Lenders to debt-laden ABG Shipyard reject resolution plan by Liberty House

Debt-ridden ABG Shipyards may challenge the decision

Liberty House, ABG Shipyard, acquistion
plan includes a ship breaking facility, along with the existing shipbuilding and repair space.
Abhijit Lele Mumbai
Last Updated : Dec 21 2018 | 1:20 AM IST
The lenders to debt-ridden ABG Shipyard have rejected the resolution plan by Liberty House, the London-based metals group founded by India-born billionaire Sanjeev Gupta, perhaps paving the way for liquidation of the ship building company.
 
The firm, in a filing with the BSE, said the committee of creditors (CoC) took stock of and voted on the resolution plan submitted by Liberty House Group, pursuant to the second bid (April 23, 2018). The same was rejected by the members with the requisite majority.
 
The firm is under bankruptcy proceedings at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Lenders to the shipbuilding company had earlier rejected the first bid by Liberty House in March 2018.
 
A senior public sector banker said the suitor (Liberty House) has not honoured commitments in the three cases, which includes Amtek Auto (another case with the NCLT).
 
Therefore, lenders are wary of entertaining any additional commitment by the group. There is a likelihood of the group (Liberty) challenging the decision taken by the CoC, said another banker.
 
The outstanding debt was Rs 190.06 billion, as of August 2018. The top three lenders to the ailing company are ICICI Bank (Rs 53.04 billion), IDBI Bank (Rs 25.73 billion) and SBI (Rs 23.73 billion), according to financial claims admitted by creditors.
 
The shipbuilder is among the 12 companies identified by the Reserve Bank of India for bankruptcy resolution.
 
Incorporated in 1985, ABG Shipyard is the flagship company of ABG group, with interests in shipping and cement sectors.
 
It is one of the three private shipyards in India approved by the Indian Navy to build various types of naval vessels.
It has built several vessels for the Indian defence sector.

One subscription. Two world-class reads.

Already subscribed? Log in

Subscribe to read the full story →
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

Next Story