Advertisements for Advisors

Government of India

MINISTRY OF DISINVESTMENT

ENGAGEMENT OF GLOBAL COORDINATOR CUM ADVISOR (GCA) FOR DISINVESTMENT IN BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED (BPCL)

1.0       Introduction

1.1       Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., a central public sector undertaking, is one of the leading petroleum companies in India and having sizable share in the refining, retail marketing, tankage and pipelines in the petroleum sector. The Turn over and Profit after tax of the company for the year 2001-02 are Rs.42294 crore and Rs.850 crore respectively.

1.2       Government decision

            The Government of India (GOI) intends to disinvest out of its 66.20% equity shareholding in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), equity shares to the extent of 10% through domestic offer (retail and institutional) and 25.20% through ADR.  Expressions of Interest are invited, by 17.30 Hrs. (IST) on 4^th April 2003, from reputed merchant/investment bankers either singly or as a consortium, with specific expertise in disinvestment through capital market offerings (Domestic as well as ADR) to act as Global Coordinator cum Advisor to assist and advise the Government in this process.

1.3       GOI would separately offer 5% to the employees thereby bringing down GOI’s stake in BPCL to 26%.

2.0       Responsibilities of the Global Coordinator cum Advisor (GCA)

2.1       The Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor (GCA) would be required, inter alia, to advise on the timings and the modalities of the capital market offer, to ensure best returns to the Government. They would be required to advise on all aspects of the domestic and ADR offering including assisting Government in identification and selection of lawyers, accountants, other intermediaries and coordinate their work under the guidance of the Government, complete due-diligence, draft offering documents, red herring prospectus, etc. for the issue, coordinate with printers for timely completion and distribution of offering documents and other relevant material needed for sale. Their responsibilities would include pre-market survey, road shows, book building and generation of interest amongst prospective investors. The GCA will also be required to do the market research along with pricing and allocation of shares and after sale support in case of domestic as well as international issues. They would also guide and facilitate in obtaining necessary approvals, completion of regulatory requirements including Listing etc. and perform all other responsibilities connected with such offerings.  The responsibilities of GCA would also include appropriate underwriting connected with the offering.

2.2       Since it is desirable for Government to have two Global Coordinators, having adequate experience in similar offerings, Government would select two parties who together form a team and will be called Joint Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor (JGCA). The JGCAs selected will also have to form a syndicate including co-managers in consultation with Government.

3.0       Submission of Expression of Interest

3.1       Reputed merchant/investment bankers with adequate and specific expertise in disinvestment through capital market offering (Domestic and ADR) are invited to submit Expressions of Interest either singly or as a consortium for selection as GCA to Shri P.K. Basu, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Disinvestment, Room No.206, II Floor, Block No.11, CGO Complex, New Delhi-110 003. The bidders would be required to deposit along with the Expression of Interest, a non-refundable earnest fee of INR 40,000 by way of a demand draft drawn in favour of ‘Pay and Accounts Officer, Ministry of Disinvestment, New Delhi’ payable at Delhi. GOI reserves the sole right to accept or reject any or all Expressions of Interest without assigning any reasons therefor.  Together with the Expression of Interest, the following details are to be sent:

(i)                 Full particulars of the constitution, ownership and main business activities of the prospective Global Coordinator-cum Advisor (bidder). In case of consortium bids, the particulars of the coordinating firm having the principal responsibility for the mandate as well as those of other partners.

(ii)               Unabridged Annual Reports or audited financial accounts for the last three years of all the partners.

(iii)             Details of the pending litigation and contingent liabilities, if any, that could affect the performance of the bidder under the mandate, as also details of any past conviction and pending litigation against sponsors/partners, Directors etc., and any areas of possible conflicts of interest.

(iv)       Details of Domestic issues managed as Lead Manager/Book Runner or Co-Lead Manager/Co-Book Runner, in respect of issue size of more than Rs.200 crore and the details of issues managed as Global Coordinator or Joint Global Coordinator/Book Runners, in respect of issue size of more than US $ 100 million are to be furnished in the format given in Annexure-I.

(v)        Understanding of the Company

Details of understanding and SWOT analysis of BPCL may be furnished.

