Dubai, Jul 25: The founder of NMC Health, BR Shetty, has had a worldwide freezing order placed on his assets at the request of a lender that claims he has defaulted on a loan of more than $8 million (Dh29.4m).
The order was granted to Credit Europe Bank (Dubai) last month ahead of a claim filed at the DIFC Courts against Mr Shetty, New Medical Centre Trading and NMC Healthcare.
The lender said in its claim they “are jointly and severally liable” for the repayment of money initially secured through a credit agreement in December 2013 and renegotiated in December last year. Credit Europe Bank is an Amsterdam-headquartered institution specialising in trade and commodities finance with operations in nine countries.
The credit agreement was guaranteed by two security cheques which the bank said in its claim were signed by Mr Shetty – one drawn on his personal account and another on the account of New Medical Centre Trading – that have been "dishonoured upon presentation due to insufficient funds".
The bank claimed Mr Shetty “has now fled the jurisdiction of the UAE to India” and that there was a risk of his “substantial” assets in the Emirates being dissipated.
The assets frozen include properties in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as shares in NMC Health, Finablr, BRS Investment Holdings and other companies. It allows for up to $7,000 per week to be spent on “ordinary living expenses and reasonable sum[s] on legal advice and representation”, a DIFC Courts document granting the freezing order shows.
Credit Europe Bank declined to comment when contacted by The National, stating it does not comment on ongoing litigation proceedings. Representatives for Mr Shetty and for NMC Healthcare, which is now being run by administrators Alvarez & Marsal, also declined to comment.
NMC Healthcare was founded by Mr Shetty in 1975 and grew from a single hospital into the UAE’s biggest privately-owned healthcare operator, which employed 2,000 doctors and 20,000 other staff. The company was listed on the London stock exchange and at its peak was valued at £8.58 billion (Dh40bn). However, its shares slumped after short seller Muddy Waters Research issued a report in December 2019 alleging the company had inflated its cash balances, overpaid for assets and understated its debts. This led to a string of damaging revelations by the company, including the fact that its debt was materially higher – at $6.6bn – than the $2.1bn on its balance sheet. NMC Healthcare was placed into administration in April by its biggest creditor, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, but its UAE businesses continue to trade as a going concern.
Mr Shetty said in a statement issued in April that he has been a victim of fraud committed by "a small group of current and former executives” at companies owned by him. He said bank accounts were created in his name and transactions were made without his knowledge, and that loans, cheques and bank transfers were also fraudulently guaranteed in his name using his forged signature.
In response to the claim filed by Credit Europe Bank (Dubai) at the DIFC Courts, Mr Shetty says he did not personally guarantee loans made to NMC Trading or NMC Healthcare and that the signatures used on cheques guaranteeing the loans are forgeries. His defence cites the opinion of “Dr Al Bah, an independent, experienced and qualified forensic document examiner”, that someone other than Mr Shetty signed the lending agreements and cheques.
An application by NMC Trading and NMC Healthcare to the DIFC Courts to have the claim against it heard in private for fear of triggering claims by other lenders – the group owes money to around 80 local, regional and international lenders – was dismissed, given that the appointment of administrators at the group and allegations of fraud at the company are already in the public domain.
Both companies have indicated to DIFC Courts that they intend to contest the claim against them.
Comments
The life of this world compared to the Hereafter is as if one of you were to put his finger in the ocean and take it out again, then compare the water that remains on his finger to the water that remains in the ocean. Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, Sahih muslim.
Winning the love of makhlook and getting the hatred of the Khaliq in return is a very bad deal. Insha Allah we will live in this duniya for maximum 100-150 years. The we have to face Allah. What will you reply to Allah? You think doing such things will benefit you, give you izzat. Please understand that benefit, loss, izzat, zillat, disease, shifa all are from Allah alone. Keep Allah happy. These makhlooks cannot do anything for you. If you win the whole world and Allah is angry with you then its very bad. If you win Allah and then even if you get nothing in the world, it is the best deal in the world.
Brother Abu Bakar, we want you and all muslims to go to Jannah and avoid jahannum. Please say the kalima once and read tauba namaaz with a sincere niyat of not doing such kind of deeds again.
May allah give 'hidaya' to these so called 'muslims'
Lack of religion knowledge for this Organization, to bring peace and harmony between different community, to win other communities heart just follow our Prophet's way, even look at other great historian traders like Malik al Dinar / great Muslim Scholor like Kwaja Moinuddin Chisty, how they won other communities heart.
Innala Lillaahi Wa Innaa Ilahyi Raajihoon
Well Done Muslim Brothers.. This should be the way to spread message of peace and harmony. Don't follow the people who copycat Arabs thinking they are following true God. Nothing is proven yet. Don't worry keep the good work going.
Inna Lillahi Wainna Ilaihi rajioon. Muslims left the work of dawah to non muslims & indulging in shirk. Whatever Horekanike you have given is totally Haraam and the sad thing is that people who are doing they are expecting good from others but not from Allah. Haji abubakar parkala, Name indicates that he might have done HAJJ. What is the use of Hajj if they do shirk with allah. May allah give us hidayath.
Dear all,
People of this organisation(UDMPSS) neither muslims nor Hindus, they are only pretending, they can't be trusted anywhere!. beware of them.
These foods should distribute to the poor... they will make dua for the committee... THESE FOODS WILL BE THROWN TO THE GARBAGE AFTER 2-3 DAYS..... NOR THEY WILL EAT NOR THEY WILL DISTRIBUTE TO POOR.... USELESS FELLOW
NOW NEXT HINDUS TURN TO SHOW TO PROMOTE HARMONY...
THEY SHOULD DISTRIBUTE COW TO MUSLIMS AT THE TIME OF BAKRI EID.....
This is really a crazy.....not good at all.....common guys there are many poor Muslim children who are suffering from malnutrition....go and distribute this food items to them....instead of this chaddi worthless creature....this is really a tragedy...
The committee should also know that Swamy was all alone went to Ayodhya from Udupi to demolish Babri Masjid. Which was the main reason behind the communal riots and communalism started in throughout India till today.
Now some Swamy's personal benefited chelas are doing in the name of muslims. Shame on you.
We muslims should keep good relations and harmony with other communities by providing food, shelter, cloths , medical aids to the poor daliths, hindus and Christians but not to give the billionaire Swamy who is always against other communities including daliths.
Next time you can do kola and parba too...
Innaa Lillaahi Wa Innaa Ilaihi Raajiwoon
NAUZUBILLAH
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