Reliance Capital Resolution Process Delayed

Lenders of debt-ridden Reliance Capital (RCap) may consider extending the deadline for completing the resolution process till May 30 this year, sources said. The current deadline ends on April 16, with inputs from PTI.

Based on the current status of resolution process, the second round of auction is yet to take place, it is not possible to wrap up within the current deadline. Earlier this week, lenders postponed the second auction to April 11.

In the past the deadline to complete the resolution process of RCap has been extended multiple times. On the other hand, sources said, all the three bidders-- IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL) of Hinduja Group; Torrent Investment and Singapore-based Oaktree -- who will be participating in the extended challenge mechanism (second round of auction), are still engaged with the Committee of Creditors (CoC) on certain issues or concerns raised by them.

The bidders major concern is compliance of resolution plans as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and Request for Resolution Plan (RFRP) guidelines, as in the first round of auction, bid by the Hinduja Group firm was submitted post auction.

This bidding post auction date is being negotiated by Torrent Investment in the Supreme Court as it was the highest bidder as per the auction. Hence, sources said, this time bidders want compliance of resolution plans as per IBC and RFRP guidelines, before going in for the second round of auction.

Suitors are also seeking for more transparency from the CoC in the extended challenge mechanism and have demanded that a separate e-portal be created on the extended challenge mechanism. Sources have indicated that the second round of auction, scheduled for April 11, is likely to be postponed by another week, till all the issues raised by the bidders are resolved to their satisfaction.

The second round of auction for Reliance Capital has been postponed twice in the past due to litigation. The first round of auction was held on December 21, 2022.

Reliance Capital is the third large non-banking financial company (NBFC) against which the central bank has initiated bankruptcy proceedings under IBC. Srei Group NBFC and Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL)were two other.