Mumbai, Feb 8: Anil Ambani, the brother of Asia’s richest man has pleaded poverty in his dispute with three Chinese banks seeking $680 million in defaulted loans.
“The value of my investments has collapsed,” Anil Ambani said, according to a court filing by the banks in a London lawsuit.
“The current value of my shareholdings is down to approximately $82.4m and my net worth is zero after taking into account my liabilities. In summary, I do not hold any meaningful assets which can be liquidated for the purposes of these proceedings.”
The lawsuit was filed by three state-controlled Chinese banks which argue that they provided a loan of $925 million to Ambani’s Reliance Communications Ltd. in 2012 with the condition that he personally guarantee the debt. The comments were disclosed on Friday as Ambani sought to avoid depositing hundreds of millions of dollars with the court ahead of a trial.
The embattled Indian tycoon says that while he agreed to give a non-binding “personal comfort letter,” he never gave a guarantee tied to his personal assets -- an “extraordinary potential personal liability.”
The 60-year-old is the brother of Mukesh Ambani, who’s worth $56.5 billion and is the wealthiest man in Asia. Anil, on the other hand, has seen his personal fortune dwindle over recent years, losing his billionaire status. His Reliance Communications filed for bankruptcy last year.
The banks asked Judge David Waksman to force Ambani to put up $656 million into the court’s account.
Representatives for Ambani’s Reliance Group said they couldn’t immediately comment. They said the group will issue a statement once the court issues the final order.
Ambani’s lawyer, Robert Howe, said the court shouldn’t order his client to make a payment he can’t make. The tycoon argues that an order requiring him to do so would hinder his ability to defend himself in the case, Howe said.
“There’s no evidence of some giant pot of gold that he can pull $1 million, let alone $10 million, let alone $100 million,” Howe said.
Bankim Thanki, an attorney representing Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, said in a filing that Ambani’s statements are “plainly a yet further opportunistic attempt to evade his financial obligations to the lenders.”
Ambani was caught up in another legal wrangle last year when India’s Supreme Court threatened him with prison after Reliance Communications failed to pay Rs 5.5 billion ($77 million) to Ericsson AB’s Indian unit. The judges gave him a month to find the funds, and his brother, Mukesh, stepped in just in time to make the payment.
Anil said in a filing that he recognized that the judge would want to know if he could satisfy any order to put up funds from outside resources, including his family.
“I can confirm that I have made enquiries but I am unable to raise any finance from external sources,” he said. Judge Waksman had said in an earlier ruling that he believed Ambani’s defence would be shown to be “opportunistic and false.”
Ambani’s lawyer told the judge that as a result of the comments the tycoon’s relatives were unlikely to lend any funds.
There is a “very substantial risk they will never get it back,” Howe said.
Comments
Congratulation Harinath!! all the best for your future plans.
So many rejected votes that means so many elected representatives whichever party they belong not educated enough at least how to vote. One who vote them has to be blamed. what work they can do for the betterment of the society. The majority of the winning candidate to knows raise two fingers only while they win.
jai jai BJP, Congrates Sumithra all the best.
Congratulations & All best wishes to our New Mayor harinath. Let Mangalore develop under your leadership.
Congratulations to deputy Mayor too. jai ho congress.
Look at our Photo obsessed congress leaders of Mangalore namely Bava & Vinayraj. Pushing and posing is their birthright.
Give first priority to invent Cancer (communal riots) treating medicine which is taking lot of innocent lives in Coastal area due to some dangerous virus spreading it. If you succeed in this you will be remembered as a best scientist in the History.
Congratulation......Keep going...All the best.
Congratulations to the newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
Finally we got a mayor.
Congrats to both of you.
Congratulations on being elected as new Mayor for MCC. Do your best to take this city as the best city in the state.
Hope new mayor won't use dhow as done by earlier mayor during flood..as a joyride..!!
Congratulations harinath, you deserve this after serving long years and we look forward your good works and smiling face.
Next What????? making money ya making developments?????
Congratulations Mayor and Deputy Mayor. God bless you both and all the best
Congratulations harinath, I am sure you will work for the development of Mangalore, specially on drainage and drinking water. May God be with you and grant you good health to work for the welfare of the people.
All credit goes to Khader, Lobo, Raikulu.....Congis worried about vote bank as all states are sweept by BJP and they are looking to retain Karnataka with the help of Minorities!
This is your mission to serve the city without looking your pocket, but serve the city with selflessness.to maintain safety in the region......don't look for the party and religion but serve as human.All the best
Please work enthusiastically, united, share each other, bring amicable solution for the problems,include innovative practices, future plans, keep vision Goal and mission.
Unnecessary Politics. Groupism should be banned. It is very unhealthy in the community.
Election is over. Sink your differences. All the members have the mandate to work together as a NEW TEAM to the steady growth of the MCC at the out set of the financial 'crisis. I wish all the best to the new mayor
All the best to the newly elected mayor of MCC. Hearty congratulations to all,
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