SA firm seeks govt help to sell 10% stake in MIAL

After the Bidvest Group, Airport Company of South Africa (ACSA) has sought help from the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and the ministry of civil aviation to sell its 10 per cent stake in Mumbai International Airport (MIAL).

The South African company warned that its board is concerned about making future investments in India, considering the legal and regulatory delays.

In a communication to the MEA, group executive (business development) of ACSA Charles Shillows said it is an investor in MIAL since 2006.

After successful completion of the project, the company decided to exit the investment in January 2019 when the Adani Group approached it to sell stake.

ACSA decided to sell its stake to the Adani Group as it wants to re-deploy funds in other markets such as Africa, South America and in Asia, including in greenfield airports in India.

But the GVK Group, which owns majority stake in MIAL, decided to move court against the sale, citing its right of first refusal.

The matter is currently pending in courts and this is leading to delay.

“However, our sale process has been frustrated due to numerous litigations, and regulatory approvals, leading to

inordinate delay in such sale,” Shillows said.

As a foreign l ong-term strategic investor in India, ACSA said it is keen to invest in upcoming opportunities such as Jewar airport, where it bid with a local partner.

“However, inordinate delays due to the legal process, and unfavourable regulatory approvals have led to concerns on future investments in India,” he said.

He added that these are critical issues, which have raised concerns at the board level on future investments in India – one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets.

When contacted, a GVK spokesperson said, “We expect to close the transaction with Bidvest and ACSA when they stop litigation. They are trying to scuttle our right of first refusal, and instead must agree to conclude the transaction in line with the shareholder agreement.”

In March last year, Bidvest announced sale of its 13.5 per cent stake to Adani Group for ~1,250 crore. At the same time, it offered its stake to other shareholders of MIAL as per the right of first refusal agreement signed with MIAL shareholders.

GVK had agreed to buy

back Bidvest’s stake but failed to arrange for funds within the 30 - day period in April 2019. The group then moved Delhi high court seeking a stay on the stake sale to Adani Group, but the high court rejected GVK’S plea in July last year. A Division bench then sent the matter to an arbitration panel.

An arbitration tribunal in January this year ruled against Bidvest on airport stake sale. Both Bidvest and ACSA said GVK wants to buy the stake, but is neither giving them the money nor depositing it in an escrow account.