Sebi grants exemptions to Wipro over planned buyback programme

Markets regulator Sebi on Friday granted certain exemptions to Wipro from the buyback norms in case of the IT firm’s proposed share repurchase programme, according to an order by the watchdog.

Wipro in November 2018 had filed an application with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to seek exemption from the strict enforcement of the buyback norms for the merger of its four wholly-owned subsidiaries with itself.

The IT firm said its scheme of amalgamation is pending for sanction of the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) and considering the backlog of cases at NCLT, there could be delays and the firm cannot anticipate the time that it may take to complete the merger process.

Under regulation 24 (ii) of buy back norms, the firm cannot make public announcement for buy back during the pendency of any scheme of amalgamation. Therefore, Wipro asked for exemption from such norms so that it can place a proposal for buyback of equity shares for the consideration of its board of directors.