Govt likely to pledge SUUTI assets to meet disinvestment target

23 Dec 2011 Evaluate

The government in an attempt to meet the fiscal deficit target of Rs 40,000 crore is looking to pledge Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India’s (SUUTI) portfolio to set up a new company that will buy government's stake in public sector units (PSUs).

The proposal, which is being considered by the finance ministry, involves transfer of assets of SUUTI to a holding company. Subsequently the new entity will pledge the assets of the SUUTI, currently estimated at around Rs 50,000 crore, and utilize the proceeds to buy government equity in state-run companies.

According to the Financial Stability Report, fiscal situation remains challenging as the revenue collections were lower than expected in the first half of the current year. The stress is likely to worsen as the risks of fiscal slippage have increased during the current year. Slowdown in revenue collections and the potential rise in food, fertilizer and fuel subsidies may make attaining the budgetary target of fiscal deficit of 4.6% of GDP for 2011-12 challenging.

The government’s move is expected to bring enough money for meeting its disinvestment target of Rs 40,000 crore in FY12. The government had in its budget announced plans to sell its stakes in various public sector units to raise Rs 40,000 crore. The plans, however, were hit by a weak capital market, and the government has only managed to raise Rs 1,165 crore, or 2.9%, of the targeted amount from the sale of its equity in Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

‘We will dissolve SUUTI soon and form another company. SUUTI's assets, which are worth around Rs 50,000 crore, will be transferred to that government-owned company. It will pledge SUUTI's assets to raise loans and buy shares of existing PSUs. A cabinet note will have to be moved for the purpose,’ said a senior finance ministry official. Thereafter the new company will be allowed to sell PSU shares once the capital market regains its lost strength.

SUUTI was formed from the restructuring of the former Unit Trust of India (UTI) after the collapse of its assured return schemes. At present, SUUTI is governed by the UTI (Repeal) Act. Its assets include stakes in Axis Bank (23.58%), ITC (11.54%) and Larsen & Toubro (8.27%), totaling Rs 31,916 crore in value.

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