Malaysian billionaire T Ananda Krishnan&#39;s mobile firm Aircel today filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors, saying high debt and mounting losses, following a price war triggered by a new entrant, have led the company to troubled times.

Aircel, 74 per cent owned by Malaysia&#39;s Maxis Communications Bhd, first tried a merger with Reliance Communications Ltd but the plan failed late last year due to regulatory and legal uncertainties. Later, it tried to unsuccessfully restructure its Rs 15,500 crore debt.

After failing on all options, it filed for bankruptcy with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai.

In a statement, Aircel said that intense competition following the disruptive entry of a new player, legal and regulatory challenges, high level of unsustainable debt and increased losses had together caused significant &quot;negative business and reputational impact&quot; on the company.

&quot;The Board of Directors of the Corporate Debtor today announced that they have filed an application under Section 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 for undertaking Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process for the respective companies: Aircel Cellular, Dishnet Wireless, Aircel Ltd,&quot; it said.

Krishnan, Malaysia&#39;s third-richest man, had entered India in 2005 when his firm bought a majority stake in Aircel for about USD 1 billion and infused money to build the business. Aircel had 85 million subscribers as of end-December and was ranked India&#39;s sixth-largest operator.

&quot;The Board of Directors acknowledged that it has been facing troubled times in a highly financially stressed industry, owing to intense competition following the disruptive entry of a new player, legal and regulatory challenges, high level of unsustainable debt and increased losses,&quot; Aircel said.

This, it added, caused significant negative business and reputational impact on the company.

Aircel had recently shut its services in six circles - Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (West).

The company, last week, wrote to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) admitting that is undergoing &quot;deep financial stress&quot; and that it has been severely impacted by a major infrastructure provider GTL Infra shutting off as much as a third of its total sites in different circles or telecom service areas across the country.

The disruption of its services in the licensed service areas -- Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Mumbai, North East, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh (East) and West Bengal, had inconvenienced a large number of subscribers, who faced difficulties in services and in porting their mobile number to another operator.

This prompted Trai yesterday to issue a directive to Aircel allotting it additional port out codes to enable smooth migration of its subscribers to other networks without changing mobile numbers.

Adding to its woes, Idea Cellular in early February snapped interconnect services with Aircel, citing non-payment of dues. Vodafone too is learnt to have suspended most inter-circle interconnect services like messaging, local and international calling facility with Aircel on account of outstanding dues.

Aircel statement today stressed that the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process is not a proceeding for liquidation.

&quot;...Rather is a process to find best possible resolution for the current situation and that would be in the best interest of everyone (vendors, distributors, employees, etc.) to protect and preserve the value of the company and manage the operations,&quot; it added.

The company sought co-operation from vendors and channels partners, while the IBC process is underway, urging them to continue their services for its ongoing business.

&quot;The company would like to communicate to all the customers that it would strive hard to provide uninterrupted service connectivity to them and appeals to them for their support during the current difficult period,&quot; Aircel added.

The entry of aggressive newcomer Reliance Jio and its disruptive offerings have forced mobile operators to respond with matching tariffs, hurting their financials and increasing their debt burden.

Many of the smaller operators have succumbed to market pressure and opted to merge or get acquired by larger players.

Telenor agreed to sell its India business to Bharti Airtel, and the Sunil Mittal-owned company has also announced that it will acquire the consumer mobile business of Tata Teleservices on debt-free cash-free basis.

In December 2017, billionaire Mukesh Ambani stepped in to bail out younger brother Anil Ambani&#39;s debt-ridden Reliance Communications by acquiring spectrum, tower, optical fibre network and other wireless assets.

The spate of consolidation is expected to leave the Indian mobile market with just about four operators as Vodafone and Idea Cellular are in the process of merging their businesses.

Aircel had recently shut its services in six circles - Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (West).

Malaysian billionaire T Ananda Krishnan's mobile firm Aircel today filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors, saying high debt and mounting losses, following a price war triggered by a new entrant, have led the company to troubled times. Aircel, 74 per cent owned by Malaysia's Maxis Communications Bhd, first tried a merger with Reliance Communications Ltd but the plan failed late last year due to regulatory and legal uncertainties. Later, it tried to unsuccessfully restructure its Rs 15,500 crore debt. After failing on all options, it filed for bankruptcy with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Mumbai. In a statement, Aircel said that intense competition following the disruptive entry of a new player, legal and regulatory challenges, high level of unsustainable debt and increased losses had together caused significant "negative business and reputational impact" on the company. "The Board of Directors of the Corporate Debtor today announced that they have filed an application under Section 10 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 for undertaking Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process for the respective companies: Aircel Cellular, Dishnet Wireless, Aircel Ltd," it said. Krishnan, Malaysia's third-richest man, had entered India in 2005 when his firm bought a majority stake in Aircel for about USD 1 billion and infused money to build the business. Aircel had 85 million subscribers as of end-December and was ranked India's sixth-largest operator. "The Board of Directors acknowledged that it has been facing troubled times in a highly financially stressed industry, owing to intense competition following the disruptive entry of a new player, legal and regulatory challenges, high level of unsustainable debt and increased losses," Aircel said. This, it added, caused significant negative business and reputational impact on the company. Aircel had recently shut its services in six circles - Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (West). The company, last week, wrote to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) admitting that is undergoing "deep financial stress" and that it has been severely impacted by a major infrastructure provider GTL Infra shutting off as much as a third of its total sites in different circles or telecom service areas across the country. The disruption of its services in the licensed service areas -- Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Mumbai, North East, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh (East) and West Bengal, had inconvenienced a large number of subscribers, who faced difficulties in services and in porting their mobile number to another operator. This prompted Trai yesterday to issue a directive to Aircel allotting it additional port out codes to enable smooth migration of its subscribers to other networks without changing mobile numbers. Adding to its woes, Idea Cellular in early February snapped interconnect services with Aircel, citing non-payment of dues. Vodafone too is learnt to have suspended most inter-circle interconnect services like messaging, local and international calling facility with Aircel on account of outstanding dues. Aircel statement today stressed that the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process is not a proceeding for liquidation. "...Rather is a process to find best possible resolution for the current situation and that would be in the best interest of everyone (vendors, distributors, employees, etc.) to protect and preserve the value of the company and manage the operations," it added. The company sought co-operation from vendors and channels partners, while the IBC process is underway, urging them to continue their services for its ongoing business. "The company would like to communicate to all the customers that it would strive hard to provide uninterrupted service connectivity to them and appeals to them for their support during the current difficult period," Aircel added. The entry of aggressive newcomer Reliance Jio and its disruptive offerings have forced mobile operators to respond with matching tariffs, hurting their financials and increasing their debt burden. Many of the smaller operators have succumbed to market pressure and opted to merge or get acquired by larger players. Telenor agreed to sell its India business to Bharti Airtel, and the Sunil Mittal-owned company has also announced that it will acquire the consumer mobile business of Tata Teleservices on debt-free cash-free basis. In December 2017, billionaire Mukesh Ambani stepped in to bail out younger brother Anil Ambani's debt-ridden Reliance Communications by acquiring spectrum, tower, optical fibre network and other wireless assets. The spate of consolidation is expected to leave the Indian mobile market with just about four operators as Vodafone and Idea Cellular are in the process of merging their businesses.

