No finalisation of Binani Cement asset sale

The Supreme Court restrained finalisation of the sale of assets of the bankrupt Binani Cement without its prior approval. However, it allowed the debt resolution process to go on. The top court also said that further proceedings will be subject to its orders. This effectively means that while the committee of creditors (CoC) and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) can carry on with the process, they cannot conclude the sale of the company to any of the bidders without SC’s approval. The apex court was hearing an appeal by Dalmia Bharat’s subsidiary, Rajputana Properties (RPPL), against the May 15 order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that allowed the CoC to consider a revised offer for Binani Cement put forth by UltraTech Cement. Dalmia Bharat had emerged as the top bidder for acquisition of assets of Binani Cement, but subsequently UltraTech Cement, which was the second highest bidder, came back with a revised higher offer, backed by original promoters of Binani Cement. On May 28, Binani Cement’s CoC had voted in absolute majority in favour of the revised resolution plan submitted by UltraTech Cement that has offered to pay Rs 7,960 crore for the bankrupt firm. Under this plan, all the financial as well as the operational creditors will receive their complete dues. The resolution plan was subsequently required to be approved by the NCLT and the NCLAT where the matter is pending. The next hearing at the tribunal is scheduled on June 18. Binani Cement, a subsidiary of Binani Industries, has a manufacturing capacity of 11.25 million tonnes of cement per year with integrated plants in India and China, and grinding units in Dubai. In FY17, the cement maker had posted a net loss of Rs 348 crore on revenues of Rs 1,527 crore, according to data from Capitaline.