Financial institutions (FIs) have asked promoters of steel companies to pledge only 51 per cent of their equity holdings in their respective firms in return for additional loans. The institutions earlier wanted promoters of steel projects to pledge their entire holding.
This decision, which was taken by FIs last week, is likely to bring some relief to cash-strapped steel majors like Essar Steel, Ispat Industries and Usha Ispat, whose promoters would have found it difficult to pledge their entire holding.
An FI source said the institutions and promoters were committed to working together.
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"All promoters and FIs are positive in working together and finding solutions to the issues facing the industry. Anti-dumping duty measures have already been taken by the ministry to improve the industry's viability," the source said.
"It is for the promoters and financial institutions to sit and negotiate on pledging holdings," the source added.
However, steel majors are yet to receive an official communication from the financial institutions in this regard.
An Essar group spokesperson said, "We have not received any communication from the institutions. However, we will consider any proposal put forward by them which is in the interest of the company and the industry."
An Ispat official said the FIs may have decided the conditions on pledging the 51 per cent share. The official said it was premature to comment on the matter and added that the company would study the conditions in totality once it received the communication.
An institutional source said there were practical problems with pledging the entire shareholding as part of it might already be pledged with other institutions. "But it is only a matter of detail, which we need to discuss," the source said.
FIs have, however, stuck to their earlier stand that promoters should not take up any new projects, other than those already committed to.
They have also reiterated that in case of the companies defaulting on loan repayments, FIs would have the right to convert their loans into equity.
Sources said FIs sent feelers to the promoters of Essar, Ispat and Usha about the three conditions during its recent meetings with the companies.
While the promoters have agreed in-principle to the conditions relating to pledging of the equity holding and new projects, they have decided to convey their approval to the FIs at a later date.
The Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) will take up the proposal of the companies at its board meet, slated for December 30, sources said.
Essar Steel has sought additional loans worth Rs 800 crore from FIs, and Ispat Industries Rs 500 crore, of which a majority is from IDBI.
Usha Ispat too has submitted a proposal for around Rs 200 crore of debt funding.
IDBI and ICICI Ltd are among the major lenders to the steel industry. IDBI has an exposure of Rs 20,000 crore, the largest among the FIs.