Mumbai, July 14 :
Mumbai, July 14:
The wait for millions of US-64 investors got a bit longer, with the rescue package from the Unit Trust of India (UTI) yet to materialise.
The board of trustees of the mutual fund major again failed to arrive at any decision today and sought more time to finalise the revival package.
After a marathon meeting lasting over three hours, the board, announced in a press statement: 'The board needed more information to refine the package and will meet soon to continue its deliberations.'
Today's board meeting was held to work out a package to address liquidity needs of small investors of the mutual fund's flagship scheme, the US-64.
While indications are that the package is likely to be out next week, the reasons for the delay in arriving at a rescue plan are not clear. Though UTI officials chose not to speak to waiting mediapersons, the tension was palpable as grim trustee members walked away without offering any comments.
Noticeable among them were R. H. Patil, former managing director of the National Stock Exchange and N. Soonawala, non-executive vice-chairman, Tata Sons, even as board members were still closeted in a meeting. Both Patil and Soonawala, alongwith Y. H. Malegam, are part of a committee formed to advise the board on alternatives to provide redemption facilities to US-64 investors. Asked to comment on today's deliberations, Patil declined, saying, 'the UTI chairman should tell you'.
However, the UTI chairman went into a huddle with his management team immediately after the board meeting.
Though retail US-64 investors may now have to wait till next week for the freeze on sale and repurchase to be lifted, the board, it is speculated, may be divided over the issue of favouring small investors, as the move could be legally challenged by the larger investors. Reports say the bailout will be restricted to those investors holding a maximum of 1,000 units of US-64. Estimates suggest UTI will have to fork out at least Rs 3,000 crore if redemptions were to be allowed for the small investors.