New Delhi : In a big boost to its precarious financial position, Air India’s Financial Restructuring Plan (FRP) has been approved by a consortium of banks, which may enable the ailing carrier save substantially in the first year itself.

As part of the FRP, Air India signed four agreements with the SBI-led consortium late Friday evening.

These were the Master Restructuring Agreement, Working Capital Facility Agreement, Appointment of Facility Agent Agreement and Appointment of Trustee Agreement, an airline official  said on Saturday.

“The Cabinet approval for infusion of funds is still awaited and is expected to be received some time next week,” the official said.
Implementation of the FRP would begin after the Union Cabinet approves additional equity infusion into the airline.

Officials of at least 19 banks were present at the signing ceremony held here.

One of the major highlights of the agreements include conversion of about Rs 10,500 crore of the airline’s working capital in to long-term loan, carrying an annual interest of 11 per cent.

“The first year interest would accumulate in a funded interest term plan,” the official said, adding these would lead to substantial savings of about Rs 1,000 crore in 2012-13 itself.

In addition, non-convertible debentures (NCDs), guaranteed by the government, worth Rs 7,400 crore would be issued and subscribed by the investors, and proceeds from the NCDs would be used to repay the lenders. Further, a part of the working capital of about Rs 3,500 crore would be restructured as cash credit arrangement.

Under the FRP, Air India has proposed that the government should infuse equity of about Rs 30,231 crore in the 2012-21 financial period.

It also includes conversion of short-term working capital loan of Rs 7,000 crore into cumulative preferential shares or NCDs and more time to repay a debt amount of approximately Rs 14,000 crore.

The government has so far infused equity of Rs 800 crore in 2009-10, Rs 1,200 crore in 2010-11 and another Rs 1,200 crore in 2011-12.

Air India has outstanding loans and dues worth Rs 67,520 crore, of which Rs 21,200 crore is working capital loan, Rs 22,000 crore long-term loan on fleet acquisition, Rs 4,600 crore vendor dues and accumulated loss of Rs 20,320 crore.

Oil firms hike jet fuel prices by 3%

State-owned oil companies on Satur day hiked jet fuel price by about 3 per cent, the third time they have increased rates this month.

The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in Delhi was hiked by Rs 1,850.96 per kilolitre (kl), or 2.8 per cent, to Rs 67,800.30 per kl with effect from midnight, Indian Oil

Corporation, making the announcement on behalf of the industry, said.

The price increase comes on the back of jump in rates effected from March 1 and March 16 because of firming international oil prices. ATF rates had been increased by 3.2 per cent from March 1 and by Rs 1,298.88 per kl from March 16. In Mumbai, jet fuel will cost Rs 68,806.82 per kl, against the current rate of Rs 66,989.74 per kl.