AI invites offer for appointing merchant bankers for NCDs

Move part of fim's financial restructuring plan approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in April

Air India has invited offers for appointment of merchant bankers for issuing government- guaranteed bonds to the tune of Rs 7,400 crore to raise resources, airline sources said today.

The move to issue non-convertible debentures (NCDs) is part of the cash-strapped national carrier's financial restructuring plan (FRP) and the turnaround plan (TAP) which were approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in April.

The NCDs, which would be issued to banks and financial institutions to repay part of the working capital loans, are expected to have a maturity period of 19 years, the sources said, adding that the bids would have to be submitted by August 6.

The airline aims at getting the NCDs placed and subscribed by September 30, they said, adding the government guarantee would make the return on NCDs legally valid and binding even in the event Air India going insolvent.

A suitable structured payment mechanism would be designed for timely payment of interest and repayment of principal, while the interest on the NCDs would be serviced by the company out of the equity infusion by government as part of the FRP, the sources said.

FRP envisages retirement of Air India's short-term loans through the proceeds of the NCDs, they said, adding it aims to convert Rs 18,500 crore of the short-term debt into long-term borrowings.

Global rating agency Fitch had earlier affirmed 'AAA' rating, indicating lowest credit risk, to Air India's Rs 700 crore worth of NCDs which were issued in March this year for a period of ten years, the sources said.