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Approval of Resolution Plan - Rushabh Precision Bearings Limited

National Company Law Tribunal20 October 2023

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Adjudicating Authority, in approving a resolution plan under Section 31 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, must examine whether the plan satisfies the mandatory conditions of Section 30(2); where the plan's provisions are compared against each such condition and found to comply, the plan is approved on that basis. Where the Committee of Creditors has approved a resolution plan by the requisite voting share under Section 30(4), the Adjudicating Authority's role is confined to verifying compliance with Section 30(2), and it is not required to go beyond the matters so specified. On approval of a resolution plan, a clause extinguishing all claims not forming part of the plan is given effect, such that no person may thereafter initiate or continue proceedings in respect of a claim not included in the approved plan.

Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.

Judgment

As delivered

IN THE NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL,MUMBAI BENCH, COURT – III

IA/1745/2023 In C.P.(IB)/70(MB)2022 (Under Section 30(6) and Section 31 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 r/w Regulation 39(4) of the IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016.)

Keyur Jagdishbhai Shah, Resolution Professional for M/s. Rushabh Precision Bearings Limited ……Applicant

In the matter of M/s. Shimnit India Private Limited ……Financial Creditor Vs M/s. Rushabh Precision Bearings Limited .…..Corporate Debtor

Order Reserved on: 05.09.2023 Order delivered on: 20.10.2023

CORAM: SHRI CHARANJEET SINGH GULATI SMT LAKSHMI GURUNG HON’BLE MEMBER (T) HON’BLE MEMBER (J)

Appearances: For the Resolution Applicant : Adv. Noopur K. Dalal

ORDER Per- Lakshmi Gurung, Member Judicial It is an application filed by the Resolution Professional of the Corporate Debtor (“RP/Applicant”) under Section 30(6) and Section 31 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“the Code”) read with Regulation 39(4) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 for approval of the Resolution Plan by Adjudicating Authority based on the approval already given by the Committee of Creditors (“CoC”) in its 7th Meeting with majority of 100% under section 30(4) of the Code. [[[ 2. An application under section 7 of IB Code, 2016 was filed against the Corporate Debtor i.e., Rushabh Precision Bearings Limited by the Financial Creditor M/s. Shimnit India Private Limited and the said application was admitted by this Bench, vide Order dated 25.04.2022 in CP(IB) No. 70/MB/ 2022. By the said order the Applicant was appointed as Interim Resolution Professional (“IRP”).

3. Public Announcement in Form A was published in newspapers namely Business Standard (English) & Navshakti (Marathi) circulated in Mumbai, where registered office of the Corporate Debtor is situated and in Economic Times (English) & Gujarat Samachar (Gujarati) circulated in Surendranagar, the region where the factory office of the Corporate Debtor is situated.

4. One of the Suspended Directors of the corporate Debtor Mr. Rajesh Vohra had challenged the above order admitting the Corporate Debtor to CIRP, of this bench before Hon’ble NCLAT in Company Appeal (AT) (Insolvency) No. 536 of 2022 on the ground that he intends to settle the entire principal and interest amount within three months. NCLAT directed stay on constitution of the CoC, vide order dated 13.05.2022. However, due to non-repayment of the amount of default, the said stay was withdrawn by the Hon’ble Appellate Tribunal by an order dated 07.07.2022 and the process of the CIRP began and CoC was constituted.

5. The CoC consists of the sole Financial Creditor as per the details given below: Particulars Amount Amount Percentage of Claimed Admitted Voting Shimnit India 23,38,53,395 23,35,93,745 100% Private Limited

6. In the first meeting held on 13.07.2022, the CoC took note of the actions taken by the IRP and appointed him as RP. Further, in the Second Meeting of CoC held on 20.08.2022, the RP apprised the Members of Committee of Creditors regarding the progress made along with submission of Information Memorandum and Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI) from interested and eligible prospective resolution applicants to submit Resolution Plan. Pursuant to Regulation 36A (1) of IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons)

Regulations, 2016, Form G was uploaded on IBBI portal and published in newspapers namely: a. Free Press Journal (English Newspaper) & Navshakti (Marathi Newspaper) circulated in Mumbai, the region where the registered office of the Corporate Debtor is situated. b. Business Standard (English Newspaper) & Gujarat Samachar (Gujarati Newspaper) circulated in Surendranagar, the region where the factory office of the Corporate Debtor is situated.

7. Pursuant to the Publication for Invitation of Expression of Interest, the RP had received EoI from the following three (3) prospective Resolution Applicants: i. Kundan Care Products Ltd. ii. Real Mazon India Limited iii. Aegis Precision Pvt. Ltd.