(vi)       Experience and presence in India

A brief note evidencing the prospective GCA’s strength in India indicating the number and addresses of offices, manpower and investment, if any, in the Indian capital market as follows:

(a)       Commitment to India, indicating net investment In Indian capital market

(b)       The quality and quantity of presence in India with specific reference to research team

(c)        Number and places of offices with address, manpower with the investment banking team.

(vii)      Broad Scheme for the issue

a)         Optimal syndicate structure suggested to maximize quality and quantity of demand.

            b)         Proposal on syndicate incentivisation.

            c)         Strategy for pre-marketing.

d)         Proposed Road Show venues and reasons for suggesting the same.

e)         Commitment(s) which may act either as a constraint or as a conflicting interest to your involvement in the proposed ADR issue

(viii)     Manpower commitment

Details of team who will be handling the proposed issue, their status in the organization, their background, qualification, experience and present addresses.

(ix)       Marketing and Demand Analysis

Details of the following should be furnished:

a)         Equity sales and distribution capacity with demonstrated capability of selling Indian issues in particular, Asian equity and global equity along with distribution network.

b)         Demand analysis as projected and details of sectors influencing demand.

c)         Strategy for marketing shares and identification of target investor groups.

d)         Identification of key selling points.

(x)        Valuation Methodology

Details of the valuation methodology to be followed in determining the final pricing of the issue, indicating clearly the pricing level proposed to be underwritten.

(xi)       Quality of Research

Research strength in the country, sector, region, world based on rating as established by independent global surveys.  Details should be given relating to research capabilities and experience and background of the research team.

(xii)      After-market support

Strength in lending after market support, with specific reference to Indian issues managed in the past.

(xiii)     Underwriting capabilities

Underwriting capabilities including details of capital base of the Investment Bank available to support such underwriting, record of past underwriting commitments and experience. Also, the details of any of the underwriting commitments (including hard underwriting), which could not be met, may also be furnished.

(xiv)     Time Schedule

A realistic time schedule for launching the proposed Domestic and ADR issue with complete break up of activities to be undertaken by various agencies involved in the issue.

3.2       All the information sought above, and any other additional information considered necessary by the bidder, should be sent, in 3 copies, maximum of 10 pages (font size 12) to the officer mentioned in para 3.1 as a part of the Expression of Interest (EOI).

4.0       Eligibility

Government of India has issued guidelines prescribing certain qualifications for Advisors for disinvestment process. A copy of the guidelines (OM No. 6/4/2001-DD-II dated 13^th July, 2001) is enclosed (Annexure-II). The interested parties are requested to carefully go through the guidelines and after satisfying that they are qualified to act as Joint Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor, furnish the following certificate as a part of the proposal/EOI.

“We certify that there has been no conviction by a Court of Law or indictment/adverse order by a regulatory authority for a grave offence against us or any of our sister concern. It is further certified that there is no investigation pending against us or our sister concern or the CEO, Directors/Managers / Employees of our concern or of our sister concern. It is certified that no conflict of interest exists as on date and if in future such a conflict of interest arises we will intimate the Government of India of the same.”

5.0       Presentation

5.1       Qualified interested parties would be required to make a presentation of their credentials and the proposed transaction, before an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) at New Delhi in the Committee Room of Ministry of Disinvestment, Room No.515, Block No.14, CGO Complex, New Delhi-110003.  The exact date and time of the presentation will be intimated separately. The parties will be assessed broadly on the following criteria:

a)          Experience and capabilities in handling similar transactions as Advisors/Global Coordinators.

b)          Sector expertise and experience

c)          Understanding of the BPCL.

d)          Deal team qualification and manpower commitment to the deal.

e)          Marketing strategy and after market support

f)           Local presence and level of commitment to India.

g)          Global presence and distribution capabilities.

h)          Research capabilities.

5.2       Immediately after their presentation is over, the parties are required to hand over two sealed envelopes containing the fee quotes mentioned in para 6.1 and 6.2 below to the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial-Group. The fee quoted should be unconditional and gross of all taxes.

6.0       Fee

6.1       The Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor will need to quote a combined (Blended) fee for the domestic and the ADR issue as a percentage of disinvestment proceeds through these routes in a sealed envelope. (Envelope marked as ‘1’). The fee quoted should be unconditional and gross of all taxes.

