Govt may tap OFS for disinvestments in rest of FY24

In the fiscal strategy for the remainder of FY24, the government opts to leverage the offer-for-sale (OFS) route for disinvestments in listed public sector enterprises, steering away from initiating fresh strategic sales. This strategic shift arises from considerations of weak market conditions and a reluctance to pursue strategic divestments in PSUs operating in states heading into elections. The decision aims to ensure compliance with minimum shareholding norms in select PSUs, with OFS transactions expected towards the fiscal year-end. The government had initially contemplated substantial strategic disinvestments, including entities like IDBI Bank Ltd and Shipping Corp. of India Ltd; however, market realities have prompted a shift towards the OFS mechanism for fiscal prudence. As of November, disinvestment proceeds total ₹8,000 crore, with over half derived from a 3% stake sale in Coal India Ltd via OFS. This approach aligns with the ongoing trend of selling smaller stakes in listed PSUs to achieve disinvestment targets. The Union budget had set a disinvestment goal of ₹51,000 crore for 2023-24, and this revised strategy emphasizes the continued reliance on OFS for fiscal objectives.