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Mindtree Panel Ropes In Khaitan And Co, ICICI Securities As Advisors

The committee is expected to submit its recommendations by May 11.

Mindtree logo. (Source: Mindtree Communications)
Mindtree logo. (Source: Mindtree Communications)

The independent directors’ committee formed by Mindtree Ltd. to look into the "unsolicited open offer" by Larsen & Toubro Ltd. has roped in ICICI Securities Ltd. and Khaitan and Co as independent advisers.

The committee has been formed to give its recommendations on the open offer for the consideration of shareholders.

Lead independent director Apurva Purohit, who is also Jagran Prakashan's President, in a statement said, "The committee held its first meeting today and has appointed Khaitan and Co. as its independent legal counsel and ICICI Securities as its independent financial adviser to provide assistance in the matter. The written reasoned recommendations on the open offer shall be provided within the timeline and as per the guidelines laid down by the Securities and Exchange Board of India."

Mindtree formed the panel of independent directors under Purohit to look into “unsolicited open offer” by L&T. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations by May 11.

"This committee will discharge the legal obligations placed on the independent directors under the prevailing regulations with respect to providing reasoned recommendations on the offer," Purohit said.

Mindtree Executive Chairman Krishnakumar Natarajan in an interview to PTI had said the company’s board was evaluating "several options" to find way out of the L&T's hostile bid and made it clear the diversified group is yet to come up with any proposal to address the concerns.

Asserting that "independence" of Mindtree was important, Natarajan, one of the company's promoters who had opposed the L&T offer, said there was nothing about individuals.

L&T has acquired Cafe Coffee Day-owner VG Siddhartha's 20.32 percent stake in Mindtree and has also placed an order with brokers to pick up another 15 percent shares from the open market. Besides, an open offer has been made to buy over 5.13 crore, or around 31 percent stake, for Rs 5,030 crore.

The total deal value is estimated to be around Rs 10,800 crore.

Opinion
Is L&T’s Open Offer Price For Mindtree Good Enough For Investors?