6.2       The Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor will also need to quote fees for the domestic as well as the ADR issue separately as a percentage of disinvestment proceeds through these routes in separate sealed envelope. (Envelope marked as ‘2’). The fee quoted should be unconditional and gross of all taxes. The Envelope ‘2’ should also contain the quotation for drop dead fees for the domestic and ADR issues separately, to be payable in case Government abandons at any stage the particular mode of disinvestment after the work on that particular mode has been started by the Government/Advisor.

6.3       The bid should be unconditional. Expenditure on account of fees to legal/accounting or any other consultant, as well as to printers appointed by GOI, should not be included in the financial bid. Expenses of Road Shows, conferences and travel, boarding and lodging, only of Government/BPCL officials will be borne by the Government. The expenses of the Custodian will also be borne by the Government/Company.  Contributions made by the depository shall be directly remitted to the account of the Government/Company and shall be excluded from any appropriation in relation to the Gross amount payable to the GCA. The GCA will, however, pay the travel related expenses and all the other expenses including those related to their due diligence, their road show expenses and pre-marketing expenses in connection with the offerings, expenses of legal counsels, accountants and other experts appointed by them for communication and for preparation of offering circular and prospectus, etc. The GCA will be liable to pay taxes for their professional services as per laws of the land.

6.4       Government would select two parties and both of them would work as a team.    Both the selected parties would be called Joint Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor (JGCA). The GCAs selected will also have to form a syndicate including co-managers in consultation with Government.  The fee quoted by the selected Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor shall include provisions for such other Global Coordinator and syndicate members who would be included, in consultation with Government. The fee to be quoted by the Global Coordinator-cum-Advisors would be shared equally between the two Global Coordinator-cum-Advisors so appointed by Government.

7.0       Procedure for Selection of the Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor (GCA)

7.1       Based on the Expression of Interest received from the interested parties, Government would request them to make a presentation before an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) constituted by Government.

7.2       The IMG would evaluate the parties based on their presentation and shortlist them for the purpose of opening their financial bids.

7.3       The envelopes (mentioned in para 6.1) containing the Blended rate of the shortlisted bidders would be opened to find out the lowest blended rate quote (L1) and then the other envelope (containing the individual rates for domestic and ADR mentioned in para 6.2) of that party (L1) alone would be opened. The blended rate of L1 would become the blended rate for transaction and the individual rates quoted by that party would become the individual rates for domestic and ADR issues. The above rates would be offered to the party whose blended rate quote is next higher (L2). In case, L2 does not accept the offer, Government will make the offer to the party (L3) whose blended rate is next higher. This process will continue till Government appoints two GCAs.

7.4       The two GCAs selected by Government would work as a team and both the selected GCAs would be called Joint Global Coordinator-cum-Advisor (JGCA). The two Joint Global Coordinator-cum-Advisors (JGCAs) would share the aforesaid fees equally.

7.5       Payment of the fees

(i)                 If the domestic issue is completed first, the two JGCAs together would be paid 75% of X, where X = (total proceeds of the domestic issue) x (fee rate for the domestic portion). Balance is paid after completion of ADR issue i.e. (total proceeds of domestic + ADR)*(blended rate) minus 0.75 of X.

(ii)               If the ADR issue is completed first, the two JGCAs together would be paid 75% of Y, where Y = (total proceeds of the ADR issue) x (fee rate for the ADR portion). Balance is paid after completion of domestic issue i.e. (total proceeds of domestic + ADR)*(blended rate) minus 0.75 of Y.

(iii)             If domestic and ADR issues are completed simultaneously, then two JGCAs together would be paid Z, where Z = (total proceeds of domestic + ADR)*(blended rate).

8.0       Clarifications          

8.1       If any further clarification is needed about the assignment, the under-mentioned officer may be contacted.

Shri G. Ramachandran

Deputy Secretary

Ministry of Disinvestment

II Floor, Block No.11

CGO Complex

Lodhi Road

New Delhi - 110 003

Tel. 011-2436 8531

Fax 011-2436 6524

e-mail: dsr@hub.nic.in

Annexure-I

Details of ADR Issues/Domestic Issues

(Value US $ Million)

Annexure-II

No. 6/4/2001-DD-II

Government of India

Department of Disinvestment 

Block 14, CGO Complex

New Delhi.

