Information technology (IT) major Infosys today denied media speculations over its promoters, including co-founder N R Narayan Murthy , planning to sell their entire stake in the company.
In a statement, the company clarified that the promoters have categorically denied such media speculations.
“We would like to clarify reports in media speculating on plans of stake sale by the promoters. This speculation has already been denied categorically by the promoters,” the statement released by the company said.
The clarification came after a media report suggested that Narayan Murthy and other co-founders Nandan Nilekani, Kris Gopalakrishnan, S D Shibulal and K Dinesh were looking to sell their entire stake in the company worth about Rs 28,000 crore.
“The company further reiterates that it has no information on any such development. We would like to appeal to the media not to fuel such speculative stories as they are likely to harm the interests of the company and all its stakeholders,” the statement said.
The report published by an English daily said the promoters wanted to sell their entire stake as they were unhappy over the manner in which the company was being run since their exit three years ago.
The co-founders’ have had open confrontations with the present management over various issues, including corporate governance and salary to top executives.
They had also shot off a letter to the company board in February questioning several decisions such as the severance package given to former Chief Operating Officer Rajiv Bansal. Earlier in 2014, the co-founders and their family had sold 2.84 per cent stake in Infosys for Rs 6,484 crore.
They had also raised questions over chief executive Vishal Sikka’s USD 11 million remuneration hike. Murthy had also expressed displeasure over the likely layoffs at the company and suggested that senior executives should take a pay cut to accommodate more lower-rung staff.
(With PTI inputs)
