Raising Minimum Public Shareholding a Positive: Nilesh Shah

Kotak Mahindra Asset Management’s Managing Director, Nilesh Shah was all praise for the 2019 Union Budget. When asked why, he said that in his opinion, three things stood out – the first being the strategic divestment of PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings), which he feels is a positive sign. The second being the government’s intent to cut stake below 51% in non-finance PSUs on case-by-case basis, and that government-owned entities will also be considered in that 51% bracket.

“So we are creating a journey where instead of paying 1 lakh to 1 lakh 50 thousand crore a year, we will receive the same from these entities.”

Nilesh Shah, MD, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management

He further added that if the government opens our doors to Foreign Direct Investments through a sovereign bond issue, and an eventual roadmap if we are getting into emerging market bond index, then that straight away opens up between $75-100 billion of capital flows.

“This will allow government to spend on infrastructure and at the same time not crowd out private investment.”

Nilesh Shah, MD, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management