IFCI CEO Atul K Rai resigns on differences with govt

Atul Kumar Rai, CEO and managing director of state-owned financial institution IFCI,  has resigned from the company following differences with the government. Rai, whose term was till June 2017, has tendered his resignation, sources said.

He joined IFCI in July 2007 after his predecessor RM Malla was elevated as chairman and managing director of SIDBI.

Before joining IFCI, Rai, an IES officer, worked for over 20 years in various positions in the government of India (GoI). He was re-appointed by the board in June, 2012 for a period of five years.

However, sources said the government was not happy with his performance. Rai could not be reached for his comments on the development.

In October 2012, the government's stake in the company rose to 55.57 percent following the conversion of debentures worth Rs 923 crore that it held in IFCI into equity. Following the restructuring of shareholding, the government appointed two directors on the board.

Since 2001, the government had been giving funds to IFCI to help it tide over financial problems. It initially gave Rs 400 crore in the form of 20-year OCDs.

In 2002-03, as part of the financial restructuring package of Rs 5,220 crore, the government gave IFCI Rs 523 crore as loan in the form of OCDs. However, the government stopped releasing funds after IFCI started making profits.

The decision to go ahead with the conversion of OCDs into equity was taken by the committee of secretaries and the government had also taken exemption from Sebi for application of the takeover code.

Shares of the IFCI closed at Rs 26.20 per unit, down 2.24 percent on the BSE.