With the last quarter of FY21 approaching fast, the Modi government’s disinvestment programme is gaining momentum with at least four to five public sector companies lined up for strategic sale and the bidding process under various stages of initiation.
The strategic sale process of four PSUs including CONCOR, BEML, Shipping Corporation and BPCL is set to be initiated by DIPAM (The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management) in November. Based on the the suitable investor interest, the financial bids and actual sale would be completed during the January-March quarter, as disclosed by sources.
Along with strategic sale in profit making PSUs, the long pending disinvestment and asset monetisation plan involving two steel making units of SAIL and Neelanchal Ispat Nigam Ltd will also be taken up for completion.
DIPAM has also sounded about a dozen PSUs to be ready for buying back government shares in the company close to Diwali or by December-January period.
The government so far has just mobilized about Rs 5,500 crore in disinvestment receipts as against a target of Rs 2.1 lakh crore for FY21. So efforts are being made to strengthen up the process and make it appear more lucrative for investors.
In the case of BPCL, the general sense now is that the company would attract investor interest as its books have been cleared of losses on inventory as the oil market has remained stable. A pick up in oil demand in the country would also make the company attractive for investors. The bidding process for BPCL has already been postponed on four occasions and government sources have now said that it would not be extended beyond November 19, the last date for filing EoI.
Policy measures ensuring a level playing field for Concor under new management have also been provided to remove any doubts in the mind of the acquirer. Similar changes have also been done for other companies to ensure investor interest and good valuation for the companies.
Government sources also said that bidding for Air India may kick start by December. As Air India is a debt ridden entity, to invite investor interest, bidding conditions have been further sweetened. Investors have now been given the freedom to decide on the debt level for the airline while valuing it on enterprise value.
