 "Byju’s Bankruptcy Drama: Lenders’ Fight for 3 Million Amid Allegations")
Byju’s, the education technology company, is facing major financial challenges as US lenders push for over $1.2 billion in repayments amid ongoing insolvency proceedings in India. A court official in India removed these lenders from a key creditors committee, hampering their influence in the repayment plan. The lenders accused the official, Pankaj Srivastava, of unfair practices and manipulating the process against them. In the US, lenders are tracking down $533 million that Byju’s founder, Byju Raveendran, allegedly claimed was hidden. Byju’s is also involved in a fraudulent-transfer lawsuit related to a shell company created for US investments. The outcome of these legal battles remains uncertain as the situation continues to develop.
Byju’s Faces Legal Challenges as Creditors Seek Over $1 Billion
In a significant setback for Byju’s, the troubled education tech giant known as Think & Learn Pvt, US lenders have been unexpectedly removed from a key creditors committee overseeing the company’s insolvency case in India. This move comes as part of the lenders’ ongoing efforts to recover more than $1.2 billion owed by Byju’s, led by founder Byju Raveendran.
The decision was made by Pankaj Srivastava, Byju’s Interim Resolution Professional, who has been accused by the lenders of manipulating the creditors’ vote and hiding their claims. This has raised serious concerns among the lenders, who claim such actions are unprecedented and illegitimate in the context of India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
In addition to the turmoil in India, the lenders are also trying to track down $533 million that Raveendran reportedly claimed was well hidden, according to court documents in the US. This amount is part of an ongoing fraudulent-transfer lawsuit against Byju’s Alpha, a shell company created by the firm to access US capital markets. After Byju’s defaulted on its obligations, lenders took control of this shell company and filed a lawsuit to reclaim the funds.
With legal battles mounting, Byju’s is also dealing with a deal in India to resolve an insolvency case connected to the country’s cricket board. The lenders are challenging this deal before India’s Supreme Court, arguing that the settlement diverts funds that should be directed to them.
This complex legal situation highlights the ongoing struggles of Byju’s as it navigates significant financial difficulties amidst operational challenges in both India and the United States.
Tags: Byju’s, insolvency, creditors, education tech, Byju Raveendran, US bankruptcy, legal challenges, financial recovery.
What happened with Byju’s lenders?
Byju’s lenders have been removed from a creditor panel by a court official named Srivastava.
Why were the lenders kicked off the panel?
The lenders were removed for not following a specific legal process during the restructuring discussions.
What does this mean for Byju’s?
This could delay the restructuring process of Byju’s debts and may impact its financial recovery efforts.
What are the lenders’ next steps?
The lenders may seek to appeal the decision or work within other legal frameworks to be included in the discussions.
How does this affect Byju’s customers?
For now, customers may not see an immediate impact, but ongoing financial issues could affect the company’s services in the future.
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