Foreign shareholding in Wipro nearly doubles

Foreign shareholding in Wipro has nearly doubled during the past one year to 6.31 per cent of the total capital for the year-ended 2004-05 as against a holding of 3.74 per cent for year-ended 2003-04.

Azim Premji's holding, directly and indirectly, in the company has fallen marginally to 83.11 per cent for FY05 as against 83.74 he held for FY04.

Among the FIIs, JP Morgan Chase Bank continues to be a major holder in Wipro with aggregate holding of 1.46 per cent at the end of FY05 as against 1.38 per cent at the end of FY04. JP Morgan, it is understood, is among the significant clients of Wipro.

During 2004-05, the Indian public's share in the company grew marginally to 6.85 per cent as against 6.63 per cent at the end of FY04.

According to Wipro, at the end of March 31, total foreign shareholding is over 44.42 million equity shares representing 6.31 per cent of the total capital including ADR holding.

This was against a total foreign shareholding, including 1,76,350 equity shares held by an NRI executive director, of around 8.7 million equity shares representing 3.74 per cent of the total capital. By the end of March 31, institutional investors held 5.22 per cent as against 4.69 per cent at the end March 31, 2004.

At Infosys, N R Narayana Murthy does not hold a single share directly. His family holds 5.85 per cent, while promoters held 21.76 per cent at the end of March 31, 2005.

The Indian public's share went up significantly in Infosys to 19.01 per cent at the end of FY05, as against 9.02 per cent at the end of March 31, 2004.

Among the major institutional holders, Government of Singapore, Deutsche Securities, Goldman Sachs and Fidelity Management picked up shares in Infosys, while HSBC Global Investment Funds made an exit.

Foreign shareholding in Infosys was 52.55 per cent at the end of March 31, 2005 as against 50.45 per cent at the end of March 31, 2004.