By Rituraj Baruah
MUMBAI: In a major turn of events in the DHFL resolution process, the Committee of Creditors (CoC) is likely to invite fresh bids for the bankrupt NBFC and sources say that Adani Group, Piramal Enterprises and Oaktree may bid for the entire portfolio of the company.
The lenders are likely to begin voting on the resolution to seek fresh bids on Friday.
The development comes after Piramal and the other suitors protested against Adani offering the lenders to enhance its resolution plan and bid for the entire book.
According to sources, Adani Group representatives had a meeting with the lenders about a fortnight back on the matter wherein they offered to pay more than the bidding amount pegged by Oaktree, the highest bidder so far. The company has also written to the lenders — Committee of Creditors (CoC) — on the same.
Oaktree offered a revised bidding price of Rs 33,000 crore for the entire portfolio of DHFL. Adani told the CoC that it is ready to shell out Rs 250-300 crore more, compared to the offer by Oaktree, people in the know said.
Earlier, Adani had proposed to bid for the wholesale and Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) asset portfolio. It had revised its bid for the two portfolios to Rs 3,000 crore, as against the earlier bid of Rs 2,250 crore.
However, now it wants to go for the entire portfolio of DHFL, including the retail segment, said people in the know.
Piramal, which also enhance its bid, was vying for the retail portfolio. Sources, now say that Piramal too may go for the entire portfolio.
Hong Kong-based SC Lowy, which was the lowest bidder so far, may opt out of the race and not submit fresh bid, sources said.
In another development, Kapil Wadhawan, the erstwhile promoter of the DHFL has moved the National Company Law Tribunal against the RBI-appointed administrator and the Committee of Creditors of the bankrupt NBFC.
In the application dated November 24, Wadhawan described the bids received for the resolution of DHFL as “absurd”.
Saying that the administrator has not agreed to his pleas of being allowed to be part of the CoC meetings and assist in the resolution process, Wadhawan has asked the tribunal to direct the administrator to let him participate in the CoC meeting.
He also asked the Mumbai-bench of the NCLT to direct both the CoC and the administrator to consider the financial package for revival of DHFL prepared in pursuance of June 7 Circular with discussion and modification, as may be necessary.
(Rituraj Baruah can be contacted at rituraj.b@ians.in)
–IANS