The UK-based telecom giant, Vodafone Group, has settled dues amounting to approximately ₹11,650 crore (equivalent to £109 million) raised against its shares in Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL), as revealed in a regulatory filing. The debt was secured by pledging nearly its entire stake in VIL, with the pledge created in favor of HSBC Corporate Trustee Company (UK) on behalf of lenders linked to Vodafone’s Mauritius and India-based entities.
According to the filing, the repayment of this debt led to the release of the pledged shares. “On December 27, 2024, HSBC Corporate Trustee Company (UK) Limited, acting as the security trustee for the lenders, released the pledges after receiving repayment of the outstanding dues,” the document stated.
This move has lifted the encumbrance on 15,720,826,860 equity shares held by Vodafone Promoter Shareholders, which represent a 22.56% equity stake in Vodafone Idea on a fully diluted basis. These shares were valued at around ₹11,649 crore based on VIL’s closing stock price of ₹7.41 per share on the last trading day.
Currently, Vodafone Group holds a 22.56% stake in VIL, while the Aditya Birla Group owns 14.76%, and the Government of India holds the largest share at 23.15% as of September 30, 2024. This development marks a significant financial restructuring for Vodafone Idea, enabling greater operational flexibility.