Dated 13^th July 2001.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Guidelines for qualification of Advisors for disinvestment process

Government has examined the issue of framing comprehensive and transparent guidelines defining the criteria for selection of Advisors, so that the parties selected through competitive bidding inspire public confidence.  Earlier, a set of criteria like sector experience, knowledge, commitment etc. used to be prescribed. Based on experience and in consultation with concerned departments, Government has decided to prescribe the following additional criteria for the qualification/disqualification of the parties to act as Advisors to the Government for the disinvestment transactions:

(a)   Any conviction by a Court of Law or indictment / adverse order by a regulatory authority for a grave offence against the Advising concern or its sister concern would constitute a disqualification.  Grave offence would be defined to be of such a nature that it outrages the moral sense of the community.  The decision in regard to the nature of offence would be taken on a case-to-case basis after considering the facts of the case and relevant legal principles by the Government.  Similarly, the decision in regard to the relationship between the sister concerns would be taken, based on relevant facts and after examining whether the two concerns are substantially controlled by the same person/persons.

(b)   In case such a disqualification takes place, after the entity has already been appointed as Advisor, the party would be under an obligation to withdraw voluntarily from the disinvestment process, failing which the Government would have the liberty to terminate the appointment / contract.

(c)    Disqualification shall continue for a period that Government deems appropriate.

(d)   Any entity, which is disqualified from participating in the disinvestment process, would not be allowed to remain associated with it or get associated merely because it has preferred an appeal against the order based on which it has been disqualified.  The mere pendency of appeal will have no effect on the disqualification.

(e)   The disqualification criteria would come into effect immediately and would apply to all the Advisors already appointed by the Government for various disinvestment transactions, which have not yet been completed.

(f) Before disqualifying a concern, a Show Cause Notice why it should not disqualified would be issued to it and it would be given an opportunity to explain its position.

(g) Henceforth, these criteria will be prescribed in the advertisements seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from the interested parties to act as Advisor.  Further, the interested parties shall be required to provide with their EOI an undertaking to the effect that no investigation by a regulatory authority is pending against them.  In case any investigation is pending against the concern or its sister concern or against the CEO or any of its Directors/Managers/Employees, full details of such investigation including the name of the investigating agency, the charge/offence for which the investigation has been launched, name and designation of persons against whom the investigation has been launched and other relevant information should be disclosed, to the satisfaction of the Government. For other criteria also, similar undertaking will be obtained along with EOI.  They would also have to give an undertaking that if they are disqualified as per the prescribed criteria, at any time before the transaction is completed, they would be required to inform the Government of the same and voluntarily withdraw from the assignment.

(h) The interested parties would also be required to give an undertaking that there exists no conflict of interest as on the date of their appointment as Advisors in handling of the transaction and that, in future, if such a conflict of interest arises, the Advisor would immediately intimate the Government of the same.  For disinvestment proposes, ‘conflict of interest’ is defined to include engaging in any activity or business by the Advisor in association with any third Party, during the engagement, which would or may be reasonably expected to, directly or indirectly, materially adversely affect the interest of Government of India or the Company (being disinvested) in relation to the transaction, and in respect of which the Advisor has or may obtain any proprietary or confidential information during the engagement, that, if known to any other client of the Advisor, could be used in any manner by such client to the material disadvantage of Government of India or the Company (being disinvested) in the transaction. The conflict of interest would be deemed to have arisen if any Advisor firm/concern, has any professional or commercial relationship with any bidding firm / concern for the same disinvestment transaction during the pendency of such transaction.  In this context, both Advisor firm and bidding firm would mean the distinct and separate legal entities and would not include their sister concern, group concern or affiliates etc.  The professional or commercial relationship is defined to include acting on behalf of the bidder or undertaking any assignment for the bidder of any nature, whether or not directly related to disinvestment transaction.

(i)   On receiving information on conflict of interest, the Government would give the option to the Advisor to either eliminate the conflict of interest within a stipulated time or withdraw from the transaction and the Advisor would be required to act accordingly, failing which Government would have the liberty to terminate the appointment/contract.

Sd/-

(A.K. Tewari)

Under Secretary to the Government of India