The government has extended the bidding deadline for BPCL till July 31
(PTI) New Delhi on 27 May 2020, Wednesday
The Central Government has for the second time extended the deadline for bidding for the privatization of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), India's second largest oil refinery, to July 31, 2020.
The Cabinet had in November last year approved the sale of the entire 52.98 per cent holding of the government in BPCL in November 2020, for which an Expression of Interest (EOI) or Bids was sought on March 7. The deadline for issuing EOI was May 2, 2020, but it was extended again from March 31, 2020 to June 13, 2020. On Wednesday, the government decided to extend this period till July 31, 2020.
The Government of India has proposed a strategic sale of its entire shareholding in BPCL of 114.91 crore shares. The company is 52.98 per cent owned by the government. Management control along with shares in BPCL will also be transferred to the strategic buyer, although the government will sell BPCL's 61.65 per cent stake in Numaligarh Refinery Ltd to another public sector oil and gas company.
Bidding for this will be done in two phases. A private company with a net worth of US 10 10 billion will be eligible to bid for BPCL and a consortium of more than four companies will not be allowed to bid. A change in the consortium will be approved within 45 days, but the lead manager cannot be replaced.
BPCL has a market capitalization of Rs 68,223 crore and a government holding of Rs 36,159 crore at current prices. The successful bidder will have to make an open offer for the remaining 26 per cent holding of other shareholders in the company.
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