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Case
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Reference no. 220-0021-1
Published by: Amity Research Centers
Published in: 2020

Abstract

The Government of India (GoI) announced its plans to sell its entire stake of 100% in Air India (AI), in a revised impetus to sell the national carrier after an initial attempt to sell a majority stake in the airline failed to attract even a single bid in 2018. The document fixed March 17th 2020, as the deadline for submissions of initial Expression of Interest (EoI) and clarified that any likely bidder had to agree to assume roughly USD3.26 billion in debt along with other liabilities. In 2018, the GoI had tried to sell a 76% stake in AI, which was considered by potential buyers as arduous. Despite its major assets and advantages, AI was over-burdened with debts which continued to accumulate due to factors that included, increase in operating costs, stiff market competition from low-cost carriers, and pending airfare payments for government officials, among other factors. The only option for preventing any further losses to the airline was to disinvest or sell. As per the new proposal, the GoI tried to push the disinvestment process by easing the conditions of sale for likely bidders. However, a number of apprehensions with regard to uncertainties associated with the actual sale prevailed. Besides, since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the intensity with which it spread, the GoI set an extended time frame for submission of initial EoIs. Whether disinvestment or sale would successfully happen this time and whether it would finish the airline's troubles remained uncertain.

Teaching and learning

This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.

Time period

The events covered by this case took place in 2020.

Geographical setting

Region:
Asia
Country:
India

About

Abstract

The Government of India (GoI) announced its plans to sell its entire stake of 100% in Air India (AI), in a revised impetus to sell the national carrier after an initial attempt to sell a majority stake in the airline failed to attract even a single bid in 2018. The document fixed March 17th 2020, as the deadline for submissions of initial Expression of Interest (EoI) and clarified that any likely bidder had to agree to assume roughly USD3.26 billion in debt along with other liabilities. In 2018, the GoI had tried to sell a 76% stake in AI, which was considered by potential buyers as arduous. Despite its major assets and advantages, AI was over-burdened with debts which continued to accumulate due to factors that included, increase in operating costs, stiff market competition from low-cost carriers, and pending airfare payments for government officials, among other factors. The only option for preventing any further losses to the airline was to disinvest or sell. As per the new proposal, the GoI tried to push the disinvestment process by easing the conditions of sale for likely bidders. However, a number of apprehensions with regard to uncertainties associated with the actual sale prevailed. Besides, since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the intensity with which it spread, the GoI set an extended time frame for submission of initial EoIs. Whether disinvestment or sale would successfully happen this time and whether it would finish the airline's troubles remained uncertain.

Teaching and learning

This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.

Settings

Time period

The events covered by this case took place in 2020.

Geographical setting

Region:
Asia
Country:
India

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