BPCL privatisation: Exemption from open offers for Petronet, IGL unlikely

New Delhi: India's capital market regulator is unlikely to give exemption to the company acquiring BPCL from making mandatory open offers for Petronet LNG Ltd and Indraprastha Gas - share purchases which will be countered by other promoters of the two firms such as GAIL to save from going private, officials said. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) holds 12.5 per cent of the shareholding in India's largest liquefied natural gas importer, Petronet, and a 22.5 per cent stake in city gas retailer, IGL. It is a promoter of both the listed companies and holds board positions.

As per the legal position evaluated by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) - the department running the process for the sale of the government's entire 52.98 per cent stake in BPCL - the acquirer of BPCL will have to make open offers to the minority shareholders of Petronet and IGL for the acquisition of 26 per cent shares. To avoid such a scenario, an exemption request was made to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

"We have been informally told that the exemption request is unlikely to be acceded as SEBI mandate is to protect minority shareholder interest," a top government official, who did not wish to be named as the information is not public, said. If the open offers are successful, the acquirer of BPCL would also become the largest shareholder in Petronet (12.5 per cent of BPCL plus 26 per cent from the public) and get a controlling holding in IGL (22.5 per cent of BPCL and 26 per cent from public).

"So in essence, the two companies will also get divested alongside BPCL," the official said. To check this from happening, the other promoters of Petronet and IGL would also launch counter offers to buy an equivalent 26 per cent stake so as to ensure public sector firms retain a controlling stake. PTI had on July 21 first reported on the move by promoters of Petronet and IGL to save the companies.

"We have a clear understanding that there is no bar on other promoters from launching share purchase offers and they will do it," he said. State-owned gas utility GAIL is an equal promoter of IGL alongside BPCL. In Petronet, GAIL, refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) are joint promoters alongside BPCL, holding 12.5 per cent stake each. The remaining shares in both Petronet and IGL are held by public and institutional investors.

Originally, DIPAM had on April 19 made a request to SEBI for a grant of exemption for an open offer in Petronet and IGL. SEBI, however, conveyed that the application needs to be made in the prescribed format by BPCL as the promoter of IGL and Petronet, the official said adding BPCL subsequently made such an application.