the entry of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio that pressured some rivals out of the market. The sector’s troubles had additionally been compounded by giant dues owed to the federal government.

The nation’s high court docket in 2020 gave telecom corporations 10 years till 2031 to clear the dues. 

 

---