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In the matter of Khyati Foods Private Limited IA-69(MP)2022 in TP 234 of 2019

National Company Law Tribunal15 July 2022

Ratio decidendi

The rule this decision rests on

The Tribunal holds that, under Section 240A of the Code, the disqualifications in Section 29A do not apply to a resolution applicant in respect of a corporate debtor that is an MSME, even where the applicant is a related party (here, a suspended director of the corporate debtor). Where a resolution plan has been approved by the Committee of Creditors, the Adjudicating Authority, in examining it under Section 30(2), is satisfied that the plan's payment to operational creditors and CIRP costs makes provision as required by Section 30(2)(a) and (b), that the plan's amount exceeds the liquidation value, and that a plan which treats a dissenting financial creditor equally with the other creditors of its class complies with Regulation 38 of the CIRP Regulations. A plan that provides for management and control of the corporate debtor after approval, through a Monitoring Committee together with the Resolution Professional, satisfies Section 30(2)(c), and a plan that does not contravene any law in force, and complies with directions of the IBBI, satisfies Section 30(2)(e). Following the Supreme Court in Ghanashyam Mishra and Sons Pvt Ltd v Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Co Ltd, all claims of the past stand extinguished upon approval of the resolution plan, so that the resolution applicant takes the corporate debtor on a clean slate, and statutory rights such as licences and leases do not pass with the plan but must be sought afresh from the concerned statutory authorities.

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

Judgment

As delivered

IN THE NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNALINDORE BENCHCOURT NO. 1ITEM No.302IA/69(MP)2022 in TP 234 of 2019 [CP(IB) 115 of 2019]Proceedings under Section Sec. 30(6) of IBC, 2016IN THE MATTER OF:Parag Sheth, RP of Kyati Foods Pvt Ltd ........ApplicantV/sPawan Agarwal & Ors ........RespondentsOrder delivered on 15/07/2022Coram:Madan B. Gosavi, Hon’ble Member(J)Kaushalendra Kumar Singh Hon’ble Member(T)PRESENT:For the Applicant :For the Respondents :ORDERThe case is fixed for pronouncement of order.The order is pronounced in open Court vide separate sheet.-Sd- -Sd-KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR SINGH MADAN B. GOSAVIMEMBER (TECHNICAL) MEMBER (JUDICIAL)Braj Mohan

BEFORE THE NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP(IB) 115 of 2019] [Application for submission of Resolution Plan under Section 30(6) r.w. Section 31 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 read with Regulation 39(4) of IBBI (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) for approval of resolution plan] Through: Parag Sheth Resolution Professional of Khyati Foods Private Limited Office at: 404, Sachet II, Opp. GLS University Maradia Plaza Lane C.G. Road Ahmedabad– 380006 Applicant In the matter of: Parag Sheth Resolution Professional of Khyati Foods Private Limited Applicant Versus Pawan Agarwal and Ors. Respondents Memo of Parties Parag Sheth Resolution Professional of Khyati Foods Private Limited Office at: 404, Sachet II, Opp. GLS University Maradia Plaza Lane C.G. Road Ahmedabad– 380006 Applicant/ Resolution Professional Versus

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NCLT INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP (IB) 115 of 2019]

Pawan Agrawal (Successful Resolution Applicant) E-1/50, Arera Colony Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462016 Respondent Bank of Baroda (Member of Committee of Creditors) Habibganj Branch, Plot No.9 Zone-II, MP Nagar Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-462001 Responsibility Fair Agriculture Fund AG (Member of Committee of Creditors) Joseffrasse 59, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland Diwakar Vedantwar (Member of Suspended Board of Management) 69, Alkapuri Dewas, Madhya Pradesh-455001 Income Tax Department Through Commissioner/ Principal Commissioner CDIT/ACIT 3(1) Bhopal Aayakar Bhawan, Arera Hills Bhopal-462027 Order Reserved on: 01/07/2022 Order Pronounced on: 15/07/2022 Coram: Madan Bhalchandra Gosavi, Member (Judicial) Kaushlendra Kumar Singh, Member (Technical) Appearance: Ld. Adv. Mr. Nipun Singhvi appeared for the applicant; Ld. Sr. Adv. Mr. Navin Pahwa a.w. Ld. Adv. Mr. Ravi Pahwa & Ld. Adv. Mr. Jatin Sehgal appeared for the Respondent. ORDER 1. This application under Section 30(6) read with Section 31 of Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) is filed by Mr. Parag

