September 14, 2017 TnH Global

Air India planning to take Rs. 3,250 crore loan for urgent capital needs

Under a turnaround plan approved by the previous UPA regime, Air India is to receive up to Rs. 30,231 crore from the government subject to meeting certain performance thresholds.

Air India plans to take short-term loans of up to Rs. 3, 250 crore to meet “urgent working capital requirements”, according to a document. The disinvestment-bound airline, which is staying afloat on taxpayers’ funds, expects to get the central government’s guarantee for the proposed borrowings shortly. As part of efforts to revive the loss-making Air India, a ministerial panel is working on the modalities for strategic disinvestment of the carrier and its five subsidiaries. Against this backdrop, the airline seeking short-term loans assumes significance as it implies possible funds crunch.

In a tender document issued today, the carrier said it is “looking for government guarantee backed INR short-term loans totaling up to Rs. 3,250 crore in the first phase to meet its urgent working capital requirements by September 25, 2017.” The tenure of the loan will be one year and the amount is proposed to be drawn in two or three tranches.

A senior official said the airline is already facing “cash deficit” and the loans will help in meeting immediate capital requirements. “The Government of India guarantee, which is expected shortly, will be valid for a period of one year or till the date of disinvestment,” the document said. Banks have been asked to submit their financial bids by September 19, indicating the amount of government-guaranteed short-term loans they are willing to offer.

Under a turnaround plan approved by the previous UPA regime, Air India is to receive up to Rs. 30,231 crore from the government subject to meeting certain performance thresholds. The 10-year bailout package began from 2012. So far, the embattled carrier has received around Rs 26,000 crore under the package. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle nod to the strategic disinvestment of the airline — which has a debt burden of more than Rs. 50,000 crore in June this year.

Subsequently, an Air India-specific alternative mechanism was set up to guide the process. The ministerial group is looking into treatment of Air India’s unsustainable debt, hiving off of certain assets to a shell company, demerger and strategic disinvestment of three profit-making subsidiaries, among other aspects. Last month, the ministerial panel decided to appoint transaction advisors for Air India disinvestment.

News Source: PTI