8. Further, on non-receipt of any objection on the said list of eligible Prospective Resolution Applicants under Regulation 36A (11) of IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016. The RP issued the Request for Resolution Plan (“RFRP”), Information Memorandum and the Evaluation Matrix to all the three Prospective Resolution Applicants on 21.09.2022. Further, on the request of Prospective Resolution Applicants, the last day for submission of Resolution Plan was extended till 01.11.2022 and then again upto 16.11.2022.

9. Pursuant to Section 30 of the Code read with Regulation 37 and 38 of IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016, Resolution Plans were received from two prospective Resolution Applicants namely Kundan Care Products Limited and Real Mazon India Limited on 16.11.2022. However, no resolution plan was received from third prospective Resolution Applicant namely Aegis Precision Private Limited.

Exclusion/Extension granted by the Adjudicating Authority: 10. On an Interlocutory Application No. 2648/2022 by RP, this Bench by its order dated 23.09.2022, allowed exclusion of 56 days from the period of 180 days for the completion of corporate insolvency resolution process.

11. CoC had given further time till 09.12.2022 to submit the Revised Resolution Plans. As per the discussion in the Fourth CoC Meeting, an application for extension of CIRP for 90 days was filed and same was allowed by this Bench on 05.01.2023 and CIRP period was extended till 16.03.2023.

12. During sixth CoC meeting, the CoC resolved to file an application under section 66 of the IBC, 2016 to report the potential fraudulent, undervalued or preferential transactions seeking appropriate relief under the Code, 2016 and same was filed which is pending adjudication before this Bench. Meanwhile, M/s. JCK & Associates, Chartered Accountants, was appointed as the Transaction Auditor for conducting the Transaction Audit of the Corporate Debtor for the period of five years immediately preceding the CIRP commencement date.

13. Revised Resolution Plans were received from both Resolution Applicants. Fifth and Sixth CoC meetings were held on 12.12.2022 and 30.01.2023 respectively, to consider the revised Resolution Plan and to take step on the Forensic Audit Report.

14. In the Seventh CoC meeting held on 25.02.2023, the CoC resolved to approve the revised Resolution Plan submitted by Real Mazon India Limited (“Resolution Applicant”).

15. The Resolution Applicant has provided a Demand Draft of Rs. 20,00,000/- (Rupees Twenty Lakhs only) as Earnest Money Deposit drawn on IDFC Bank, in favour of the Corporate Debtor. The Applicant submits that the Resolution Plan submitted by M/s. Real Mazon India Limited meets all the requirements prescribed under the IBC and the regulations thereunder.

Details of Resolution Applicant: 16. The REAL MAZON INDIA LIMITED is a Limited Company incorporated under the Companies Act 1956, having its registered office at 304, Building No 26, Nirmal Tower, Barakhamba Road, Connaught Tower, New Delhi-110001. The company is set up to cater to the Indian High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) market which has been made mandatory by the Government of India for all vehicles vide Gazette Notification No.221 (E) dated 28.03.2001 and SO No.841(E) dated 22.08.2001 and SO 1041 (E) dated 16.10.2001.

17. The Resolution Applicant confirms that the Resolution Applicant is eligible under Section 29A of the IBC to submit the Resolution Plan and will continue to be compliant with the said Section 29A for the CIRP period until the Closure Date. Further, the Resolution Applicant confirms that under the Regulation 38 (3)(e) of the CIRP Regulations, the Resolution Applicant has financial capability and creditworthiness to implement the resolution plan.

18. Proposal for Financial creditors:

Sr Financial Category Amount Admitted Proposed (%) of No Creditors Claimed (INR) Claimed Amount claim Admitted 1. Shimnit India Secured 23,38,53,395 23,35,93,745 17,95,88,134 76.8 % Private Limited 2. Rajesh Vora Unsecured 47,40,97,113 - - (Suspended Creditor Director) 3. Ramnord Unsecured 15,00,000 - - Research Creditor Laboratories Private Limited (Related Party) TOTAL 70,94,50,508 23,35,93,745 17,95,88,134 76.8 %

19. Proposal for Operational Creditors other than Employees and Workmen: Sr. Operational Claim Claim Proposed (%) No. Creditors Amount Admitted Amount 1. National Stock 3,54,000 3,54,000 7,080 2% Exchange of India Limited 2. State Tax Office 16,27,27,584 1,90,74,340 3,81,487 2% 3. Lube Point 1,11,018 97,633 1,953 2% 4. Income Tax 5,27,76,716 11,250 225 2% Department 5. BSE Limited 11,82,773 10,56,100 21,122 2% Total 21,71,52,091 2,05,93,323 4,11,866 2%

20. Final Settlement of Claims along with Time Line:

Particulars Claim Proposed Amt Timeline Admitted CIRP Cost On actual T+90 days Financial Creditor 23,35,93,745 17,95,88,134 • 50% in T+90days • Balance in T+180 days Operational 1,95,37,223 4,11,866 T+60 days Creditor including Govt./Statutory Dues Workmen & NIL - Employee Shareholders NIL - TOTAL 18,00,00,000 T+180 days Additional Working 2,00,00,000 capital Any other contingent 3,00,000 liabilities There are no applications filed by workmen & employees for their claims.

