RINL share sale deferred on volatile markets

Considering volatile market conditions, the Rs 2,500-crore initial offer of RINL has been delayed by at least three weeks on advice of merchant bankers UBS Securities India and Deutsche Equities (India) that early July launch of the issue may not yield desired results.

"The RINL IPO has been delayed by three weeks. Merchant bankers for the issue have stated the government that time is not conducive now for the issue to hit the market due to the volatile market conditions. All proposed roadshows have also been deferred," a source in the government said.

A top company official said the pre-marketing road-shows, which were to be started with Mumbai from Tuesday, have been cancelled for the time being, but department of disinvestment is yet to communicate the company any fresh time-line.

The RINL issue, was slated to hit the domestic market on July 3 and kick-start the ambitious disinvestment process of the government for the current fiscal. The postponement of the issue is a bad start to the Rs 30,000 crore disinvestment target that the government has set for the current fiscal.

"Merchant bankers are of the view that attempting the issue amidst the volatile conditions would not result in getting strong reception for the transaction," he said.

The successful journey of the issue in domestic bourses was critical for the government to line up other issues to meet the Rs 30,000 crore target and aim to bring down the widening fiscal deficit.

The two merchant bankers of the issue - UBS Securities India and Deutsche Equities (India) - have recently suggested the government to delay the launching of the issue by three weeks with the hope that the domestic market would look up by then with the strengthening of rupee and softening of crude oil prices.