INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: The government is planning to list Bharat-22 ETF on an overseas stock exchange to unlock its value and raise foreign capital
The government has already raised Rs 22,900 crore through two tranches of Bharat-22 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) in the domestic markets
"There have been some initial discussions on whether Bharat-22 ETF can tap the overseas markets," an official told
After the government decides on an overseas listing, the investment bankers would assess investor demand and a final call would then be
taken on which stock exchange the ETF is to be listed, the official said
Launched in 2017-18 fiscal, the Bharat 22 ETF, consist of 16 central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), three PSU banks and three private
sector companies - ITC, LT and Axis Bank - where Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India (SUUTI) holds stake
"Bharat-22 ETF basket is diversified and there should be investor demand in overseas market," the official added
The state-owned companies or PSUs that are part of the new Bharat ETF-22 include ONGC, IOC, SBI, BPCL, Coal India and Nalco
The other central public sector enterprises on the list are Bharat Electronics, Engineers India, NBCC, NTPC, NHPC, SJVNL, GAIL, PGCIL and
Only three public sector banks -- SBI, Indian Bank and Bank of Baroda -- figure in the Bharat-22 index
The official said the ETF route is a safer mode of disinvestment as it shields investors against stock market volatility
Currently, Indian companies can list abroad through American Depository Receipts or Global Depository Receipts
Through the first tranche of Bharat-22 ETF the government had raised Rs 14,500 crore in November 2017
While, through the second tranche in June 2018, it mopped up Rs 8,400 crore
In the current fiscal, the government has set a target of Rs 80,000 crore to be raised through PSU disinvestment, as against Rs 1.03 lakh
crore raised in 2017-18 fiscal.