21. The Resolution Applicant proposes a “Total Bid Value of Rs. 18,00,00,000/- (Rupees Eighteen Crores only) towards settlement of Insolvency Resolution Cost and all claims of Financial Creditors, Operational Creditors, Workmen & Employees and any other Claimants (collectively known as “Stakeholders”), under this Resolution Plan. The manner in which the interests of all the stakeholders is being considered in this resolution plan out of the said total consideration as contained in Resolution Plan. Relevant extracts from the resolution plan, for sake of ease in reference: i. In terms of the provisions of the Code the CIRP cost would be paid in priority out of the total consideration of Rs. 18,00,00,000/-.

ii. Financial Creditors: Total admitted claim of Financial creditors is amounting to Rs. 23,35,93,745/- out of which Rs. 17,95,88,134 is proposed under Resolution Plan.

iii. Government Dues (State tax department as operational creditor): The Resolution professional has admitted the claim of the state tax department as an “operational creditor” to the tune of Rs. 1,90,74,340/-. As per the information memorandum there is no attachment on the properties by the State Tax Department. In the Resolution Applicant’s assessment the Liquidation Value is insufficient to even satisfy the claims of the Secured Financial Creditors in full and therefore, the Liquidation Value accruing to Government Dues (State tax department as operational creditor would be NIL. In view of these facts, the Resolution Applicant hereby offers 2% of the admitted claims which is more than what they will get in liquidation.

iv. Operational Creditors: It is proposed to pay 2% of the admitted claim by the Resolution Professional i.e. Rs.2,05,93,323/- which works out to Rs.4,11,866/- to be paid to Operational Creditors towards their admitted claims would be paid in priority in terms of section 30(2) of the Code, subject to the CoC decision with regard to the distribution and allocation of funds.

v. As no claims have been admitted by the Resolution Professional as stated in the Information Memorandum dated 21.09.2022, the Resolution Applicant offers NIL towards payment of dues to employees and workmen and other creditors.

vi. Working Capital requirement: The prospective Resolution Applicant would infuse an amount of Rs. 2,00,00,000/- (Rupees Two Crores only) towards additional Working Capital to revive the Corporate Debtor.

vii. The Resolution Applicant has also created a contingency fund of Rs.3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakhs only) towards payment of any other contingent liabilities which may arise till the date of the approval of resolution plan by this Hon’ble Adjudicating Authority.

22. With regard to implementation of plan, on the Closure Date, the Resolution Applicant proposes that the Corporate Debtor shall undertake a capital reduction and the entire existing outstanding Equity Shares of the Corporate Debtor shall stand cancelled without the requirement of writing the words “and reduced”, the approval of the shareholders shall be deemed to have been given as per explanation of Section 30 (2) of the Code for effecting cancellation of capital, revision of agreements, constitutional documents such as MoA, AoA and for implementation of any other actions under the Resolution Plan.

23. A new shareholding pattern of the Corporate Debtor post cancellation is as under:

Name of shareholders % of Shareholding Real Mazon India Limited 95% Public Shareholding 5% Total 100%

24. The Applicant has filed Form – H in accordance with the IBBI (Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016 along with this Application. Form- H states that average Fair Value of the Corporate Debtor is INR 15,20,68,418.16 and the Liquidation Value is INR 10,91,24,402.66. It is also observed that admitted claims against the Corporate Debtor is more than the liquidation value of the company.

25. Further it can be seen from the Form-H that the Application under PUFE transactions is pending. In relation to this, the Resolution Plan states that the Proceeds from avoidance transactions or fraudulent or wrongful transactions, the CoC shall have the sole right, on all monies recovered by the Corporate Debtor on account of orders, decree, judgement to be passed by the Adjudicating Authority pursuant to Sections 43,

45, 49, 50, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73 and 74 of the IBC. It is proposed that the CoC shall pursue the application(s) filed under the above-mentioned sections.

