Lavasa’s lenders invoke strategic debt recast

Realty firm Lavasa Corporation Thursday said its lenders have decided to convert part of their loans into equity as part of debt restructuring along with fresh fund infusion from strategic investors to complete its stuck-township project near Pune in Maharashtra. Lavasa Corporation Ltd, which is developing a hill city 'Lavasa' near Pune, has an outstanding debt of Rs 5,100 crore, sources said.

In a regulatory filing, HCC's realty arm Lavasa informed that "lenders have decided to invoke strategic debt restructuring (SDR)". The SDR process will involve lowering of debt burden by converting a part of lenders loans into equity, Lavasa said. This will also involve implementation of the proposed business plan and infusion of fresh capital by a financial or strategic investor to implement the project, it added. This decision was taken at joint lenders forum (JLF) meeting on September 20. The reference date is September 20. "As part of a comprehensive solution, the SDR has been invoked in Lavasa Corporation Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiaries -- Warasgaon Assets Maintenance Ltd and Warasgaon Power Supply Ltd," the filing said.

RBI had brought the SDR scheme in 2015 for resolution of bad loans. The SDR will help protect the value of the assets within the timelines prescribed by RBI in its notification. According to sources, Union Bank is the lead banker in Lavasa Corporation and Axis Bank in the two subsidiaries.