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Hindustan Zinc Shares Drop 8% as Vedanta’s OFS Begins; Special Dividend Payout on the Horizon

Hindustan Zinc Shares

August 16, 2024

New Delhi, India

Hindustan Zinc Shares

Shares of Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) plunged nearly 8% on Friday as Vedanta Ltd, the company’s promoter, initiated a two-day offer for sale (OFS) to divest a 3.17% stake in HZL. The OFS is set at a floor price of ₹486 per share, reflecting a 15.17% discount from the previous close of ₹572.95 on the BSE.

OFS Details:

  • Dates and Structure: The OFS commenced on August 16, 2024, for non-retail investors, with retail investors gaining access on August 19. Vedanta initially planned to sell up to 2.6% equity but later updated the offering to 3.17%, comprising 5,14,40,329 shares (1.22% of HZL’s total issued capital) on August 16, and potentially up to 8,23,04,527 shares (1.95% additional) if oversubscribed.
  • Floor Price: The floor price of ₹486 per share represents a 15.17% discount to HZL’s closing price on the BSE.
  • Market Impact: On the first day of the OFS, Hindustan Zinc Shares dropped 7.8%, hitting a low of ₹528. Vedanta shares, in contrast, rose by 1.39% to ₹425.90.

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Rationale and Financial Strategy: Vedanta’s decision to sell a stake in Hindustan Zinc is driven by the need to raise funds for growth, expansion, and capital structure optimization. This move aligns with Vedanta’s broader strategy to manage its significant debt burden, which stood at ₹78,016 crore as of the June quarter.

Special Dividend Payout: In related news, Hindustan Zinc is reportedly planning to issue a special dividend payout of ₹8,000 crore to its shareholders in the ongoing financial year. This payout is expected to be approved in a board meeting scheduled for August 20, 2024. The dividend would benefit both the government, which holds a 29.54% stake, and Vedanta, which owns 64.92% of HZL.

Financial Context:

  • Debt Position: Hindustan Zinc reported a debt of ₹11,178 crore at the end of the June quarter, contributing to Vedanta Group’s consolidated debt. In May, Hindustan Zinc announced an interim dividend payout of ₹4,225 crore to support Vedanta’s deleveraging efforts.
  • Future Plans: The special dividend and the proceeds from the OFS are part of Vedanta’s strategy to raise funds, including a recent Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) of shares that brought in ₹8,500 crore.

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