RHFL debt resolution: SP group's litigation blocks process
THE debt resolution process of Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL), which is in the final stages, has been hit by the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group’s litigation against the home finance company.
image for illustrative purpose
Mumbai: THE debt resolution process of Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL), which is in the final stages, has been hit by the Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group's litigation against the home finance company. The lenders of RHFL are unable to proceed with the resolution process due to a coercive stay obtained by the SP Group from the Delhi High Court in November 2019.
As per the stay order, RHFL is prohibited from disposing of, alienating, encumbering either directly or indirectly or otherwise part with the possession of any of its assets, thus directly impacting the ongoing debt resolution process. SP Group is a secured lender with just Rs 200 crore exposure out of total debt of Rs 11,200 crore, i.e., less than 1.8 per cent of the total debt of RHF. RHFL's lenders have received four binding bids. Two of the bids, from ACRE and Authum Investments, are for all the assets of the company, while the other two bids, from Capri Global and Avenue-Arcil, are for only the retail assets of the company.
The bids are considered to be extremely attractive to the lenders as their values have crossed the fair value as determined by two independent valuers appointed by the lenders.
However, the lenders are unable to proceed with the resolution due to the stay obtained by the SP Group.
According to a senior banker involved in the resolution process, the lenders hope to finalise the successful bidder for RHFL's assets in the next couple of weeks. Thus, it is imperative now to settle the issue with the SP Group at the earliest.
Interestingly, the same set of banks are considering debt resolution of SP Group's over Rs 30,000 crore debt under the one-time debt restructuring (OTR) plan.
In August last year, lenders led by Bank of Baroda had invited expressions of interest for the assets of Reliance Home Finance and Reliance Commercial Finance, both arms of Reliance Capital.
