Infosys Promoters Opt Out Of Rs 18,000-Crore Buyback Programme; What Does It Mean?

Infosys Buyback: Promoters and members of the promoter group of Infosys Ltd, including its iconic founders N.R. Narayana Murthy, Sudha Murty, and Nandan Nilekani, have chosen not to participate in the company’s Rs 18,000-crore share buyback programme. The IT major informed stock exchanges about their decision on Wednesday, October 22.

As per the company’s exchange filing, “In this regard, the Promoter and Promoter Group of the Company have expressed their intention of not participating in the Buyback vide their letters dated September 14, 2025, September 16, 2025, September 17, 2025, September 18, 2025 and September 19, 2025.”

Under buyback regulations, companies can repurchase shares through the tender offer route, where promoters and promoter groups

are permitted, but not obligated, to participate. Infosys noted that the promoters and promoter group collectively hold 13.05% of the company’s equity and that their voting rights may change post-buyback, depending on the final share acceptance ratio.

Who Are the Promoters of Infosys?

Infosys’ promoter group comprises its founding members and their families. The list includes co-founders N.R. Narayana Murthy and Nandan Nilekani, along with their family members—Sudha Murty, Akshata Murty, Rohan Murty, Rohini Nilekani, Nihar Nilekani, and Janhavi Nilekani. Other co-founders such as S. Gopalakrishnan, S.D. Shibulal, and Dinesh Krishnaswamy, along with their respective family members, are also part of the promoter group.

As of the latest shareholding data, the promoters together hold 51.30 crore shares, equivalent to 12.35% of Infosys’ equity capital. The promoter group collectively owns an additional 2.89 crore shares (0.7%), taking the combined holding to 13.05%.

Infosys Buyback Details

The ongoing buyback, worth Rs 18,000 crore, marks Infosys’ fifth such exercise since 2017 and is also its largest ever. The buyback, to be conducted via the tender route, is priced at Rs 1,800 per share. The company is yet to declare the record date for determining eligible shareholders.

Through this buyback, Infosys plans to repurchase up to 10 crore equity shares, representing around 2.41% of its paid-up share capital as of June 30, 2025.

Infosys Buyback History

Infosys first launched a buyback in 2017, repurchasing shares worth Rs 13,000 crore at a price of Rs 1,150 per share. The company bought back 11.3 crore shares, equivalent to 4.92% of its paid-up capital.

In 2019, Infosys executed its second buyback, valued at Rs 8,260 crore, followed by a third one worth Rs 9,200 crore. The most recent buyback before this year’s programme was in 2022, amounting to Rs 9,300 crore, conducted through the open market route with a ceiling price of Rs 1,850 per share.

The current Rs 18,000-crore tender offer marks a significant step up from previous programmes, underscoring Infosys’ commitment to returning surplus cash to shareholders while maintaining a healthy balance sheet.

Infosys Promoters Not To Participate: What Does It Mean?

The decision of Infosys’ promoters and co-founders to stay away from the Rs 18,000-crore buyback indicates that they are not looking to reduce their long-term stake in the company. It reflects confidence in Infosys’ growth prospects and financial stability, as promoters typically refrain from tendering shares when they believe in the company’s future value. However, their non-participation will slightly increase their relative ownership percentage once the buyback is completed, since the total number of outstanding shares will decrease.