Enron Mail

From:mark.schroeder@enron.com
To:j.metts@enron.com, steven.kean@enron.com
Subject:More Information
Cc:
Bcc:
Date:Fri, 2 Jun 2000 04:08:00 -0700 (PDT)

Answer to the query about GAIL investment in India is below. mcs
---------------------- Forwarded by Mark Schroeder/LON/ECT on 02/06/2000
11:10 ---------------------------


Jane Wilson@ENRON_DEVELOPMENT
02/06/2000 21:22
To: Mark Schroeder@ECT
cc:

Subject: More Information

We own 5% of GAIL by way of "global deposit receipts." We are not allowed
to sell these GDRs in India but may sell them anywhere else. They are listed
on the London Exchange. One thing to think about is that GAIL will be
privatized in the long term. As the largest private investor, we will be
able to convrt to voting stock. However, to do so we must obtain the consent
of the FIPB (left out a letter earlier) -- the Foreign Investment Promotion
Board. Apparently, this is not a good time to even think about it because
there is a huge debate in Delhi about the role of foreign oil companies in
their sector, i.e., the wisdom of allowing foreign ownership of the oil
sector.

On a separate topic, I need to do due diligence on the "Power Trading
Corporation". This is part of the Powergrid state organization which is
currently comprised of three sections: the central transmission agency, the
central independent system operator and the Power Trading Corporation. I've
been reading news clippings that sound so peculiar that this organization, I
suspect, can harm our marketing designs in India. FYI, there is discussion
about our investing in this organization and perhaps trading through it as a
way to manage credit risk. I'll let you know more as I learn it.