Shares of the company opened on strong note and later spurted 10.63 per cent to trade at Rs 268.40 on the BSE.

At the National Stock Exchange, the stock zoomed 10.63 per cent to Rs 268.30.

RBI in a notification yesterday said, "The aggregate share holdings by FIIs, NRIs and PIOs under portfolio investment scheme in Pantaloon Retail has gone below the prescribed threshold limit stipulated under extant foreign direct investment policy."

"Hence, the restrictions placed on the purchase of shares of the above company on behalf of FIIs/NRIs/PIOs, are withdrawn with immediate effect," RBI said.

Further, it is advised that in respect of the existing prior approval applications for purchase of shares received through custodian banks of FIIs, pending with RBI which could not be processed due to unavailability of limit/headroom, such investors are free to invest within the enhanced ceiling, it said.

As on December quarter, total FII holding in the company stands at 21.98 per cent.

Pantaloon shares jump 10% as RBI eases norms for foreign investment

(Reuters): Pantaloon Retail Ltd gained as much as 10.6 per cent after India's central bank eased restrictions on the purchase of shares in the company by foreign institutional investors and by non-resident Indians as well as persons of Indian origin.

The Reserve Bank of India took the measures after the aggregate share holding held by these categories of investors fell below the threshold limit under the Foreign Direct Investment Scheme, meaning these investors can now buy into Pantaloon shares.

Pantaloon Retail India Ltd shares were up 9.2 percent as of 0410 GMT.

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