MUMBAI: New Delhi intends to sell its entire stake in the debt-crippled national carrier Air India, the government announced Monday, after failing previously to secure any bids for a majority share.
The airline, which owes more than $8 billion, has been struggling to pay salaries and buy fuel, with officials recently warning that it would have to shut down unless a buyer was found.
On Monday the civil aviation ministry released a document inviting bids for a 100 percent stake, setting March 17 as the deadline for initial submissions.
Potential buyers would have to assume around $3.26 billion in debt, the document said.
The government was forced in 2018 to shelve plans to sell a 76 percent stake in Air India after failing to attract any bidders.
India’s Tata Group, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and IndiGo were all linked to a takeover but subsequently ruled themselves out.
Founded in 1932 and formerly India’s monopoly airline, the company was once known affectionately as the “Maharaja of the skies.”
But it has been hemorrhaging money for more than a decade and has lost market share to low-cost rivals in one of the world’s fastest-growing but most competitive airline markets.
In November aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said the airline would “have to close down if it is not privatized.”
State-run oil companies halted fuel supplies to Air India in August after it fell behind on payments, though the firms agreed to lift the suspension a month later after talks brokered by the government.
The country’s aviation sector has been stuck in a slump since the collapse of Jet Airways last year.
New Delhi to sell full stake in debt-ridden Air India
https://arab.news/bygqh
New Delhi to sell full stake in debt-ridden Air India
- The airline, which owes more than $8 billion, has been struggling to pay salaries and buy fuel
- Formerly India’s monopoly airline, carrier was once known affectionately as the ‘Maharaja of the skies’
Lloyd’s market engaging with US government over Gulf maritime plan, officials say
LONDON: The Lloyd’s of London market is engaging with the US government’s International Development Finance Corporation over a plan to provide political risk insurance and guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf, Lloyd’s market officials said on Thursday.
“Lloyd’s is engaging constructively with the US Development Finance Corporation and relevant stakeholders, with a clear focus on ensuring that the Lloyd’s market continues to lead as the global center of excellence for war risk insurance,” a Lloyd’s spokesperson said.
The Lloyd’s Market Association, which represents the interests of all underwriting businesses in the Lloyd’s market, welcomed the engagement of US President Donald Trump, its CEO Sheila Cameron said separately in a statement on Thursday.
“Since Sunday 1 March, there have been at least 40 transits of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. There remain approximately 1,000 vessels, approximately half of which are oil and gas tankers, with an aggregate hull value exceeding $25 billion in the Persian/Arabian Gulf and surrounding waters,” Cameron said, citing data.
Cameron added that the vast majority of these vessels were insured in the London market and insurance “currently remains in place.”
Insurance broker Marsh said on Wednesday it had met with US officials to explore solutions for restoring maritime trade.
The US Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, Trump said on Tuesday, adding he had ordered the International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf.
Earlier this week, London’s marine insurance market widened the area in the Gulf it deems as high risk as the conflict in the Middle East escalates.