Aircel blames competition, mounting losses for filing bankruptcy

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-government-approves-disinvestment-of-air-india-17379" target="_blank">Disinvestment-bound Air India has sought proposals for short-term loans</a> worth Rs 1,500 crore to meet &quot;urgent&quot; working capital needs, according to a document.

This is the second time in little over a month that the flagship carrier has floated tenders for short tenure loans even as the government is working on the modalities for the stake sale.

The debt-laden carrier, which is surviving on taxpayers&#39; money, is battling multiple headwinds, including financial woes and stiff competition.

In a document issued on October 18, Air India said it is looking for &quot;government guarantee backed Indian Rupee short-term loans totalling up to Rs 1,500 crore to meet its urgent working capital requirements&quot;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tata-chairman-says-interested-in-bidding-for-air-india-report-21203" target="_blank">Also Read:&nbsp;Tata interested in bidding for Air India: Tata Sons chairman</a>

The loan would have a tenure up to June 27, 2018, from the date of being availed and the deadline could be extended.

&quot;The amount of Rs 1,500 crore will be drawn in one -three tranches...The Government of India guarantee is valid up to June 27, 2018, or till the date of disinvestment,&quot; the document said.

With regard to the loan, the carrier has requested banks to submit their financial bids along with the amount they are willing to provide by October 26.

&quot;Air India would like to draw the short-term loan within three working days after awarding the acceptance letter to the successful bank/s,&quot; the document said.

Last month also, the airline had sought proposals for short-term loans of up to Rs 3,250 crore to meet urgent working capital requirements.

It could not be immediately ascertained whether the airline received an adequate response for the document floated last month.

As part of a turnaround plan approved by the previous UPA regime, Air India is to receive up to Rs 30,231 crore from the government subject to meeting certain performance thresholds. The 10-year bailout package began from 2012.

The embattled carrier has received around Rs 26,000 crore under the package so far.

In June this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle nod to the strategic disinvestment of the airline -- which has a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore.

A ministerial group is now working on the disinvestment modalities, including treatment of Air India&#39;s unsustainable debt, hiving off of certain assets to a shell company, demerger and strategic disinvestment of three profit-making subsidiaries.&nbsp;

In a document issued on October 18, Air India said it is looking for 'government guarantee backed Indian Rupee short-term loans totalling up to Rs 1,500 crore to meet its urgent working capital requirements'

Disinvestment-bound Air India has sought proposals for short-term loans worth Rs 1,500 crore to meet "urgent" working capital needs, according to a document. This is the second time in little over a month that the flagship carrier has floated tenders for short tenure loans even as the government is working on the modalities for the stake sale. The debt-laden carrier, which is surviving on taxpayers' money, is battling multiple headwinds, including financial woes and stiff competition. In a document issued on October 18, Air India said it is looking for "government guarantee backed Indian Rupee short-term loans totalling up to Rs 1,500 crore to meet its urgent working capital requirements". Also Read: Tata interested in bidding for Air India: Tata Sons chairman The loan would have a tenure up to June 27, 2018, from the date of being availed and the deadline could be extended. "The amount of Rs 1,500 crore will be drawn in one -three tranches...The Government of India guarantee is valid up to June 27, 2018, or till the date of disinvestment," the document said. With regard to the loan, the carrier has requested banks to submit their financial bids along with the amount they are willing to provide by October 26. "Air India would like to draw the short-term loan within three working days after awarding the acceptance letter to the successful bank/s," the document said. Last month also, the airline had sought proposals for short-term loans of up to Rs 3,250 crore to meet urgent working capital requirements. It could not be immediately ascertained whether the airline received an adequate response for the document floated last month. As part of a turnaround plan approved by the previous UPA regime, Air India is to receive up to Rs 30,231 crore from the government subject to meeting certain performance thresholds. The 10-year bailout package began from 2012. The embattled carrier has received around Rs 26,000 crore under the package so far. In June this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle nod to the strategic disinvestment of the airline -- which has a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore. A ministerial group is now working on the disinvestment modalities, including treatment of Air India's unsustainable debt, hiving off of certain assets to a shell company, demerger and strategic disinvestment of three profit-making subsidiaries.

Air India seeks Rs 1,500 crore short term loans

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