India: Binani Cement is back on the market after its liabilities were revised upwards, according to sources close to the deal. JSW Cement had previously emerged as the winner of a very competitive bidding process earlier in 2018 with an offer of US$919m. The creditors have now sought fresh bids from interested parties, which previously included LafargeHolcim, HeidelbergCement, Ramco Cement, UltraTech Cement, Dalmia Bharat and the Bain Piramal Resurgence Fund. The resolution professional, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP partner Vijaykumar Iyer, has set a new deadline of 12 February 2018, extended from 5 February 2018.
The additional liability of around US$250m has emerged due to Binani Cement’s corporate guarantee for the acquisition of a fibreglass asset in Europe known as 3B in 2012 by group company Binani Industries. As one of the contacts close to the deal is reported to have said, ‘this is not a small amount.’
