Vanguard Group buys 23.60 lakh Aurobindo Pharma shares

Investment management company Vanguard Group Inc on Friday picked up 23.60 lakh shares of Aurobindo Pharma for a estimated Rs 206.74 crore, through the open market route.

According to bulk deal information with the bourses, a total of 23,60,231 shares of the pharmaceutical firm were acquired by the Vanguard Group Inc A/C Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index.

Aurobindo Pharma shares were purchased for an average price of Rs 875.94 apiece, amounting the transaction to Rs 206.74 crore.

The drug firm became a public company in 1992 and listed its shares in the Indian stock exchanges in 1995.

In addition to being a market leader in Semi-Synthetic Penicillins, it has a presence in key therapeutic segments such as neurosciences, cardiovascular, anti-retrovirals, anti-diabetics, gastroenterology and cephalosporins.

In a separate bulk deal, Van Eck Associates Corporation A/C Market Vectors-Vietnam acquired nearly 3 lakh shares of Multiplex chain operator PVR Ltd for Rs 22.11 crore.

The shares were brought for an price of Rs 739.84 apiece.

On the BSE, shares of Aurobindo Pharma closed 1.83 per cent down at Rs 867.60 from the previous close, while PVR shares gained 4.38 per cent to settle the day at Rs 734.25 apiece.