RFP invited for TCIL divestment, listing

The disinvestment department has invited request for proposal(RFP) from merchant bankers for listing and disinvestment of Telecommunication Consultants India Ltd (TCIL).

As per the plan, the government will be divesting its 15 per cent equity in TCIL and the company will be raising funds by issuing 10 per cent fresh equity shares through initial public offering (IPO).

The move is expected to fetch the government around Rs 1,100-1,200 crore.

TCIL issue may come up around January 2020, helping the company raise the fund in this financial year only.

According to sources, the IPO may help mobilise Rs 400-500 crore, required for TCIL's expansion plans, ongoing projects, and its US subsidiary. The 15 per cent share sale by government may fetch around Rs 600-700 crore.

This splitting of IPOs, called piggyback transactions, for its own funding needs has been approved by the Digital Communications Commission, the apex decision-making body of the Telecom Ministry.

"Structure the disinvestment in TCIL out of government shareholding of up to 15 per cent in conjunction with issue of fresh equity of 10 per cent by TCIL through IPO in conformity with the prevailing framework and guidelines/regulations of the SEBI. The book running lead managers will be required to undertake tasks related to all aspects of disinvestment in TCIL out of the government shareholding of up to 15 per cent in conjunction with issue of fresh equity of 10 per cent by TCIL through IPO," reads the DIPAM Notice.

TCIL wants to issue fresh shares of around 10 per cent, the source said.

The DIPAM rules say in case of issue of fresh equity in conjunction with the sale of the government stake (piggyback transactions) for listing, the CCEA approval will be obtained by the Ministry concerned in this case, DoT.

The cabinet had earlier given its nod for the overall 25 per cent stake sale, not for the 15 per cent and 10 per cent split of equity. "We need funds for our project, so we had to go for the split," said the source.

The Piggyback funding has already been done in the case of Kochin Refinery.

( With inputs from IANS )