26. As per the provision of the Code, the Bench is duty bound to examine the Resolution Plan as to whether it satisfies the conditions as laid down in Section 30(2) of the Code. A comparison of the mandatory compliance under the Code vis- à-vis the same made under the Resolution Plan is tabulated hereunder;

MANDATORY COMPLIANCE UNDER RESOLUTION PLAN COMPLIANCE UNDER IBC CODE AND REGULATIONS S.30(1)- Resolution Applicant Yes, Affidavit/Undertaking is filed by to submit an affidavit stating Resolution Applicant about its that he is eligible under eligibility under section 29A. Sec.29A of the Code, 2016 S. 30(2)(a) -Payment of Clause 7.2 of the Resolution Plan Insolvency and Resolution provides for payment of CIRP cost. cost in the manner specified by the Board S. 30(2)(b) - Payment of The admitted claim of the Operational debts of Operational creditors is Rs.2,05,93,323/-. The Creditors in such manner as Resolution Plan proposes 2% of the may be specified by the admitted claims which works out to Rs.4,11,866/- to be paid to Board, which shall not be less Operational Creditors in priority in that the amount to be paid to terms of section 30(2) of the Code. the Operational Creditors in the event of a liquidation of the Corporate Debtor under Sec. 53 Reg. 38(1A) - Resolution Clause 23.7 enumerates how the Plan shall include a interest of all the stakeholders statement as to how it has including operational and financial dealt with the interest of all creditors has been dealt with under the stakeholders, including the Resolution Plan. financial creditors and operational creditors of the Corporate Debtor S.30(2)(c) - Management of Clause 18.4 of the Resolution Plan the affairs of the Corporate deals with the Management of the Debtor after approval of the affairs of the Corporate Debtor.

None Resolution Plan of the members of reconstituted Board shall be persons disqualified under Section 29A of the Code. S.30(2)(d)-Implementation Clause 17 states that Plan and Supervision of the Implementation Committee shall Resolution Plan comprise of (i) Resolution Professional (Chairman) (ii) one member of the CoC and and (iii) one nominee of the Resolution Reg. 38(2) – Resolution Plan Applicant. shall provide: a) term of plan and its And Clause 22 of the Resolution Plan implementation schedule deals with the term of the Plan and b) management and control of Implementation Schedule. the business of the Corporate Debtor during its term; c) it has provisions for effective implementation d) it has provisions for approval required and the timeline for the same; and e) the Resolution applicant has the capability to implement the Resolution Plan. S. 30(2)(e) - Does not The Resolution Professional in Form H contravene any of the has confirmed that the Resolution provisions of the law for the Plan is not in contravention with the time being in force. provisions of any Applicable Law. S. 30(4) - Committee of The CoC, in its 7th meeting held on Creditors approve the 25.02.2023, approved the Resolution Resolution Plan by not less Plan by 100% voting. than 66% of voting share of Financial Creditors, after considering its feasibility, viability and such other requirement as specified by the Board.

27. On perusal of Form-H, it is seen that the Resolution Plan is in compliance with the mandatory compliances as stipulated under Section 30(2) of the Code. The Monitoring Committee shall supervise the implementation of the Resolution Plan and shall review operational performance of the Corporate Debtor. The Plan Implementation Committee shall consist of an Insolvency Professional (earlier RP), one representative from Financial Creditor and one representative of the Resolution Applicant. Aforesaid committee shall stand automatically dissolved on completion of term of the Resolution Plan.

28. Reliefs and Concessions: i. Approval of the Resolution Plan shall not be aground for termination of any existing consents, approvals, licenses, concessions, authorizations, permits or the like that has been granted to the Corporate debtor or for which the Corporate Debtor has made an application for renewal, grant permissions, sanctions, consents, approvals, allowances, exemptions etc.

ii. Any Exemption as sought for in relation to the payment of registration charges, stamp duty, taxes and fees arising out of the implementation of the Resolution Plan is not granted but the Resolution Applicant is at liberty to approach Competent Authorities for the exemptions if permitted under the law.

iii. With regard to other concessions and reliefs, most of them are subsumed in the reliefs granted above. The relief which is not expressly granted above, shall not be construed as granted. The exemptions if any sought in violation of any law in force, it is hereby clarified that such exemptions shall be construed as not granted.

iv. For past non-compliances of the Corporate debtor under applicable laws the Resolution Applicant shall not be liable for any liabilities and offences committed prior to the commencement of CIRP and as stipulated under Section 32A of IBC, 2016.

v. It is hereby clarified that in terms of the Judgement of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Ghanshyam Mishra and Sons Private Limited Vs. Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited, on the date of approval of the Resolution Plan by the Adjudicating Authority, all such claims which are not a part of Resolution Plan, shall stand extinguished and no person will be entitled to initiate or continue any proceedings in respect of a claim which is not a part of the Resolution Plan. In above terms, this plan is hereby approved.

29. The Resolution Professional is further directed to handover all records, premises / documents to Resolution Applicant to finalise further line of action required for starting of the operation as contemplated under the Resolution Plan. The Resolution Applicant shall have access to all the records premises / documents through Resolution Professional to finalise further line of action required for starting of the operations. Accordingly, the Resolution Plan in IA/1745/2023 is hereby allowed and approved.

Sd/- Sd/- CHARANJEET SINGH GULATI LAKSHMI GURUNG MEMBER (TECHNICAL) MEMBER (JUDICIAL)

Arpan, LRA

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