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NCLT INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP (IB) 115 of 2019] Sheth- Resolution Professional of the corporate debtor- Khyati Foods Private Limited for approval of the Resolution Plan submitted by Mr. Pawan Agrawal-suspended board of director.

2. The following are the submissions made by the applicant/ reolution professional in the present application:

(i) The Corporate Debtor was admitted in the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) on 25.07.2019. Mr. Parag Sheth was appointed as Interim Resolution Professional (IRP), who made public announcement of CIRP of the Corporate Debtor and called upon its creditors to submit claims with requisite proof. The IRP formed the CoC consisting of the following financial creditors having voting percentage right as stated below:

Sr. Name of Financial Creditor % Voting Share (i) Bank of Baroda 84% (ii) Responsibility Fair Agriculture Fund 16% (ii) During the CIRP of the Corporate Debtor, the Committee of Creditors (COC) received 3 Expression of Interest (EOI) in pursuance of the publication of Form-G dated 26.10.2019, however pursuant to reissue of the Form-G dated 05.02.2020 and 01.10.2020 CoC received 2 Expression of Interest (EOI), but only 1 resolution plan was received by the Resolution Professional (RP) from Mr. Pawan Agrawal-suspended board of director being MSME. The plan was discussed in several meetings and thereafter, final plan was discussed on 24.02.2022 in the 18th CoC meeting.

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NCLT INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP (IB) 115 of 2019] (iii) The resolution plan submitted by Mr. Pawan Agrawal has been approved by the COC with 83.62% votes in 18th CoC meeting held on 24.02.2022. The same plan has been submitted before the Adjudicating Authority for approval under Section 30(6) of the IBC, 2016. The liquidation value and fair value of the Corporate Debtor is reported at Rs.12,99,43,114/- and Rs.16,28,38,616/- respectively.

(iv) The resolution applicant- Mr.Pawan Agrawal has proposed to pay a sum of Rs.13,00,11,000/- against the total admitted claim. The details are as follows: Sr. Particulars of Claim Resolution Amount Claim admitted by Plan Proposal provided RP (Rs.) (Rs.) to the claimed amount (%) 1. Insolvency Resolution Process - 1,05,00,000 Costs (Already paid Rs.75 lacs) 2. Secured Financial 29,74,54,621 11,90,00,000 40.01% Creditor 3. Unsecured Financial 6,62,92,559 5,00,000 0.86% Creditor 4. Operational 2,10,000 11,000 5.24% Creditors Total 36,39,57,180 13,00,11,000

3. We have heard the learned counsels for the applicant and perused the material available on record. The resolution plan submitted before us has been examined in view of the provisions of Section 30(2) of the IBC, 2016. The plan amount is more than the - 4 -

NCLT INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP (IB) 115 of 2019] liquidation value of the assets of the Corporate Debtor. The liquidation value and fair value of the corporate debtor is reported at Rs.12,99,43,114/- and Rs.16,28,38,616/- respectively. In the plan, the provision for payment towards CIRP costs and towards claim submitted by the operational creditor have been made. Thereby, the provisions of Section 30(2)(a) and 30(2)(b) have been complied with. It is also seen from the material on record that unsecured financial creditor- Responsibility Fair Agriculture Fund, having 16% voting share objected to the approval of the resolution plan and therefore, appears to be dissenting Financial Creditor. However, we note that in the plan equal treatment is given in payment of the claim submitted by the Responsibility Fair Agriculture Fund though it is a dissenting Financial Creditor. The Responsibility Fair Agriculture Fund has not filed any objection before this Adjudication Authority against the approval of the resolution plan. We hold that provisions of Regulation 38 of IBBI(CIRP) Regulations, 2016 have been complied with.

