Jet Airways crisis: SBI says prospective bidders will be shortlisted soon

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced the initiation of the formalities for the orderly sale of its stake in crisis-hit Jet Airways. The largest public sector bank of India said that the bid process for the orderly sale of equity in Jet Airways is currently being run by SBI Caps and is being vetted by the legal team. The prospective bidders will be shortlisted by SBI CAPs shortly.   

SBI spokesperson said, "The bid process for the orderly sale of equity in Jet Airways is currently being run by SBI CAPS and is being vetted by the legal team. The prospective bidders will be shortlisted by SBI CAPs shortly. The proposed equity conversion by banks, if any, will be undertaken as a transitory mechanism to facilitate the bidding cum sale process." The spokesperson said that the SBI is acting on behalf of the group of lenders as part of the Bank Led Resolution Process.

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"Necessary support to facilitate the process is being extended by the banks in the consortium. Cooperation by and support from all the other stakeholders will be the key to the success of the process," the SBI spokesperson concluded.

With no funds coming in from its lenders, the beleaguered Jet Airways had to extend the suspension of its international flights till April 18. Banks had earlier promised to pump Rs 1,500 crore into the airline.

"The interim funding has not been forthcoming thus far, and as a result, we have extended cancellation of international operations through Thursday," said CEO Vinay Dube in a letter on Monday to Jet's over 20,000 employees. (With inputs from PTI)