Jaypee Committee of Creditors decides to vote on NBCC bid

New Delhi: The creditors' panel of debt-laden Jaypee Infratech on Tuesday decided to vote on the revised offer of NBCC as more than 20,000 home buyers favoured the voting process for the state-run firm's bid even as bankers dissented, sources said.

The voting process would start on Thursday and end on Sunday, sources said, adding that the results would be declared on May 20.

Bankers who participated in the Committee of Creditors (CoC) meet here opposed putting the NBCC's bid to vote and pitched for further negotiations.

Soon after the CoC decided to put to vote the NBCC's bid, banks made a plea before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal for a stay on the voting process. However, the NCLAT refused to stay voting by the creditors.

A two-member NCLAT bench headed by Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya warned banks that they would get "zero rupees" if the process is stalled. Justice Mukhopadhaya said the interest of thousands of home-buyers was of prime importance and the matter needed to be resolved even if there is just one bidder.

During the CoC meeting, bankers also proposed that they would take control of Jaypee Infratech and rope in NBCC as Project Management Consultant (PMC) to complete over 20,000 delayed flats, sources said.

The opposition to the revised bid also comes against the backdrop of NBCC on Monday ruling out dilution of certain conditions, including exemption from tax liability, in its revised offer.

However, sources said home buyers struck a different note.

Kuldeep Verma, who represents home buyers in the CoC, wanted NBCC's offer to be put to vote without any delay. He also informed the committee that thousands of home buyers have intimated him that they are in favour of voting on the revised bid, sources added.

According to the sources, Verma's views prevailed as home buyers have nearly 60 per cent voting rights in the CoC but bankers expressed their dissent.

A minimum 66 per cent vote of financial creditors (bankers and homebuyers) is required for the approval of any resolution plan.

Jaypee Infratech's Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) Anuj Jain too favoured voting process for the revised offer.

Majority of homebuyers are likely to vote in favour of NBCC bid but many also fear that lenders may reject it and opt for liquidation as they do not want to take up to 60 per cent hair-cut against their claim of Rs 9,782 crore, sources said.

The CoC is considering NBCC's revised offer after it rejected Mumbai-based Suraksha Realty's bid on May 3, through voting process.

Earlier, the creditors' panel did not allow vote on NBCC's bid citing lack of approvals from the government departments. NBCC later got all the necessary clearances.