SBI invites bids from bidders for stake sale in Jet Airways

State Bank of India (SBI) Monday invited bids from strategic as well as financial bidders for stake sale in ailing Jet Airways. SBI, which is the lead lender of a consortium of domestic lenders that have extended loans to Jet Airways, is looking for "change in control and management" of the carrier, according to a public notice.

SBI Capital Markets would be assisting and advising the lenders on the bid process. The bids have to be submitted by April 10.

The lenders' consortium has taken control of the airline under a debt recast plan. Under the debt resolution plan approved by the Jet Airways' board on March 25, lenders have taken a majority stake in the airline and are set to infuse Rs 1,500 crore.

Besides, the carrier's founder and promoter Naresh Goyal, as well as his wife Anita Goyal, quit the board. The shareholding of Goyals has come down to 25 per cent from 51 per cent earlier. As per the advertisement, the airline has availed various credit facilities aggregating over Rs 8,000 from a consortium of domestic lenders led by SBI. The company has subsequently come under stress and not been able to service its debt obligations in relation to the facilities.

The acute financial crunch has forced the airline to ground aircraft, cancel flights and delay payment of salaries, including to pilots. The consortium has proposed to offer at least 3.54 crore shares of the airline comprising 31.2 per cent of equity share capital of the company and up to a maximum of 8.51 crore shares comprising 75 per cent on fully diluted basis subject to approval, it said.

"Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of the EOI. The lenders or authorised representative shall not, under any circumstances be responsible or liable for any such costs in this regard, whether direct, incidental or consequential," it added. It further said that the bidders can be strategic investors (SIs) and/ or financial investors (FIs).

"SIs may include corporates having experience in similar sectors with domestic or global experience or both. FIs may include private equity funds, investment funds etc," it said. SIs should have a minimum of three years of experience in the commercial

aviation business. In the event the bidder is a consortium, it should consist of not more than three members with shareholding of an individual member not being less than 15 per cent and should also have a lead member.

Last week, the lenders said they would pursue a resolution plan for the carrier in a time-bound manner under the present legal and regulatory framework. "The lenders are cognisant that the outcome of efforts of the lenders will depend on the interest shown by the parties on sale of stake in the company," the statement issued by lenders had said.

(With inputs from agencies.)