The disinvestment of troubled state-run carrier Air India is unlikely in the fiscal year 2017-18, a divergence from the initial plan of completing the process by early 2018. CNBC-TV18 reported citing government source that the disinvestment process may not complete in the current fiscal. Although, the capital infusion from the government will continue until the privatisation.
The government has decided on strategic disinvestment of loss-making Air India, which is guzzling up taxpayers’ money ridden with inefficiencies and mismanagement. The national carrier, under intense competition from more efficient and often-cheaper private airlines, is reeling under a debt of over Rs 52,000 crore. In September, the government of India had invited applications from investment bankers, law firms and other entities to advise on the strategic stake sale of the flag carrier.
The Union Cabinet and the Air India Board had approved to sell the carrier in June. Officials want the process to offload all or parts of the airline by early 2018. A ministerial panel is working on the modalities.
So far, IndiGo and Bird Group have expressed interest in buying various operations of the troubled national carrier. Conglomerate Tata Group, which is airline’s original founder and owner, has reportedly expressed its interest in buying a 51% equity stake in it. Bird Group, which provides various aviation services such as aircraft navigation, ground handling, customer management and logistics, is also keen to take up a stake in Air India. IndiGo had also reportedly approached the government for buying a stake in the beleaguered state-run behemoth.
Air India has about Rs 28,000 crore as working capital debt and about Rs 4,000 crore as interest burden alone.
27/11/17 Financial Express
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The government has decided on strategic disinvestment of loss-making Air India, which is guzzling up taxpayers’ money ridden with inefficiencies and mismanagement. The national carrier, under intense competition from more efficient and often-cheaper private airlines, is reeling under a debt of over Rs 52,000 crore. In September, the government of India had invited applications from investment bankers, law firms and other entities to advise on the strategic stake sale of the flag carrier.
The Union Cabinet and the Air India Board had approved to sell the carrier in June. Officials want the process to offload all or parts of the airline by early 2018. A ministerial panel is working on the modalities.
So far, IndiGo and Bird Group have expressed interest in buying various operations of the troubled national carrier. Conglomerate Tata Group, which is airline’s original founder and owner, has reportedly expressed its interest in buying a 51% equity stake in it. Bird Group, which provides various aviation services such as aircraft navigation, ground handling, customer management and logistics, is also keen to take up a stake in Air India. IndiGo had also reportedly approached the government for buying a stake in the beleaguered state-run behemoth.
Air India has about Rs 28,000 crore as working capital debt and about Rs 4,000 crore as interest burden alone.
27/11/17 Financial Express
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