4. The mechanism for management and control of the affairs of the Corporate Debtor after approval of the resolution plan has been provided in the resolution plan itself whereby the Monitoring Committee along with the Resolution Professional will look after the management of the Corporate Debtor after approval of the resolution plan and till plan being implemented fully. We hold that thereby provisions of 30(2)(c) have been complied with.

5. Section 30(2)(d) speaks about the implementation and supervision of the resolution plan whereas Section 30(2)(e) speaks about whether the plan contravenes any provisions of law for the time being in force. The RP has submitted that plan is in - 5 -

NCLT INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP (IB) 115 of 2019] compliance of section 30(2) of the Code and Regulation 38 of IBBI(CIRP) Regulations, 2016.

6. We also noted that the plan does not contravene any provisions of the law for the time being in force. It is in compliant with all directions of IBBI.

7. The resolution plan is submitted by the suspended director of the corporate debtor. However, it is not in dispute that the corporate debtor is MSME. As per Section 240A of IB Code, 2016 provisions of Section 29A of IB Code, 2016 would not apply though the resolution applicant is a related party.

8. As far as reliefs and concessions claimed by the resolution applicant, the law has been well settled by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Ghanashyam Mishra and Sons Private Limited Vs. Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited and Ors. reported in MANU/SC/0273/2021 in the following words:

86. “……..The legislative intent behind this is, to freeze all the claims so that the resolution applicant starts on a clean slate and is not flung with any surprise claims. If that is permitted, the very calculations on the basis of which the resolution applicant submits its plans, would go haywire and the plan would be unworkable.

87. We have no hesitation to say, that the word "other stakeholders" would squarely cover the Central Government, any State Government or any local authorities. The legislature, noticing that on account of obvious omission, certain tax authorities were not

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NCLT INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP (IB) 115 of 2019] abiding by the mandate of I&B Code and continuing with the proceedings, has brought out the 2019 amendment so as to cure the said mischief…..”

9. In view of the above, all past claims would stand extinguished. However, as far as various statutory rights vested with the Corporate Debtor in form of various licenses, leases, and others alike matter, we make it clear that the successful resolution applicant has to approach the concerned statutory authority for those concessions and those authorities will consider the same as per their established procedure.

10. With these directions, we approve the resolution plan submitted by Mr. Pawan Agarwal and proceed to pass the following orders:

(i) Application is allowed.

(ii) The resolution plan of Mr. Pawan Agarwal (suspended board of director) for Corporate Debtor i.e., Khyati Foods Private Limited stands allowed as per Section 30(6) of the IBC, 2016.

(iii) The approved ‘Resolution Plan’ shall become effective from the date of passing of this order.

(iv) The order of moratorium dated 25.07.2019 passed by this Adjudicating Authority under Section 14 of I&B Code, 2016 shall cease to have effect from the date of passing of this order.

(v) The Resolution Professional shall forthwith send a copy of this Order to the participants and the Resolution

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NCLT INDORE BENCH IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 [CP (IB) 115 of 2019] Applicant(s).

(vi) The Resolution Professional shall forward all records relating to the conduct of the corporate insolvency resolution process and Resolution Plan to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India to be recorded in its database.

(vii) Accordingly, IA/69(MP)2022 In TP 234 of 2019 In CP (IB) 115 of 2019 is allowed and stands disposed of in terms of the above directions.

(viii) Urgent certified copy of this order, if applied for, to be issued to all concerned parties upon compliance with all requisite formalities.

-sd- -sd- Kaushalendra Kumar Singh Madan B. Gosavi Member (Technical) Member (Judicial)

Swati-LRA

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