UPL Limited, a leading player in the agrochemical sector, announced a rights issue worth Rs 3,377.74 crore to bolster its financial position. The company plans to issue 9.38 crore partly paid shares at Rs 360 per share.

Rights Issue Details and Timeline
The rights issue will be offered in a 1:8 ratio, meaning one equity share will be available for every eight fully paid equity shares held by eligible shareholders as of the record date. The record date has been set for Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

The rights issue will open for subscription on Thursday, December 5, 2024, and close on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. This timeline provides shareholders ample opportunity to decide whether to subscribe, sell their rights, or ignore the offer.

UPL stated in a regulatory filing, “The Rights Issue Committee of the Board, at its meeting held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, considered and approved one rights equity share for every eight fully paid-up equity shares of the company held by eligible equity shareholders of the company, as on the record date.”

At Rs 360 per share, the rights issue price represents a 34.2% discount to UPL’s closing stock price of Rs 546.85 on Tuesday, November 19. This pricing strategy is expected to attract shareholders by offering significant value compared to the market price.

UPL Share Price
UPL shares have shown a mixed trend over the past year, reflecting broader market conditions and sector-specific challenges. UPL shares are down about 2%, underperforming the benchmark Sensex, which has gained 18% during the same period.

The stock touched a 52-week high of Rs 625 on October 1, 2024, following a 52-week low of Rs 448 on March 14, 2024. In October, the stock saw a 10% decline after six consecutive months of gains. So far in November, UPL shares have slipped by 1.3%.

Rights Issue
A rights issue is a common method for companies to raise additional capital by offering new shares to existing shareholders at a discounted price. Shareholders can choose to subscribe to the new shares, sell their rights to another investor, or ignore the offer, leading to dilution of their stake.

This fundraising initiative by UPL comes at a time when the company aims to strengthen its capital structure and prepare for future growth opportunities.

Eligible shareholders must carefully evaluate the rights issue and its potential impact on their portfolios. With the record date fast approaching on November 26, investors should consider subscribing to the issue, especially given the discount of over 34%.

Story first published: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 17:54 [IST]